ALUNA TEMPLE MAGAZINE EDITION No5 'ALCHEMY' | Page 76

The very word ‘Alchemy’ almost at once brings up images of old men with
long white beards, cloaked in violet robes, bent over cauldrons and retorts by
the light of candles. However, alchemy hasn’t been since very long as actual in
our society as it is today, albeit in a different concept.
What I would like to offer you here, dear reader, is a bunch of thoughts in
relation to ‘alchemy new style’. Opening up for something new almost always offers
an opportunity for further discoveries, which is quite alchemistic in a way.

Al-chemy, the ancient attempt of turning ordinary metal into gold,
or by extent finding longevity and eternal youth.
Since long described as ‘the precursor to profound powers’, alchemists tried to
find the philosopher’s stone, chrysopoeia (litt. the gold-maker), later referred
to as elixir of life, which would enable them to turn lead into gold.

The alchemist’s process is to bring about a trans-form-ation,
meaning a radical change of form. By extent, an intense transformation
would be a trans-mutation, or a transformation on all levels, also called
metanioa. Transmutation goes beyond transformation, in that not only the
mere form is altered, but characteristics as well.

But what’s so special about gold then? Apart from being bright and
shiny. Gold isn’t even all that rare. However, gold-fever seems to be an
awkward condition.
The value of the material gold is only a value in the world of human beings by
sheer agreement. Thus, its value depends on the circumstances. An amount of
gold enables one to buy food; however gold is far from edible. Hence its use in
survival circumstances is rather limited.
Turning lead into gold, turning
water into wine... In more modern
words turning something worthless into something valu-able. This
is refreshing: the emphasis no
longer on the gold, but on
something valuable.

And value, dear reader, is very
personal indeed.
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