Many of you may have familiarity with the term “Alchemistâ€.*
For most this term conjures images of early experimenters attempting to chemically convert lead or base metals into gold, and the search for the chemical elixir of life.* These experimenters did indeed exist, their work being the forerunner of modern chemistry.* As there were “operative†alchemists, so there were also “speculative†alchemists.*
Speculative alchemists are often associated with Hermetic philosophy, and employ symbols of metals, elements, the planets, and chemical processes to describe and understand the spiritual process of personal improvement.* The founder of Hermetic philosophy was an Egyptian sage Hermes Trismegisus.*
To the Egyptians he was credited as the author of all the arts and sciences.* Deified by different cultures, he was known as Thoth by the Egyptians, Mercury by the Romans and Hermes to the Greeks.* While in all probability there actually existed a great sage by the name of Hermes, it is impossible to extricate the historical man from the mass of legendary accounts of him. *One of the famous writings of Hermes was the Emerald Table, which contains thirteen sentences summarizing Hermetic thought.*
Full Article: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/alchemy_freemasonry.html
For most this term conjures images of early experimenters attempting to chemically convert lead or base metals into gold, and the search for the chemical elixir of life.* These experimenters did indeed exist, their work being the forerunner of modern chemistry.* As there were “operative†alchemists, so there were also “speculative†alchemists.*
Speculative alchemists are often associated with Hermetic philosophy, and employ symbols of metals, elements, the planets, and chemical processes to describe and understand the spiritual process of personal improvement.* The founder of Hermetic philosophy was an Egyptian sage Hermes Trismegisus.*
To the Egyptians he was credited as the author of all the arts and sciences.* Deified by different cultures, he was known as Thoth by the Egyptians, Mercury by the Romans and Hermes to the Greeks.* While in all probability there actually existed a great sage by the name of Hermes, it is impossible to extricate the historical man from the mass of legendary accounts of him. *One of the famous writings of Hermes was the Emerald Table, which contains thirteen sentences summarizing Hermetic thought.*
Full Article: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/alchemy_freemasonry.html
