1. Alchemy is known from the Greek words “spagyric art” which means “separate and join together”. The best and very well known an example of Alchemy is the transmutation of common metals into gold.
Even though, magic is an illusion it is something that person can learn and there is always explanation for each trick. While science is something that people have to study and do experiments in order to learn something. In my opinion Alchemy has a little of magic and science. It was studied and for each experiment alchemists had an explanation.
2. Holistic Medicine focuses on physical, mental and spiritual elements of body. It does not concentrate only on the ill part of person’s body but on the whole body. Holistic Medicine can also involve conventional therapy but mostly stresses on lifestyle changes. For example, to reduce stomach cancer a person might quit smoking, eat more vegetables and fruits, improve oral hygiene etc. Principal 2 is very similar to Holistic Medicine. The “below is like the “above”. Each part is equal, and if we want to achieve something we must concentrate on the whole body.
3. I think that people are still looking for The Elixir of Youth. People spend a lot of money just to look beautiful, especially wealthy people. They spend thousands of dollars for operations (plastic surgery), creams… everything just to look more beautiful and young. Are they still looking for the Philosopher’s Stone” Yes. I think that oil is today’s elixir of life. I agree with my classmates that it is very valuable because it can be use for various things.
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.
Friday, September 12, 2008
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3 comments:
i definitely agree with you that Alchemy is very well known for transforming metal into gold...but i think what he also does is give answers to questions that we wouldn't normally think about in our everyday life. Though i do think that magic sometimes have no explanations and things just happen...in science there is a way to get to the answer whether it is by experiments or etc...
I liked that you added in your post that people are spending great amounts of money "just to look more beautiful and young." It is particularly interesting that you put those two ideas together. Because, in our current society they are seen to be one and the same. Maybe principle two is hinting at the beauty and youth within being the same as the beauty and youth on the outside. If this were true, we would only need to keep ourselves young on the inside. Maybe, that explains the old song "fairy tales can come true, it could happen to you, if you're young at heart"
I agree with your answer to the third question. Many people today are still searching for a way to prevent themselves from aging. I had also given a similar statement regarding aging products for number 3. I mentioned make up products instead of plastic surgery, but I think that we were both very on point for question number 3.
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