What is Spiritual alchemy? Emerging from the early 20th century quasivitalist, mystical interpretation of Mircea Eliade and the psychologizing interpretation of Carl Jung both marked by a profoundly ahistorical approach a position now known as the “new historiography” has attempted to relocate alchemical theory and practice precisely as a historically developing theory of nature and the transformation of nature. However, many on the channel ask the same resounding question: “But what about the spiritual aspect of alchemy? Isn’t alchemy really about inner or spiritual transformation and not changing lead into gold?” In this episode, the first of several in a series, I’m going to explore just that question the origins and development of spiritual alchemy in the European alchemical tradition. From radical mysticism of salvation, the alchemy of Paracelsus and heretical Protestants will emerge a theory of alchemical salvation with Christ as the philosophers' stone and will lay the groundwork for Theosophy and Occult spirituality for centuries to come.

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Recommended Readings:

Zuber Spiritual Alchemy: From Jacob Boehme to Mary Anne Atwood 9780190073046

Other Readings:

Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 9780521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.
Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 9780226103792. An uptodate history of alchemy.
Newman, William. Newton the Alchemist: Science, Enigma, and the Quest for Nature's "Secret Fire" 9780691174877. Cutting edge research on alchemy in the 17th century.
Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 9783836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!

Spiritual / Psychology School of Interpretation

Atwood, Mary Anne. A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery….(many reprint editions). The first text to introduce the ‘spiritual interpretation” of alchemy.
Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. 9780226203904. Religiousphilosophical interpretation of alchemy.
von Franz, MarieLouise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology. 9780919123045. An introduction to the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy.