Introduction to Alchemy (FIA Lecture)

This is a lecture I gave last year at the Flint Institute of Art on the history, theory, and symbolism of alchemy. It's going to serve as an introduction to alchemy until I make a series for the channel.
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Recommended Readings:
Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 978-0521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.
Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 978-0226103792. An up-to-date history of alchemy.
Newman, William. Newton the Alchemist: Science, Enigma, and the Quest for Nature's "Secret Fire" 978-0691174877. Cutting edge research on alchemy in the 17th century. An amazing wok of scholarship.
Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 978-3836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!
Spiritual / Psychology School of Interpretation
Atwood, Mary Anne. A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery….(many re-print editions). The first text to introduce the ‘spiritual interpretation” of alchemy.
Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. 978-0226203904. Religious-philosophical interpretation of alchemy.
von Franz, Marie-Louise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology. 978-0919123045. An introduction to the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy.
#alchemy #transmutation #hermeticism

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Make Sure to Subscribe & Consider supporting Esoterica by becoming a monthly Patron - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel or a one time donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel Your support is profoundly appreciated!

[@cosmiccrunch8591]

I appreciate and enjoy this channel very much, please keep hammering out these enlightening videos Dr. Sledge! I want to make a few points though just for clarification. You implied that psychological and spiritual are two separate things but they are actually one and the same thing. Our Mercury (aka Hermes) is in one facet a reference to the Mind, what we know as Spirit, the center of all psychology and Tho(ugh)t which operates through the medium of Soul (Sulfur/Consciousness). In regards to the process of the transmuting stone, it is traditionally composed of nothing but mercury and gold reduced to a calx (referred to by alchemists as it's Sulfur, not to be confused with oil of gold), which are then digested together at certain temperatures in periods as the colors progress from black to white to citrine and finally ruby red. When they say the Moon is it's mother, they are referring to Mercury, not silver as many assume. The difficulty is in reducing the gold to an extremely fine red oxide and purifying the mercury to ultimate levels by washing it with salt and vinegar and distilling it over and over. This method is described in plain English in several works both old and modern. I can provide titles if you're interested. Maybe you just were making a side reference to the image, but Aqua Fortis is sulfuric acid, which the recipe you present describes, as it uses vitriol (sulfate and sulfide salts of metals); usually the green vitriol of iron sulfate. Spirit of niter (nitric acid) and spirit of salt (hydrochloric or muriatic acid) combined in a 1:3 ratio of nitric to hydrochloric makes aqua regia. The green lion devouring the sun portrays multiple meanings (I know 4 so far), one is the conversion of sunlight into glucose for plant energy by the green, copper bearing chlorophyll. We had this knowledge many thousands of years ago! The Green Lion is also Our Mercury (passive feminine) after it's devoured the Sulfur or Seed of Gold (active masculine). Green has the meaning of active growth, spiritous, living or animated(!), i.e. vivification in our Art. Red Lion is sometimes used to symbolize it's raw mineral, cinnabar. There's also a deeper, more secret process described by this most famous image, one that was considered by many to be more important than the Philosophers Stone, that is the Elixir of Life; the true Aqua Vitae. Ora et labora!

[@oat5662]

Recently discovered this channel. You, Religion For Breakfast and Let's Talk Religion are producing much needed content.

[@coastercritic287]

I just recently discovered all three and I couldn’t agree more!

[@AaronSherman]

I would also include Seekers of Unity in that list for content that's focused a bit more on practice than history, but is still academically grounded.

[@helenathesoviet9195]

I really appreciate your videos. It's very rare to find a KZbin channel with detailed information on the subject. Please, keep going!!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks for saying - that's partially why I created the channel!

[@DavidHauka]

You are a wonderful lecturer, Dr. Your approach to a series of serious topics was always touched by humour as well as important insight.

[@kagitsune]

The idea of forensic chemistry delights me. It reminds me of how anthropologists figured out that the 'magical' eye kohl cosmetic-medicine of the ancient Egyptians actually turned out to have some important anti-microbial properties. We just might rediscover some crucially important chemical techniques in the next few years!

[@ifancyurmom]

I have never donated money to a channel before but the type of educational content you create, I am very grateful for so I feel it’s only right to. Thank you sir.

[@Segsman100]

I need to find me a teacher for alchemy somewhere, I absolutely love your videos and the in depth information you provide to us about all sorts of Occultism and magic/science. Keep smashing the knowledge Mr. Sledge!

[@the_malefactor]

I just recently discovered your channel and find the material fascinating and the clarity of your communication very refreshing. One of my friends studied with Wouter Hannegraaff and another studied Esotericism at Exeter, so it's great to connect with some of the subjects they studied in such an accessible format. Thank you for enriching the public sphere with such excellent fuel for discussion and inquiry.

[@MM-og6wt]

I got so much out of this video. I really hope that you have more in the future with this kind of depth and wonderful explanations of things that someone like me who is not a scientist or scholar just a curious person who just wants to know can fully comprehend and appreciate subjects like this. Thank you 🙏

[@williammartinactor]

Dr. Sledge: The Road Tour! How wonderful to see & hear you in this setting! 😀

[@Nekkiri]

An absolutely wonderful lecture! Thank You so much! I finally understand the meaning of the image of the Green Lion devouring the Sun, it makes so much sense but it simply didn't occur to me before as I kept seeing it. The Sun corresponds to gold, so the "beastly" thing that "bites" the Sun and devours it totally makes sense as a depiction of Aqua Regia that dissolves gold, portraying the active principle of the compound that turns green in the process - hence, the lion is green. Truly fantastic! I'm so happy! The symbolism of that image always perplexed me. I'm a new subscriber to Your channel and I'm slowly watching through all of Your videos. Thank you so much for making them, You're amazing!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Glad you found it worth a watch! Much of alchemical symbolism is like this - once you get it it makes total sense. The alchemists were often hiding their secrets in plain sight - the best place to hide something. Hope you stick around!

[@SpiralBreeze]

Thank you so much for posting this! I learned a great deal. I watched this with my 13 year old who has been fascinated with alchemy since reading Harry Potter. I even took some notes.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

That brought a smile to my face - thanks for letting me know! I hope they enjoyed it. When I gave that lecture there were some young people in the audience and a couple even asked me some really fascinating questions afterwards. Glad this episode was interesting to you two!

[@yochanan770]

Taken with a grain of salt, the HP series can be seen as an Alchemical operation.

[@julialunde150]

I've been binge watching your videos. I would love to support the channel on patreon once I find steady income. I love everything I've seen so far. Keep it up, I'm a huge fan

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Glad you are liking the content. I'm working hard to provide solid, scholarly material in an accessible format. It's important for me to make this available for folks so I'm super happy you're a fan!

[@helendunn9905]

I really enjoyed the lecture. Thank you so much for sharing it here on KZbin. 👍🏻😄💖

[@F3z07]

You're the best, Dr Sledge. Thank you!

[@Oktaviii]

Great channel! It’s so refreshing to find such content on KZbin

[@PrismaticTarot]

Absolutely love this video!! I love the power point with it it helps me to learn and absorb the information !! Thank you so much for this!!

[@StockAvuryah]

Really interested in the artistic side of alchemy and the series you want to do

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks! We will be covering lots more material on alchemy so stay tuned!

[@colossalcollin]

*I JUST REALIZED DR SLEDGE IS A FELLOW MICHIGANDER* Respect from your brother up north.

[@Zekec47]

Outstanding! Simple, well researched. Plainly presented.. like a thread he ties in so many beliefs, realities, world views. I realize now anything else is simply propaganda.

[@IdealEmpiricist]

I've been loving your videos - as a pharmacist, I find the vast history of Alchemy as intriguing. Then, I heard that you were born in Jackson, MS - even better.

[@metaltony4724]

Great Lecture my friend, thank you

[@michaeldean5787]

Wow, great channel. Thanks for this treasure trove of information

[@joshuaandrew5689]

I can’t stop watching your videos they are the best

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Glad you like my content!

[@joshreynolds8417]

When I heard that you teach religious studies and philosophy at Wayne State, I got intrigued because I live not too far from there. Maybe you'll be my teacher when I finally go to college.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nice - feel free to look up my classes. Though, not so much on esotericisim, unfortunately. Hence the channel.

[@kkeithf]

@@TheEsotericaChannel This should be taught at school, I might have actually paid attention

[@gggyggg123]

Thank you for the beautiful lecture I am really interested in your work

[@Dadadunt]

This lecture makes me wish I went to college, it was truly fascinating.

[@johngavin1448]

Didn’t expect you to be from Mississippi sir! I’m right here in Mobile, Alabama. Super excited to listen to this lecture.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep, glad to have more southerners interested in esotericism!

[@girlswithboyfriends7360]

I love the content! I love the understated humor

[@jackula4298]

Amazing presentation, thank you so much for sharing this.

[@dreadmoc12]

I found that very interesting. Thank you.

[@Healitall]

Amazing. :) I am just watching one video after the other. Learning so much.

[@sophiescholl987]

Wonderful lecture. Thanks so much. You're a treasure! Love the channel.

[@Tarnbar]

Absolutely great talk. I learned a lot, thank you!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks so much, look for more alchemy content coming soon (this Friday, even!)

[@persephonestars796]

This channel is amazing!

[@debralouannascozad-leslie-4901]

Appreciating u and all support and assistance ty

[@terrywallace5181]

A very good lecture. Very informative and very entertaining.

[@tedhand6237]

It occurs to me that there really isn't a book I would recommend for the spiritual interpretation of historical alchemy. I don't think anyone post Atwood have it right, and that reading Jungians/Eliade/Schwaller/Evola/Fulcanelli et al. can only mislead. Janacek and Szulakowska are a couple good examples of studies that deal with early modern alchemies that have religious dimensions, but they don't conclude that alchemy was really about spiritual transformation. Shannon Grimes, Kyle Fraser and others have done a lot to flesh out the Hermetic contexts of Zosimos but I don't think they've proved Zosimos was doing allegory of spiritual transformation even when he dreams that he's the metal being worked on, imho.

[@gphilipvirgil355]

Edinger’s Anatomy of the Psyche has only that focus, on the spiritual/psychological interpretation of alchemy. If I’m reading you right.

[@tedhand6237]

@@gphilipvirgil355 Edinger was one of Jung's disciples. For the critique of the Jungian interpretation of alchemy see Newman and Principe, "Some problems with the historiography of alchemy." I don't doubt that the Jungians have some insights into the western esoteric tradition. It's just problematic to identify the essence of alchemy with some kind of esoteric meditation, under the assumption that the chemical lab work was all nonsense.

[@marcoslimacerqueira7548]

Great work.

[@DanKaraJordan]

In Aristotle's defense, he may have been wrong about every avenue of natural philosophy, but he was still right about his treatment of ethics and given how thoroughly his work on ethics is currently influencing modern psychology, it is looking like he is not about to be overturned any time soon.

[@carwashadamcooper1538]

oh, how i wish you had remastered the audio!

[@soencoda754]

Thank you for your work, it's very interesting, finding scholarly sources on alchemy is nice. The idea of a global theory of nature that includes ethics reminds me of social ecology by Murray Bookchin. Notably the dialectical relationship between man and nature. Does anyone else thought about it?

[@clintonhaws8984]

Great video. Some of my over-wrought thoughts: Heisenberg states that nuclear transmutation is a proof for the Aristotelian conception of a matter as ultimate formless potential. I see this same idea in Plotinus, I dunno how exclusively Aristotelian it is as I don't read much Aristotle. The idea of alchemical transmutation is connected to the "prima materia", some ultimate formless substance underlying change and transformation, even transmutation. The point being, since our modern physics is a continuation of the attempt to systematize and describe nature going all the way back to the ancient Mediterraneans and even earlier, alchemy is part of that continuum and we are its inheritors. Like, modern physics is alchemy revisited and we are still continuing the "great work", the seed of the past is the acorn, modern physics is the growing oak. If anything, modern physics proved that alchemy was essentially correct, and perhaps this will change and transmute us, as you suggest at the end of the video.

[@ausstube]

I’m delighted to learn that you’re a Mississippian - I am too! I found your channel while struggling to understand Dee’s influence on Shakespeare (and why so many authorship candidates were alchemists). I haven’t yet been able to find a digital copy of the small book of alchemy written by the son of Edward de Vere (Edward veer or vere) that was once in Newton’s library. Can you possibly do a show or a little explanation about water of mercury and whether that is physical or metaphysical or both?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Welcome - I cover the nature of mercury in some of my other alchemy episodes. Check those out!

[@ausstube]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Thanks, I will!

[@Occultcafe]

I know it's three years old but I would love a transcription or closed captions on this! I'm not hoh but I have trouble processing spoken words sometimes and cc really helps.

[@patk1958]

The audio is very bad & the captions do not make much sense.

[@marcharley6465]

Brilliant !

[@lelalelui5683]

Very interesting information, Dr. Sledge!! Could you do an Introuction to Kabbalah, too, please?? Sincerely, Your fan

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'm slowly rolling out Kabbalah episodes. Maybe in the future I'll do an intro to the whole subject. Thanks for watching!

[@StockAvuryah]

And thank you for the sources

[@VVeltanschauung187]

Stephanus of Alexandria makes an analogy between alchemy as philosophy; its purpose to strip matter of its qualities to achieve perfection, like a dissolution of the body (separation of soul from body?)

[@depraved420]

Ayy yes it's that time again. Off work and nothing to do. Esoterica it is. 😄

[@RamonMartinez-ny7rg]

This channel is very informative yes! Subscribed

[@thornravencall]

I’m already in love with this channel, but even more so to find out you went to the University of Memphis too! 😂💙🐅

[@spazzychalk]

I would love to see a series on the subject by you

[@enku1]

Woohoo, Mississippi represent! 😊

[@Wolv94]

Which languages would you say are the most vital for going down the path to learn Alchemy and the history of western esotercism, philosophy, annnnnd the occult???? Thank you for your time!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Latin

[@georgerichardson7560]

Great lecture! :)

[@kkeithf]

Great stuff

[@indiopeltier9758]

this guy is awsome,shalome homi

[@Danielst15lm]

Are you going to discuss freemasonry and other modern esoteric groups?

[@ChuiMonster]

Thank youuuuu

[@dougprishpreed919]

Hey Justin, are you from Michigan? Its wild for me to see that some of my favorite youtubers are so near to me.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Not from Michigan, but I live here!

[@domwren]

Really interesting, and more entertaining with all the jokes.

[@yochanan770]

I'm no physicist, but suppose a substance were subjected to repeated disolutions and calcinations; could the same or similar atomic changes occur which would eventually transmute a substance? Perhaps I should conduct my own research.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I don't think so, it's pretty tough to monkey to atomic structures. I mean...unless you have a particle collider.

[@yochanan770]

@@TheEsotericaChannel it's a theory that I've pondered for a while. The changes that occur in the alembic are truly remarkable and slightly mysterious - just as much for their symbolic significance as their physical - so I wouldn't have been surprised.

[@debralouannascozad-leslie-4901]

Leaving Taurus for ram...age of law...stones permanant... bull fire metals...all age ram

[@penitentialarts]

Do you know of any good academic guides to deciphering alchemical paintings and pictures?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

In my experience, it would be difficult to make one guide to rule them all. Each text often requires some degree of individual attention. You may want to check out Adam Mclean's website and youtube channel for many excellent resources.

[@yochanan770]

Adam McClean also provides courses to begin interpreting Alchemical texts and art. Or at least he used to.

[@StockAvuryah]

excellent !

[@DiablitoKawaii]

so if im putting wires into some one else brain to archive a new state of evolution on the darwin scale thats alchemy ?

[@berechee1387]

So in a fact Alchemy "leads" to gold!😊..you said it yourself....did we misinterpretate it?...

[@berechee1387]

So..🤔..the more I know ...the less I know....🕺🎵🥳...so happy! Almost there!...🦜

[@ukeyaoitrash2618]

It is definitely possible to turn lead into gold, and it is in fact done by transmutation, it just costs more energy then the gold is worth 😂

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I mention that in the lecture, even gets a whole slide

[@ukeyaoitrash2618]

@@TheEsotericaChannel yes sorry I wrote it at the beginning 😂 before watching the rest! It was an interesting lecture! I once did a presentation on alchemy for university, mentioned this at the end, got a classmate who had done a whole BA in chemistry after me because they just didn't want to believe this scientific fact 😂

[@MoonMoverGaming]

If only the folks in Flint could transmute lead to gold!

[@saud7205]

who tell that you can transform lead to gold!?

[@atillathehungry3145]

Shit. Now I want to go see some live Sledge.

[@beepboop204]

🙃

[@TheFuture36520]

God will write you 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Nature will find you 😂😂😁

[@Merle1987]

As an academic, you're not allowed to publicly say that you're a practitioner. Just for the other commenters.

[@kiutpi]

Practitioner of what?

[@gphilipvirgil355]

What a shame

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

?

[@robertporte1009]

666