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An old Rabbinical legend, in describing the banishment of Adam from Eden, states that the angel at the gate instructed Adam in Qabalah and Alchemy before he departed, and told him that when mankind had perfected these arts, he would be allowed to return to the Garden. This story, although apocryphal, demonstrates our deep and enduring fascination with alchemy, and the importance that this ancient science has in our lives and consciousness. From Hermes Trismegistus' Emerald Tablet, whose two main offspring are western hermeticism and alchemy, to more modern interpretations from Jung, countless writers and philosophers have placed great importance on the study of alchemy. Whatever its ancient origins, most of alchemy as we know it today came from Arabia, as taught to the Knights Templar in their travels through the Holy Land. Upon their return to Europe, the Templars both founded their own magical orders and taught and were absorbed by others, always integrating the philosophy and practice of alchemy into their work. One of the three original Rosicrucian manifestos, The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, is almost entirely alchemical in its symbolism, and one ancient text seems to indicate the Masonic order was originally founded by alchemists who wished to band together to protect their alchemical secrets. To this day, these organizations and others incorporate alchemy in their studies, and its study is the main focus of the higher grades of the larger esoteric groups. In fact, alchemy is revealed to the initiates of these groups only when they reach the higher degrees of initiation, as it is held to be a great and important mystery not for the beginner. These people and groups, ancient and modern, all knew one thing: alchemy is a powerful system of esoterics, initiation, and spiritual development. It is one of the few initiatic systems that puts equal emphasis on the outer, physical work of the world and the inner work of the spirit, and it is this balanced approach which makes it as relevant now as ever. The physical work of alchemy is complex, but guided by a simple principle: what Nature creates, Alchemy perfects. Starting with natural plants, metals, and minerals, and always working with the laws of Nature, the alchemist removes the impure, focuses the pure, and intensifies the life force of the original matter. The result is a concentrated physical substance with all of the original qualities of the initial matter, but in an elevated and perfected form. This substance is itself so perfect that it is able to perfect anything it interacts with according to its own inner qualities. The ultimate result of the alchemical Art is the fabled Philosopher's Stone, which perfects all metals to gold and all humans to immortal. Amazing though this may seem, all true alchemical preparations manifest this same perfecting quality, at different degrees and each in its individual way. This is because the complement to the physical laboratory work is spiritual and energetic work, and the creation of a sphere of planetary archetypal energy. The laboratory is charged with the appropriate energy for each operation, according to the planetary archetypes, and the plant, metal, or mineral is then worked on inside that sphere. The alchemical work of destroying, purifying, and reviving the matter takes it through successively higher cycles of birth, growth, death, and reincarnation until it embodies the highest incarnate state it can achieve. Because, as Hermes Trismegistus said, that which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, these creations of the alchemical Art become links in a chain of influence, and are vessels charged with a pure planetary energy and able to transmit that energy to the next link- you. This chain of influence can be used as part of an active spiritual path in many ways. Hermes' law also means that, just as our universe is made up of cycling planetary bodies, we are made up of corresponding cycling influences, at all levels of being. At the higher level of the eternal soul, these energies reside in the subtle centers or Chakras, and their balance, strength, and weakness relative to each other determine much of our individuality. When one of these Chakras is blocked or imbalanced, karmic "stumbling blocks" are created in our path of spiritual growth, and work must be done to overcome these blockages. Our preparations were created according to alchemical principles, and work to enter, open, and balance the Chakras and energy centers according to each center's appropriate planetary rulership. The Chakras and the whole being are then open to the flow of universal energy, creating a purified and perfected spiritual body which encompasses its own sphere of planetary energy and is your vehicle to go forward on any initiatic path. In our laboratory, we have created several preparations to help you reach your highest level of being. Spiritualized Essences are a higher version of our more physical and medical Essences. Our Spiritualized Essences retain the full chemical and healing qualities of the plants from which they were made, but have been alchemically charged and elevated past a purely medicinal extract. The resulting Spiritualized Essences operate on the subtle levels of the physical being, supporting the vital energy of the body, its organs, and functions. Without a healthy body, spiritual work is difficult, and without a long and healthy life span, advancement is limited. Our Spiritualized Essences are a result of alchemy's emphasis on working with all levels of being, and a tool in the ongoing quest for longevity. Magisteries are the highest level of preparation a plant can achieve. Each Magistery contains every possible constituent of the plant, purified and elevated, and each takes over a year to make. The result is a perfect expression of pure, archetypal planetary energy which can be used to support your strengths, transform your weaknesses, and bring greater balance to your spiritual body. The Magisteries are also useful in more active paths of spirituality, where the practice requires a full saturation of the self with certain qualities of energy for the cultivation of greater knowledge or aptitude. Our Oils of Minerals and Oil of Amber are not like the charged water or alcohol sold as "Gem Elixirs", but are true extracts of minerals and gems. Just as alcohol extracts the essential qualities of a plant and leaves the plant body broken down and spent, we are able to extract the essential qualities from minerals. In all natural things, the essential oils are the soul of the being, its most etheric and pure level of existence, and this level, and the oils in which it resides, exists in minerals as well as plants. Our alchemical work extracts the essential oils from minerals and gems, oils which have individual scents and tastes, and are the colour of the original stone. The crystalline forms of minerals are like the flowers of plants- they are the most beautiful, perfect and pure manifestation of that being's self. But unlike plants, whose life spans are measured in years, minerals grow for millennia, and this longer life span gives them higher and more powerful qualities of energy than plants. In the years since we started Al-Kemi, we have seen a great resurgence of interest in alchemy, as both a healing and spiritual path. Our involvement in the inner and outer work of our laboratory led us naturally to a desire to participate in this renaissance, and to add our own work and insights to the living continuum of alchemical thought passed down since antiquity. Our studies, writing, and teachings are our contribution to this vital tradition, and our alchemical products are our work to make this tradition practical and relevant in a modern world. For available herbs, prices, and ordering information on our Magisteries, as well as our other products, visit our shopping area or contact us. Our Magisteries are also available together in a kit for personal development and growth through the system of Alchemy and the archetypes of the planets. Because of their concentration and power, our Spiritualized Essences and Oils of Gemstones are available only under the guidance of a health care practitioner. Please contact us to find a practitioner in your area or to have information sent to your health care provider. In addition to the initiatic work described above, we also make Spagyrics for Physical healing of the Body level and for Energy-based healing of the Spirit level |
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