1. “A branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.” This is the definition for science from the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. “The art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices” This is the definition of magic from Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Alchemy can be said, is a sort of mixture between the two. Alchemy is hard to define, because it did not base its studies in one concrete field. Alchemy studied the nature of substances, which can be viewed as the scientific approach. However, it also dealt with its search for the Philosopher’s Stone, which “transmuted baser metals into gold.” This is part of the definition of Random House Unabridged Dictionary. In the definition it is also included that Alchemy has to deal with philosophy as well, Alchemy was a way to find meaning to our existence, what is our role in the “big scheme of things”. Alchemy was a mixture of many things, and the search for the Philosophers Stone added a great deal of magic and mystery but that was never the only message, role, which Alchemy meant to play.
2. Holistic medicine is one in which not only the physical state is taken into account. Just because a person has no ill, meaning that there body is physically well, does not mean that there is nothing wrong with them. Holistic medicine, takes the well being of a person to a whole new level, implementing the person’s mental and emotional well being along with the physical. “2. What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing.” In other words the below and above are necessary for the well being of one thing. In holistic meaning, the physical and psychological parts of a person are both needed for the well being of a person.
3. I was not sure what the Elixir of Youth and the Philosopher Stone meant so I did what any other person does, I Google. And after doing some reading I could not understand why people thing that Alchemy is “a quack hobby”, and I’ll explain why. The elixir of youth, which is a potion that can grant eternal youth, how can anyone not see this relating to us; In a world where people are running to the plastic surgeon, where skin laser technology is available, and people are running to get Botox injected into their face? Not only that but an actual pill called “Elixir of Youth” which said that if taken regularly can slow down the aging process and even fight off disease, what more proof do we need that the connected with the philosopher’s stone and today’s modern age are similar, if not the same. Although the argument that it can transmute metals into gold, is a leap. However, society is always looking for ways to increase wealth, and maybe this was the basis of looking for a philosopher’s stone in the first place. But it was also meant to “cure illnesses, prolong life, and bring about spiritual revitalization”. It seems to me that all of these results from the philosopher’s stone are still being implemented today. There are research centers which devote all of their time to finding a cure for cancer, AIDS, and many other diseases that still plague the world today. And prolonging life, the same can be said, there are scientists who spend all of their time finding ways for people to live longer, such is the case with the “Elixir of Youth” pill. The search for spiritual revitalization has been a philosophical search since the beginning of time. The methods might be different but the searches for all of the components of the Philosopher’s Stone have always been present.
The Emerald Tablet
The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus
The Precepts of Hermes, engraved upon the Emerald Tablet
1. Speak not fictitious things, but that which is certain and true.
2. What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing.
3. And as all things were produced by the one word of one Being, so all things were produced from this one thing by adaptation.
4. Its father is the sun, its mother the moon; the wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the earth.
5. It is the father of perfection throughout the world.
6. The power is vigorous if it be changed into earth.
7. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, acting prudently and with judgment.
8. Ascend with the greatest sagacity from the earth to heaven, and then again, descend to the earth, and unite together the powers of things superior and things inferior. Thus will you obtain the glory of the whole world, and obscurity will fly far away from you.
9. this has more fortitude than fortitude itself; because it conquers every subtle thing and can penetrate every solid.
10. Thus the world was formed.
11. Hence proceed wonders, which are here established.
12. Therefore, I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
13. That which I had to say concerning the operation of the sun is completed.
The Precepts of Hermes, engraved upon the Emerald Tablet
1. Speak not fictitious things, but that which is certain and true.
2. What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing.
3. And as all things were produced by the one word of one Being, so all things were produced from this one thing by adaptation.
4. Its father is the sun, its mother the moon; the wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the earth.
5. It is the father of perfection throughout the world.
6. The power is vigorous if it be changed into earth.
7. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, acting prudently and with judgment.
8. Ascend with the greatest sagacity from the earth to heaven, and then again, descend to the earth, and unite together the powers of things superior and things inferior. Thus will you obtain the glory of the whole world, and obscurity will fly far away from you.
9. this has more fortitude than fortitude itself; because it conquers every subtle thing and can penetrate every solid.
10. Thus the world was formed.
11. Hence proceed wonders, which are here established.
12. Therefore, I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
13. That which I had to say concerning the operation of the sun is completed.
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I agree with you that both parts of a person, the psychological and the physical are connected and therefore both are needed for the well being of that person. through that we see a clear application of principle two, “What is below is like that which is above, and what is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing.”
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