Tonics vs. Specifics : the Philosophy

A recent conversation with some friends in natural animal care led to a deeper discussion of the idea of tonic herbs, and to questions and thoughts on just what makes an herb tonic, and what that means in practical use. The discussion was about pet care, but it’s a relevant one to all herbalism, and [...]

Working Philosophically : Crystals in Nature and our Lab

Our new free members-only course continues to expand, with new writings by us and ancient authors, an audio lecture, slideshow, and more. In this installment, we are focusing on two themes: Qabalah and the Tree of Life, and the Alchemical and Spagyric idea of working philosophically.
Qabalah is a very sophisticated expression of the Hermetic axiom, [...]

Guiding Wisdom

Guardian angel, higher self, spirit guide, still small voice- all of these concepts share the idea that a higher plane of wisdom exists, accessible from our daily sphere, but also greater than our everyday self and able to help with wisdom outside of our normal consciousness.
Hermetic traditions, of which Alchemy is one, are full of [...]

Tools for Transmutation - new Magistery Kit

You may have heard us talk about an interesting way of working with our Magisteries by taking one Magistery each day according to its planetary rulership, bringing insight and balance over the course of several weeks. It is a powerful way to uncover your own personal relationship with each of the planet’s archetypal energies, showing [...]

Upcoming Lecture : Body, Spirit and Soul

Later this month, I will be presenting a lecture at the International Alchemy Conference in Los Angeles, October 23-25. The title is “Body, Spirit, and Soul: an Alchemical Philosophy of Nature”, and we will be discussing the three levels of being in Alchemical and Spagyric philosophy as well as our own work.
Modern science and philosophy [...]

Dew & the Fire of Nature

Late March was the beginning of dew season around here, the time each year when we collect as much of the “celestial water” as we can, for use in the lab the rest of the year.
Unfortunately, the water Nature gave us for that first week was rain, not dew, so our collection process was delayed [...]

The Energy of the Lab - Part 2

In our first article, we discussed some of the ideas and practices that Alchemy has inherited from the Hermetic tradition, and how much of that core philosophy also informs magickal work. We also described some of the ways of preparing for a magickal ritual or an alchemical process, especially in how the planetary intelligences are [...]

The Energy of the Lab - Part 1

As we practice it, Alchemy is part of the Hermetic tradition of Western spirituality. This lineage traces its origins into history and beyond, into the legend of the semi-divine Hermes, revered under many names throughout time. The traditions that bear the name Hermetic follow the principles set forth in the brief but important Emerald Tablet [...]