Dictionary of Alchemy: From Maria Prophetissa to Isaac Newton

By Mark Haeffner

Book Overview

An in-depth reference book detailing the material and spiritual aspects of the complex esoteric tradition of alchemy. Alchemy is a rich and complex esoteric tradition that has flourished world-wide... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 185538440X
• ISBN13: 9781855384408
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Thorsons Pub
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Opus Alchymicum

I am sure that the classical alchemists would have regarded this book with outrage- not because it does not contain their deepest secrets, but because it makes them so easily accessible. You see, this book is more than a mere dictionary of the terminology of the Sacred Science, it is a virtual one-volume encyclopedia covering in detail the processes, principles, and history of the craft. The twenty-one-page introduction alone is one of the best brief histories of the subject that I have seen. Haeffner is an excellent writer that obviously has true understanding and sympathy for his subject. This is not just another dry, hostile, academic historical survey. The material covered is exhaustive and comprehensive. The Gnostic and Hermetic roots of the western tradition are examined in detail. Of course, there is a thorough coverage of the golden age of the Art during the Renaissance. In addition, modern rediscovery and interpretation is also covered (chiefly through Jung's work.) If this wasn't impressive enough, the author also delves into the Arabic, Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. Further interconnections are shown with the subjects of astrology, mythology, numerology, natural magic, and prophecy. Indeed, this volume can serve as a grand survey of all of metaphysics.In reading this book you gain deeper respect of the value of gaining mystical insight into the divine secrets of nature through a rigorous course of study involving both laboratory experimentation and religious meditation. You realize that the physical universe is not a dead and meaningless place. You begin to see that all of nature contains profound spiritual and moral lessons put there by the creator. It isn't that modern, conventional science is incorrect; it is just that it makes a mistake in assuming that the lower physical aspect of nature is the totality of existence. It makes a mistake in refusing to recognize the inherent meaning existing in world. After all, Ashmole, both Bacons, Keplar, and even Newton knew this.There is an extensive seven-page bibliography for further study.My only criticisms of this volume are that while it has an attractive and artistic cover, it is otherwise bereft of illustration. A subject as heavy with symbolism as alchemy benefits greatly from visual examples. There is also the fact that the cheap grade of pulp paper is unworthy of such an otherwise fine volume, though I have noticed that this is a common problem with books printed in Britain.

another good one out of print...

....easy-to-use dictionarylike reference book on alchemical symbolism. Pick it up if you see it somewhere. Not hugely comprehensive but a good quick resource.