It is true that many alchemists in the past sought to change lead into gold and this is the image that sticks in most minds when they read or hear the word “alchemy”. For some, transmutation was an outward sign, a dramatic one at that, of inner attainment. Others saw it as a profound insight into nature. For quite a few, it was a dream for fast money. A few saw it as a way to bring about peace and prosperity for the multitudes of sick and poor.

This quote from the German occultist Franz Hermann in his “Alchemy” explains it all quite nicely:

Alchemy is a Science of Soul that results from an understanding of God, Nature and Man. A perfect knowledge of any one of them cannot be obtained without the knowledge of the other two, for these three are one and inseparable. Alchemy is not merely an intellectual but a spiritual science, because that which belongs to the spirit can only be spiritually known. Nevertheless, it is also a science dealing in material things, for spirit and matter are only two opposite manifestations or poles of the eternal One.
In essence, what he means is that alchemy is a mixture of both spirituality and science. The two coexist and cannot occur without the other. It is the reason the more metaphysical aspects, such as astrology, homeopathy, meditation or prayer, yoga, etc are aspects found within the art.



Where It All Began

It is not known in our prehistory where alchemy truly began. Some believe that God taught it to Adam and later to Moses. Others maintain that fallen angels taught it to human women in exchange for sexual favors. In some minds, it is a remnant of lost Atlantean technology. Or perhaps, it was extraterrestrials who taught it to our ancestors? Whatever its true origin, recorded history shows the first written record was in ancient Egypt. It was a place where mystery and magic permeated throughout the land and the God of Wisdom and Magic, Thoth (Greek Hermes) was a major aspect.

Egyptian priests who worked with materials that we describe today as chemistry hold the most interest for alchemists. They often worked under an oath of secrecy with their art. These priests developed skills in metallurgy, ceramics, medicine, mummification, and winemaking. Also, they studied operative forces that were at work in the universe. The “Neteru” is the name by which they called these forces. From this word, we obtain our own “Nature”. Therefore, we could say The Neteru are the forces of Nature.

Thoth, more so as Hermes, is still a dominant presence in alchemy. It is said that from him, came the knowledge of alchemy. He taught it to man and is a sort of Patron Saint. In symbolism, he can be found in the figure of the Pope (often called the Hierophant or Teacher of Mystereis). He is a form of Thoth.

It is also accepted within Hermetic societies that the very word “alchemy” takes its name from the Greek name for Egypt, “Khemet” or “Khem”. This means “The Black Land”, which referred to the annual flooding of the Nile leaving a thick layer of dark, fertile soil after the waters receded. This is why, when the knowledge of Egyptian Secret Sciences came to Greece, it was called “Khemia” or “The Black Art”. This Art migrated further east to Arabia, after Rome became Christianized and outlawed the practice of alchemy. The Arabic prefix “Al” was added to the Greek Khemia, thus, we have “Al-Khemia” or “Alchemy”.