Alchemy: Difference between revisions

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Producing gold from lead ([[You Fail Economics Forever|just ignore how it would make gold worthless]]) was considered possible by the ancient alchemists [[hottip:*:<ref>and indeed, it has at last been done with particle accelerators, [[Awesome but Impractical|although the process costs more money than the gold you get will pay for]]</ref>, but this was only a parlor trick. The ''panacea'' could cure any disease and extend life. But what alchemists worldwide were truly looking for was a formula that would grant life eternal. In Dar-al-Islam, it was known as the ''elixir''. Indian alchemists sought it as ''soma ras''. In Christendom, it was called the ''philosopher's stone.'' This was the ''Great Work''. <ref>One notes that they considered the transmutation of gold and the achievement of immortality to be connected. Because gold does not tarnish, rust, corrode, etc., it is immortal.</ref> Some of the alchemists were even rumored to have succeeded -- there are occultists who will inform you that le Count de Saint Germain, born in the 18th century, still walks the streets among us. The same is said for the alchemist Nicolas Flamel and his wife who lived in Paris in the 15th century.

Alchemists had a vast cosmological worldview that shares more in common with the ancient pagan pantheon than it does with either monotheism or modern science. They believed, as did [[Aristotle (Creator)|Aristotle]], that the world was composed of a handful of elements that generated the world by moving according to their own natures, animated by the great Source from which all life sprung. Western alchemists generally divided the elements into fire, water, wind, earth, and quintessence (star-matter). Eastern alchemists had a different worldview, and saw fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. Due to the repression of alternative religious philosophy in Europe, many alchemical books are intentionally difficult to read and understand.

'''Modern'''