The other day I was asked how I got interested in alchemy…
My path towards an interest in the philosophy and science of alchemy has come from a rather eclectic background. It was through an interest in the history of science and art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance that lead me to an exploration of the concept of the “Music of the Spheres”. When I read about Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Brahe and their work, set against the context of the political and religious times, I was fascinated. These men, and others, struggled to find the answers to their questions about the macrocosm at the dawn of the scientific method, when the Inquisition was sweeping across Europe and one could easily be labelled a heretic or a witch with a simple accusation. They found their answers, published their findings, and some even paid with their freedom.
Then, in a very similar ‘scientific revolution’ of sorts, at the beginning of the 20th century, with the rise of atomic physics and the contributions of the ‘quantum ten’, people such as Einstein, Bohr, Pauli and his mentor Sommerfeld, his friend and colleague, Heisenberg,etc., struggled to find the answers to their questions about the microcosm.
Both groups of men were pioneers of science and many were deeply religious. Both groups considered the metaphysical and the alchemical realm as they used not only their intelligence and calculations, but also their imagination and intuition to help them divine the answers of the physical universe using the litmus test of the scientific method as it developed, and later, theoretical physics.
The common thread among many of them was their interest in alchemy and the metaphysical realm. In light of the fact all of them worked so hard to prove what was happening in the physical realm, the beauty of what they learned was seen as somehow perfect, divine, and from some source beyond the physical realm. As Kepler noted in his work, he was trying to ‘touch the mind of God’. He did this not out of ego, but out of a profound reverence and respect for God. He was convinced there was a perfect order to the universe.
It has been fascinating to learn about all of this and I will continue my studies to learn more of the history of science, art, religion, and alchemy. Some day I hope to meet like-minded people to learn from and share ideas with as there is no one in my real life circle of friends who share this interest. As I see it, my path is open and the journey is just beginning.
Artwork: Aeterna Saltatus, cAndrew Gonzales,http://www.sublimatrix.com/
Then, in a very similar ‘scientific revolution’ of sorts, at the beginning of the 20th century, with the rise of atomic physics and the contributions of the ‘quantum ten’, people such as Einstein, Bohr, Pauli and his mentor Sommerfeld, his friend and colleague, Heisenberg,etc., struggled to find the answers to their questions about the microcosm.
Both groups of men were pioneers of science and many were deeply religious. Both groups considered the metaphysical and the alchemical realm as they used not only their intelligence and calculations, but also their imagination and intuition to help them divine the answers of the physical universe using the litmus test of the scientific method as it developed, and later, theoretical physics.
The common thread among many of them was their interest in alchemy and the metaphysical realm. In light of the fact all of them worked so hard to prove what was happening in the physical realm, the beauty of what they learned was seen as somehow perfect, divine, and from some source beyond the physical realm. As Kepler noted in his work, he was trying to ‘touch the mind of God’. He did this not out of ego, but out of a profound reverence and respect for God. He was convinced there was a perfect order to the universe.
It has been fascinating to learn about all of this and I will continue my studies to learn more of the history of science, art, religion, and alchemy. Some day I hope to meet like-minded people to learn from and share ideas with as there is no one in my real life circle of friends who share this interest. As I see it, my path is open and the journey is just beginning.
Artwork: Aeterna Saltatus, cAndrew Gonzales,http://www.sublimatrix.com/
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