Practical Alchemy: A Guide to the Great Work

by Brian Cotnoir, James Wasserman (Introduction), Robert Allen Bartlett (Foreword by)

Overview

A concise guide to the history, theory, and practice of alchemy (the “great work”)—the art of working with the energies of nature for spiritual development, healing, and transformation.

Alchemy is a means of understanding and working in concert with the energies of nature for spiritual development, healing, and transformation. In this book, Brian Cotnoir offers a step-by-step introduction that explores alchemy’s mysteries while illustrating its use as a modern spiritual system of attainment.

He provides an overview of the history of alchemy, from the first meldings of Egyptian technology to the Middle Ages—the golden age of alchemy—to contemporary techniques. He demystifies the relationship between alchemy and chemistry, and provides evidence that alchemy is much more than a medieval form of psychotherapy. The guide also includes practical laboratory experiments that safely and intelligently lead readers to an understanding of this ancient art and spiritual practice.

• Provides step-by-step instruction for beginning a practice in alchemy
• Explains the theory underlying the art and science of alchemy and how it works
• Demystifies the relationship between alchemy and chemistry, while going well beyond the “psychological interpretation” advanced by nonscientists
• Introduces the practice of alchemy to students of the Western magical arts

This book was previously published as The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy. This new edition includes a foreword by Robert Allen Bartlett, author of Real Alchemy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578637478
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	07/01/2021
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	660,067
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Brian Cotnoir is an alchemist, artist, and award-winning filmmaker. He was a contributor to Frater Albertus’s Parachemy and has presented workshops and seminars around the world on various aspects of alchemical theory and practice. He is the author of Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter and translator of The Emerald Tablet. To find out more about Brian’s work visit www.khepripress.com.

James Wasserman is a lifelong student of esotericism. His writings include The Mystery Traditions and Aleister Crowley and The Practice of the Magical Diary. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nancy. Visit him at www.studio31.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Robert Allen Bartlett xi

Introduction James Wasserman xv

Preface xvii

Ora xxi

Overview of Alchemy xxiii

Part 1 Theory

1 The Aspects of Alchemy 3

2 Cosmology 17

3 Time 23

4 Microcosm: The Body and Its Composition 31

5 Inner Practice 35

6 Tabula Smaragdina 41

Part 2 Practice

7 The Basics of Alchemy 47

8 The Preparatory Work 55

9 The Art of Distillation 59

10 The Purification of Salts: Calcination, Crystallization, and Sublimation 63

11 Further Work with Water and Alcohol 65

12 The Herbal Work 69

13 Plants as Medicines and Initiatory Substances 85

14 The Mineral Work 87

15 The Aurum Potabile 93

16 Opus Magnum 95

17 A Parting Contemplation 97

Appendix 1 Technique and Equipment 101

Appendix 2 Plants and Planets Ill

Bibliography 119

Notes to the Text 124

Editorial Reviews

The famous Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelsus, said that Alchemy is the art of separating the pure from the impure, the true from the false and that is what Brian Cotnoir has done for us concisely. If you are new to the study of Alchemy, or even if you’ve been around it for a while and need some additional guidance or inspiration, this is a book for you.” —From the foreword by Robert Allen Bartlett, author of Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy

Reviews

The famous Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelsus, said that Alchemy is the art of separating the pure from the impure, the true from the false and that is what Brian Cotnoir has done for us concisely. If you are new to the study of Alchemy, or even if you’ve been around it for a while and need some additional guidance or inspiration, this is a book for you.

From the foreword by Robert Allen Bartlett