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.
Brian Cotnoir is a dedicated Alchemist who has been working in the field for over thirty years. He has contributed several articles to Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences, the alchemical laboratory bulletin of Frater Albertus. He is currently hard at work on completing his magnum opus, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter. The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy is his first fulllength book.
James Wasserman is a lifelong student of esotericism. His writings include The Mystery Traditions: Secret Symbols and Sacred Art, and Aleister Crowley and the Practice of the Magical Diary. His Chronicle Books edition of The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day features the fullcolor Papyrus of Ani with integrated English translation. The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven has thus far been published in six languages. His controversial The Slaves Shall Serve: Meditations on Liberty defines political freedom as a spiritual value. His newest book is An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar. He is currently editing a series on Western occultism known as The Weiser Concise Guides. You can find him online at www.studio31.com. He lives in New York City with his wife Nancy.
