Originally posted by toolman
Alchemy is not to be confused with Chemistry. they are two very seperate branches of science / philosophy.
Uhm...no
Alchemy is both the psychological as well as the chemical approach. It wasn't till the 17th century when the scientists of those days took a part of
it and turned it into what we know as chemistry today.
If you study alchemy in the traditional form you'll be tracing it back to Roman/Greek times, Arab Times, Egyptian. You'll see that there are also
other variants around the globe with the same foundations. Where do you think Asians came up with gunpowder and such? That wasn't chemistry, but
Alchemy which made use of the aspect known as chemistry today. But Alchemy still is chemistry as well no matter what.
So seeing alchemy and chemistry as 2 things is...well...incomplete. Alchemy can be used as chemistry, but chemistry can not be alchemy. Only in todays
view thery are seen as 2 different things, but not when put into the context where it belongs and where it came from. Modern times has butchered and
bastardized a lot and this is one of em.
Alchemy was used for many reasons and not just for spiritual growth and to understand life from a philosophical point of view. If I said that to my
alchemical friend he'd point and laugh and then continue his work.
[edit on 15-7-2006 by Enyalius]