What is the Purpose of Alchemy?
© 2004
>> What is the purpose of Alchemy, what is transmutation and what is the relationship to Quaballah?? <<
Alchemy is an aspect of a type of "high" magic that has to do with the transformation of the Divine Substance. By directly transforming the Divine Substance itself (Alchemy deals with the direct transformation of the *physical* aspect of Substance), the Substance is made capable of manifesting a different essential meaning or a more specific, concentrated or refined essential meaning.
Alchemy, as I said, is the Art of transforming *physical* substance. In overly-simplified terms, the material substance is purified and this purification allows the substance to more clearly manifest/express its native essential meaning. Of course, the three Philosophic Principles of Alchemy are treated as vessels of the three Principles of Hermetics (mental, astral and physical), so the *whole* of physical substance (i.e., its physical, astral and mental aspects) is addressed in the transformation.
The highest forms of the magic to which Alchemy belongs directly address the manipulation of the Divine Substance as it emanates from Kether and *before* it reaches Binah, while it still exists in its un-differentiated state (symbolized by the Hebrew Letter 'Vav', which connects Kether with Binah).
Kabbalistic utterance (i.e., Bardon's "Quabbalah") also pertains to the direct manipulation of the Divine Substance but here, instead of working with *physical* substance, it's working directly through color, tone, sensation and Legality. This is symbolized by the Hebrew Letter 'Daleth' which connects Binah with Geburah. Unlike Alchemy, Quabbalah is about combining these different aspects of Akashic, mental and astral Substance to create a multi-dimensional causation which *results in* the desired effect. While both Quabbalah and Alchemy deal with manipulation of the Divine Substance, they do so in very different ways.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
27 July 2004