Alchemy - Study Circle Sitting 02- 18th Nov 2014

Study Circle 02 on 

Alchemy - Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul

by Titus Burckhardt

(Fons Vitae 1997, USA)

Reading Chapter 01

THE ORIGIN OF WESTERN ALCHEMY

Extract: 'Gold and silver were already sacred metals, even before they became the measure of all commercial transactions. They are the earthly reflections of sun and moon, and thus also of all the realities of spirit and soul which are related to the heavenly pair. Until well into the Middle Ages the relative values of the two noble metals were determined by the relationship of the rotation times of the two heavenly bodies. Likewise, the oldest coins usually bear pictures or signs having some relation to the sun or its yearly rotation. For men of pre-rationalistic times the relationship be­tween the noble metals and the two great luminaries was obvious, and a whole world of mechanistic notions and prejudices was necessary to obscure the self-evident reality of this relationship and make it look like a mere aesthetic accident.'

Conducted by:

Taimoor K. Mumtaz (Director)
Raheel Ahmed (Coordinator Sacred Psychology Program)

Participants

Zameer, Mobina,  Imrana, Irshad,

Mubarika, Kausar, Ghina, Saba, Mehr, Shayan. 

Highlights:

Reading of Chapter 1 : The Origin of Western Alchemy

-Points Discussed: 

• An essential feature of Sacred Art and Knowledge is that it is transmitted orally, writing is usually a first sign of its decadence.
• Scholars have noted two currents in Alchemy:  The first is 'artisanal' in nature, where symbolism is secondary.  The other one is 'mystical alchemy'. In reality it is a case of one and the same tradition.
• For archaic humanity, metallurgy was not simply an invention but rather a 'revelation'. For them seeing everything in relation to the inner unity of man and the cosmos was obvious.
• Alchemy traces its descent back as a priestly art of the ancient Egyptians. It was in later Egyptian history in  Alexandria that Alchemy along with other cosmological arts and sciences, received the form in which it is now known to us.

-Reading of an extract from 'Irfan e Zaat'- a letter of Imam Razi on the nature of the soul.

• The Human Spirit has to pass many stages and go through different levels and  obstacles in order to receive Divine theophanies (Anwar-o-Tajjaliyaat) and experience Divine love and gnosis in its fullness.
• Those who experience 'The Station (Muqaam) of Divine Unity (Oneness)'  do not reveal it. 
• The mystics of highest degrees are unknown  and they live in continuous contemplation of Divine Unity and they have access to the heavenly realms.  
• The function of Dhikr (Remembrance of God) in Islamic mysticism is like extracting 'Inward Gold' (original state of the soul) hidden under the many-fold layers of the human soul.

(Report by Raheel Ahmed)