Alchemy is one of the two oldest Sciences known to the world. The other is Astrology. Alchemy is also considered a Ceremonial (High, Art) Magic because of its precision. Astrology is of two kinds: Judicial Astrology (commonly called Astrology), and Natural Astrology (which is called Astronomy). Astronomy and Alchemy are both Sciences and Magics. The beginnings of Astrology and Alchemy extend back into the obscurity of prehistoric times. The Chaldeans, Phœnicians, and Babylonians were familiar with the principles of Alchemy, as were many early Asian peoples. It was practiced in Greece and Rome; was the master science of both the Sumerians and the Egyptians. According to the fragmentary writings of those early civilisations, Alchemy was to them no speculative Art. They implicitly believed in the multiplication of metals; and in the face of their reiterations both the scholar and the materialist should be more kindly in their consideration of Alchemical theorems. Many interesting solutions to the riddle of Alchemy’s origin have been advanced. During the Middle Ages, Alchemy was not only a Philosophy, a Science, and a Magic, but also a Religion. Those who rebelled against the Religious limitations of their day concealed their Philosophic teachings under the allegory of gold-making. In this way they preserved their personal liberty and were ridiculed rather than persecuted. Alchemy is a threefold Art, its mystery well symbolised by a triangle. Its symbol is 3 times 3 — three elements or processes in three worlds or spheres. The 3 times 3 is part of the mystery of the 33rd degree of Freemasonry, for 33 is 3 times 3, which is 9, the number of the esoteric human and the number of emanations from the root of the Divine Tree (3 plus 3 being 6, the exoteric human and the physical manifestations of the myriad forms from the Divine emanations). The Esoteric is the Above, and the Exoteric is the Below; hence “As Above, So Below”.

Alchemy is the Science and Magic of multiplication and is based upon the Natural phenomenon of growth. “Nothing from nothing comes” is an extremely ancient adage. Alchemy is not the process of making something from nothing; it is the process of increasing and improving that which already exists. One of the great axioms is, “Within everything is the seed of everything”, although by the simple processes of Nature it may remain latent for many centuries, or its growth may be exceedingly slow. Therefore, every grain of sand contains not only the seed of the precious metals as well as the seed of the priceless gems, but also the seeds of sun, moon, and stars. As within the Nature of humans is reflected the entire universe in miniature, so in each grain of sand, each drop of water, each tiny particle of cosmic dust, are concealed all the parts and elements of cosmos in the form of tiny seed germs so minute that even the most powerful microscope cannot detect them. Trillions of times smaller than the electron, these seeds — unrecognisable and incomprehensible — await the time assigned them for growth and expression. There are two methods whereby growth may be accomplished. The first is by Nature, for Nature is an Alchemist forever achieving the apparently impossible (as represented in Astrology). The second is by Art (as practiced in Alchemy), and through Art (as in why it is called an Art Magic) is produced in a comparatively short time that which requires Nature almost endless periods to duplicate. This, therefore, is the general aim of the Alchemists — to carry out in the laboratory, as far as possible, the processes which Nature carries out in the interior of the earth. This is yet another expression of “As Above, So Below”: Astrology being the Above; and Alchemy, the Below. Ironically, Judicial Astrology is considered a Low or Natural Magic, while Alchemy is a Ceremonial (Art, High) Magic.