Alchemy

Alchemy is known in popular culture for its Sorcerer's Stone and Philosopher's Stone from books and movies such as Harry Potter. This stone, whichever name you wish to use, is meant to give the user immortality, much like the Holy Grail from the stories of the Knights Templar. Alchemy has also been known for its practitioners "turning lead into gold". These are really just figurative half-truths.

Alchemy in general is heavily focused on the transmutation of the soul, to purify it. Instead of turning real lead into gold, the old Alchemists were trying to turn a lead soul, burdened by sin, into gold. Likewise, the Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone was meant to give immortality to the soul. The old Alchemists tried mixing elements together to create an elixir that could bring them purity of the soul. Alchemists now are entirely focused on the spiritual aspect of transmutation, instead of turning to any physical processes.

Alchemy used symbolism in their texts, as shown in the Book of Lambspring. This is why many of their texts made very little sense, or seemed extremely imaginative. Elements and chemicals were often represented by planets, landscapes, and animals. Prime examples included Mars, the Moon, dragons, armour, and even forests and mountains.

Famous people involved with or related to Alchemy included Isaac Newton, Mary the Jewess , Paracelsus, Cleopatra the Alchemist , John Dee, Roger Bacon, Nicolas Barnaud (also known as Nicolas Delphinas), and Johann Grasshoff.

Despite their dangerous (and often deadly) profession, they were constantly in search of the soul's immortality and purity.

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