From: tyagi nagasiva
To: alt.magick
Subj: Alchemy (9310.alchemy.tn)
Date: 49931014


As above, so below.

The concepts of 'spirit' and 'matter' are fine for implying the very
important revelation of our divinity.  Yet they are ONLY concepts,
and, as Josh and Peggy point out, there is quite an overabundance
of anti-materialism masquerading as beneficial process.

It may be the goal of some people to 'become pure spirit', but I
think this is about as ludicrous as 'becoming pure matter'.  They
are only perspectives, and my preferred means of placing them within
a comprehensive model is by associating the 'material' with the
'objective' or 'outward-looking' view and the 'spiritual' with the
'subjective' or 'inward-looking' view.  Two sides of the same
experiential coin.

Alchemy is probably one of the more perfect examples of how the
intersection of objective process (abstracted into chemistry)
and the subjective process (abstracted into rosicrucianism) must
be seen as a whole in order to fully comprehend its relevance.
No doubt alchemists throughout history have varied in their focus
on objectivity and subjectivity.  Some were no doubt complete and
diligent chemists.  Some were likely strictly mystics with no 
connection to chemicals and laboratory apparatus.  Yet the most
powerful, the most authoratitive alchemists, were probably those
who explored both realms completely and attempted to fuse them
into a perfect unity.

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

tyagi nagasiva
tyagi@HouseofKaos.Abyss.com