Product Description

Mandalas have been recognized as important tools in Eastern spiritual traditions for focusing meditation. Though various Western traditions possess such mandalas for contemplation, they have not often been recognized as such, except by those deeply schooled in Western esotericism. Adam McLean remedies this by presenting and analyzing in great depth, over forty beautiful engravings, reproduced as full-page illustrations, from alchemical, kabbalistic, magical, Rosicrucian, and Hermetic sources.

This second edition of the first book exclusively dedicated to the mandala tradition in the West is an extremely valuable sourcework for its illustrations and commentaries. Not only is it a comprehensive guide to reading the cosmological and spiritual symbolism of alchemical engravings, it also outlines three ways for working with these mandalas as spiritual exercises.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #294190 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 142 pages

About the Author
Adam McLean is one of the few internationally recognized experts on alchemical symbolism. He has published over forty books on alchemy and related matters, was editor of the Hermetic Journal between 1978 and 1992, and is currently editor of the Alchemy Virtual Library on the World Wide Web.

Customer Reviews

Excellent book for working on Inner Alchemy!
Thisis a very practical book. Starts with a very short introduction to the subject, and describes how alchemical drawings are the equivalent of the well-known Eastern mandalas. Then goes on to describe how to work with, and meditate on, the alchemical drawings in the book. 30 alchemical drawings with explanations follow, and you can meditate on, and integrate, the various symbols in the drawings. Besides it's very practical application, it is very good that the book draws attention to the fact that the West have an as deep and knowledgeable esoteric tradition as the East, and that the West have tools that are especially suitable for the follower of the Western Mystery Tradition. 5 stars!

Wonderful Resource!
As a relatively new student to esoteric philosophies and practices, I have found Adam Mclean's work to be extremely well-presented and documented, as far as possible for such material. Discernment of the vast myriad of publications available today requires great discipline and attention in order for seeking to be fruitful, and Adam Mclean's devotion to bring forth little known resources and point out helpful methods for understanding has great value. His work provides a light in the darkness.
As someone just trying to get a grip on philosophical Alchemy and Hermeticism, I cannot thank him enough for his endeavors.

So what is alchemy?
Adam McLean's greatest contribution to the rediscovery of alchemy are his numerous translations and new editions of hermetic and esoteric texts for which he unquestionably deserves our gratitude. However, I find his original writings on these subjects strangely insipid. After reading several of his books I still don't know whether he considers alchemy to be a purely spiritual discipline, or a laboratory endeavor, or a mixture of both. His pedantic use of what he considers logic seems to paralyze him mentally, thus preventing him from forwarding any specific hypotheses in the name of "objectivity". This fence-sitting can be quite exasperating, especially when couched in a rather bland writing style. Still, this and other books by McLean are worth reading.