The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) Paperback - 2006

In The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, Brian Cotnoir offers a detailed, stepbystep introduction of Alchemy that explores its mysteries while illustrating its use as a modern spiritual system of attainment. He provides an overview of the history of Alchemy, from the first meldings of Egyptian technology, through the Middle Ages--the golden age of alchemyright up to contemporary techniques. He demystifies the relationship between Alchemy and chemistry, and he provides evidence to detractors that Alchemy is much more than a medieval form of psychotherapy. (The guide includes practical laboratory experiments that safely, and intelligently, lead readers to an understanding of this ancient art and spiritual practice.)

From the introduction:
Brian describes this book as the one he wishes he had available when he began his lifelong study of Alchemy. I challenge any reader to find a more succinct and clear guide to this science and art.

The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy is replete with actual exercises of the alchemical art such as:

• distillation and further processes to extract aqua vitae and the 'spirit of wine'
• the purification of salts through calcination, crystallization, and sublimation
• advanced processes for obtaining such alchemical precursors as Archaeus of Water, Oil of Tartar, and the Spirit of Wine of the Sages
• herbal work for obtaining spagyric tinctures, magistries, ens, and stones
• mineral work for obtaining the salts and oils of metals.

The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy makes Alchemy a viable and valuable modality that can be used for understanding and working in concert with the energies of Nature for spiritual development, healing, and transformation.