Product Description

Alchemy offers tremendous insight into alternative therapies, new medicines, and the depths of the human mind. Illuminating a truly esoteric practice, Mark Stavish reveals how to create and apply "medicines for the soul" in this remarkable guide to plant and mineral alchemy.

The Path of Alchemy introduces the history and basic laws of this ancient practice, and explains how it ties into Qabala, tarot, astrology, and the four elements. Safe, modern techniques-based on spagyrics (plant alchemy)-for producing distillations, stones, tinctures, and elixirs are given, along with their uses in physical healing, spiritual growth, psychic experiments, initiation, consecration, spellwork, and more. Each chapter includes meditations, projects, and suggested reading as aids to "inner transformation," an equally important aspect of alchemy. Tools, rituals, lunar and solar stones, and the elusive Philosopher's Stone are all covered in this comprehensive guide to alchemy.


Finalist for the Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Best Magick/Shamanism Book

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30205 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780738709031
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Publisher
"The Path of Alchemy lays down a golden thread for the student to follow as a guide into the secretive world of the most arcane art in the Western Inner Tradition, transporting the reader into the actual workings of laboratory alchemy. From the basics of making simple, yet powerful, spiritual and physical medicines from plants, to detailing some of the most closely guarded secrets of mineral alchemy, The Path of Alchemy holds aloft the Lantern of Nature to help illuminate the Novice's path. For those who do the work this book will ignite the spiritual flame within."
John H. Reid III, author, of Alchemical Gnosis, and A Course in Practical Alchemy

"The Path of Alchemy is an insightful, highly practical work, dedicated to the perpetuation of this ancient Art and Science. It promises what Alchemy promises: "No Work, no result," as is most certainly the case. Having myself completed all seven years of classes at the Paracelsus Research Society in the mid 1970's to early 1980's under Frater Albertus himself, I highly recommend this book. Its balance between theory and practice are what the sincere Seeker into these Mysteries needs, in order to learn from within, and accomplish in the 'without.' It is the finest piece of writing-clear, detailed, eclectically sound, and as complete as any work in this area can be-that I have seen in the past three decades. It is as indispensable as is Frater Albertus' own timeless classic, The Alchemist's Handbook."
Joseph C. Lisiewski, Ph.D., author of, Ceremonial Magic, Kabbalistic Cycles and the Mastery of Life and Kabbalistic Handbook for the Practicing Magician

"Mark Stavish has been a prolific writer on alchemy over the years and this book represents his finest work yet. It is a must for any study of alchemy in understanding the subtle side of its process. He writes with a knowledge and insight that comes from years of experience and yet is presented in an easy to read format. Mark's work is quite unique and is a valuable addition to the various alchemical paradigms that are starting to expand through the literary fields."
Pat Zalewski, author of Golden Dawn Enochian Magick and The Kabbalah of the Golden Dawn

About the Author
Mark Stavish (Pennsylvania) has been a long-time student of esotericism and is a frequent lecturer on ancient occult knowledge. Founder of the Institute for Hermetic Studies, he is the author of numerous articles on Western esotericism. In 2001 he established the Louis Claude de St. Martin Fund, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the study and practice of Western Esotericism. He has also served as a consultant to print and broadcast media and several documentaries. He holds undergraduate degrees in Theology and Communications and a Master's in Counseling.
Pat Zalewski and his wife, Chris, live in Wellington, New Zealand, where they are co-chiefs of the Golden Dawn Temple, Thoth-Hermes.  Both were initiated and instructed in the Golden Dawn teachings by ex-members of the New Zealand temple Whare Ra, which was  founded in 1912 and closed in 1978.  Both are keen astrologers and have a strong interest in Wiccan craft and the study of comparative religions.  They have written a number of books together on the Golden Dawn theme. ~

Customer Reviews

A Future Classic
The Path of Alchemy - Energetic Healing and the World of Natural Magic by Mark Stavish is simply the finest book on practical alchemy that I have ever read. While focusing on introductory material and plant work, or spagyrics, it has enough meaty stuff for everyone. There is a fascinating discussion of the role of homeopathy in alchemy; extensive meditations and practices to link laboratory work (Labora) with inner work (Ora); initiation and the Tree of Life via alchemy; and some good background material on alchemy in the 20th Century. However, even the appendices are juicy in their description of the Tarot and the Alchemical process; the famed Longevity Tea of the Comte de St-Germain, similar to the confirmed recipe found in the long out of print, and very valuable biography on St. Germain by Jean Overton Fuller, and a fascinating description of the Flamel Path, of Nicholas and Pernelle Flamel, made famous in the first Harry Potter book, "The Sorcerer's Stone". If you are going to read just one book on alchemy this year, or ever, I suggest "The Path of Alchemy".

P.S. Speaking as someone with next to no background in the Art, Mark Stavish has delivered a user friendly manual that renders the most obscure and complex material in plain language. However, this does not imply that the work is simplistic. As the Alchemists say, it requires both prayer and labor, "ora et labora".

The best of all possible beginnings
This book is a true gem. Before reading it I had little interest in laboratory alchemy and while I still have little interest in the path of mineral alchemy, my interest was more than just a little piqued by this book.

Plant Alchemy or spagyria is the application of alchemical theory to herbal products. By breaking up the plant into it's "Mercury" (alcohol product), "Sulfur" (essential volatile oils) and "Salt" (the white/gray ash left over from a slow, low temperature burn) these three principles are then recombined in various ways (even producing a plant "stone") to enhance and purify the occult, energetic properties of the plant.

The true value of this book is in the author's ability to make the work seem so possible, even easy. Mr. Stavish also has the courage to admit that he believes that plant alchemy can be more than just a healing art but also has the potential to be an initiatory path in and of itself (a claim usually reserved for the path of laboratory mineral alchemy). I agree with him with the caveat that a strong energetic bond must first be forged with the very plant whose product is being worked upon. The practice of "dieting" a plant as practiced in some South American shamanic traditions would seem to be a useful practice as a preliminary to such laboratory work (see Plant Shamanism by Heaven and Charing).

The only criticism I have for this book is that it would seem to make it all look too easy. In fact I would prefer to have more guidance in the actual temperatures at which to heat the product at various stages and for how long to expect each stage to take. I would also have liked to learn more about the distillation processes as the technique Mr. Stavish goes into is only for those on a shoe string budget. However, as the title of my review states, this book is the best of all possible beginnings.

Other sources to study are the works of Junius Manifred and the works of Jean DuBuis whose works expand upon and fill in the gaps of this brilliant primer.

Excellent and practical alchemy
This book remedies one of the main problems in publications about alchemy - it is both understandable and practical! The basic practices and symbolism of alchemy are detailed, with emphasis on spagyrics (plant alchemy), including how to make various tinctures and plant stones. The author is to be commended for laying open so clearly this complex area of esoteric study.

This book is not for the lazy! It gives you material that will take years to work through, though it is all explained in a way that will encourage you to try things and see for yourself. It has certainly got me thinking about purchasing some of the equipment to give it a go!

A cautionary note, some of the alchemical symbolism differs from the classic Qabalistic symbolism. The author does explain this, so pay attention to these sections to avoid confusion. All in all this is an excellent practical and thought provoking book that I would recommend to everyone who is genuinely interested in magick. I hope the author will write a further book exploring the wealth of alchemical symbolism with a similar level of clarity to further the availability of the huge corpus of alchemical material which is largely ignored today. Now pass me that alembic!