24. Alchemy and Hermeticism

Amanita muscaria and Philosophical Alchemy, Hermeticism, the Occult and Judeo-Christian Mysticism

Each of these categories are often considered to be separate belief systems and yet these belief systems are mixed to such a large extent that there is no “pure”strain. Alchemy for example contains elements of Hermeticism, Occultism, and Judeo-Christian mysticism, and each of these categories also contain major elements of the others.

These belief systems were developed or surfaced during the early Medieval period under the fierce persecution of heretics and other thought criminals by the Roman Catholic Church, thus many of their texts are written in a way the church would not suspect of heresy and often symbols and pictures are used instead of words to carry meaning in the form of a symbolic language.

In a further effort to keep their heads upon their shoulders many authors of these texts used assumed names and since Europe’s Jewish population was not subject to the same rules the church applied to Christians, many “Christian”authors used Jewish names. However there is considerable cross over between Christian, Muslim and Jewish thought at this time and the Kabbala was widely studied by Alchemists and Hermetic students. The use of assumed names by authors of these types of texts lasts until the 1600"s when the power of the Church to torture and kill for the crime of heresy declines in most areas of Europe, only then authors began to put their own names proudly on their work.

Alchemy is the art of transmutation, which is divided into the two main branches of Practical Alchemy and Philosophical Alchemy. Practical Alchemy concerned itself with the transmutation of lead into gold and the experimental exploration of matter which over time developed into the science of modern chemistry, this branch of Alchemy does not concern us, except to realize that not all Alchemy is the same.

In contrast the goal of Philosophical Alchemy is the spiritual transmutation of men into more than man through the use of the Philosophers Stone and the Elixir of Immortality. These Philosophical Alchemy texts are full of bizarre imagery and veiled references to Amanita muscaria as the Philosophers Stone the source of the Elixir of Immortality. They also show a series of transformations involving the Philosophers Stone which when understood as Amanita muscaria corresponds with the resurrection of the dried mushroom and the secret of the Holy Grail.

Hermeticism is a mixture of beliefs drawn from Egyptian and pre Christian Greek sources. The Egyptian god Thoth was thought to be the author of several Hermetic texts. The Greek name for Thoth is Hermes Trismegistus meaning “Hermes the thrice greatest”. Many Hermetic authors signed their work as Hermes Trismegistus or variations thereof believing the text was directly inspired by Hermes Trismegistus. The Greek god Hermes (Roman Mercury) is found widely in Hermeticism, Hermes is winged with wings on his ankles, shoulders, or on his head and he carries the same winged staff wound with serpents, “the caduceus’ that modern Medicine uses for it’s symbol of healing. The Greek Hermes, a healer, the god of commerce, invention, cunning, theft, messenger and herald to the other gods, a patron of travelers, and leader of souls to the underworld. Hermes is also associated with Hermaphroditism (Hermes + Aphrodite) the occurrence of male and female sexual characteristics in the same body, named after Hermaphroditus the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, who became united in one body with the female nymph Salmacis. This joining of the opposites of male and female in one body is apparent in the Amanita muscaria mushroom which appears to be both male and female genitalia. Hermetic also stands for sealed, a Hermetic seal is air tight thus Hermetic knowledge is Sealed knowledge, one must break the code to access the sealed knowledge.

Occult means hidden, as in hidden knowledge, the occult is often thought of as dealing with “supernatural” knowledge, and viewed from the standards of the Church as being evil, even Satanic. Yet, the Occult is best understood as Esoteric knowledge that was intended for only a few people. Esoteric and Occult are synonyms for the words mystery and mysterious which evolved from the Mystery religions of ancient Eurasia.

From the ancient Mystery religions we also have Mystic and Mysticism. Followers of Mysticism are often outward believers in more organized religions and are often called Christian mystics or Jewish mystics yet all Mystics share more in common than their religions seem to share. All branches of mysticism believe in the personal experience of God through a divine rapture, an indescribable bliss which carries them to other levels of perception and reality. The belief that man in a physical body can experience God seemed heresy in the more organized religions and Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have all persecuted Mystic sects.

Not all Mystic sects know of Amanita muscaria and some would not use it if they knew that secret, instead the rapture is generated through meditation or other means, including other psychoactive drugs such as Hashish used by some Hindu and Muslim mystics.

There is however a large number of Christian and Jewish Mystics that did know of and use Amanita muscaria as a Sacrament. Some like Jacob Boehme created beautiful images containing the Amanita muscaria Sacrament in plain sight. Hiding the Secret in images that can only be understood if you already know the Secret, is one way to preserve and pass on the Sacred knowledge. Only those with eyes to see will see.

The Second Key of Basil Valentine

Hermes, the Sun & Moon on earth, spread wings rooted to the earth.

Sun & Moon fill Hermes Sacred Cup. Azoth

One who knows the Heavens points to the Sun & Moon on the Earth. Azoth From the Sun & Moon on Earth the water of Life flows. Hermetic Garden

Testament of Christ-Jacob Boehme

From,

Kelley’s Terrestrial Astronomy

Hermaphrodites on the mountains.

A closer view, some have fallen over.

Into the Wizards vessel they go.

In the Rosary of the Philosophers the creature above transmutes into the Christ below. The Hermaphrodite holds the Grail sprouting snakes and holds the serpents of wisdom in the other hand. The risen Christ below wears a new robe.

Adam & Eve from the Hermetic Garden

Hermaphrodite egg from Azoth Sun & Moon under the Earth, a baby dragon in the divine egg suckles from his own tail. Hermetic Garden

The Alchemical Secret of the Holy Grail Hermetic Garden The Immortal sprouts in a cloth covered vessel. Hermetic Garden

Mars & Venus creating Hermes Hermetic Garden

Sun & Moon on Earth-Jacob Boehme

Sun & Moon on Earth-D. Teeter

Photo Neil Switkowski