What Alchemical Symbols REALLY mean

Alchemy was an area of study rich with symbols that were more than just signs Alchemists use these symbols to encapsulate their unique blend of science mysticism and philosophy they were also used as a universal language and means to guard their secretive practices beyond their practical meanings alchemical symbols held great symbolic representations here's every major alchemical symbol you need to know number one the three primes the concept of the Tria Prima or three primes was introduced by the 16th century Swiss philosopher paracelsus he proposed that these elements were key to understanding diseases and their cures as well as defining human nature with each element correlating to a specific aspect of human identity these elements are Mercury Mercury symbolizes the mind and a state transcending mortality known historically as Quicksilver it was thought to oscillate between liquid and solid symbolizing the transition between life and death salt in the alchemical sense salt represents the body or physical matter it's related to solidity stability and crystallization symbolizing the tangible physical aspects of both the world and humans sulfur sulfur symbolizes the soul or emotions It's associated with properties like heat and dryness mirroring the fiery active aspects of the Soul sulfur is the driving force similar to how emotions can drive human actions and reactions together these three primes are seen as the foundational substances and principles that constitute the universe and everything in it including us humans number two four classical elements in alchemy the concept of the four classical elements is Central to understanding how Alchemists viewed the universe and the nature of matter Earth this element symbolizes solidity stability and physicality in alchemy Earth represents the physical body or the solid state of matter it's associated with qualities of groundedness heaviness and permanent it's the foundation or the base upon which everything else is built air air symbolizes the intangible the mental and the spiritual it represents things that are hard to grasp or see but are essential for life like breath or wind in alchemical practices air is linked with the Mind intellect and the non-material aspects of existence it's often considered the element of communication and movement water water water symbolizes fluidity emotion and intuition it represents the flowing moving aspects of life and matter water can take the shape of whatever contains it which in alchemical terms translates to adaptability and transformation it's also associated with the deeper aspects of the psyche and the emotional realm fire fire represents transformation energy and passion in alchemical Tradition it's the force that can both create and Destroy symbolizing processes of change such as combustion or the digestion of food fire is seen as the element of purification and is often associated with creativity and the spirit these four elements are not just seen as physical substances but also as spiritual and philosophical principles that describe the different states of matter and aspects of Human Experience Alchemists believed that by understanding and manipulating these elements they could control the natural world and even Achieve Personal transformation and Enlightenment number three seven planetary medals the seven planetary Metals in alchemy are linked to the seven classical planets in astrology each representing different physical and spiritual properties gold gold is associated with the sun and symbolizes Perfection Enlightenment purity and immortality it's considered the most noble and perfect of the metals often representing the ultimate goal of the alchemical process silver silver corresponds to the moon and represents Purity Clarity and reflection it's often associated with the feminine principle and the unconscious mind reflecting qualities like intuition and mystery Mercury this metal which as we've already seen is also one of the three Primes is associated with the planet Mercury in alchemy Mercury is often seen as the mediator between the spiritual and material Realms copper linked to Venus copper symbolizes love balance Beauty and artistic creativity it's often related to the feminine aspect and is seen as a conductor of energy and a balance between opposites iron iron is associated with Mars and represents strength assertiveness and resilience it's often connected to masculine energy and can symbolize conflict and action Tin Tin corresponds to the planet Jupiter and is seen as a symbol of wisdom expansion and prosperity it's associated with higher thinking philosophy and the pursuit of knowledge lead lead is linked with Saturn and symbolizes transformation although it's seen as the basist of the metals lead's association with saturnian qualities like discipline andru structure make it crucial in the alchemical process of transformation and transmutation these metals are not just physical substances but also represent various states of being spiritual principles and paths to personal and metaphysical transformation number four the mundane elements then we have the mundane elements these refer to the common substances and materials that Alchemists worked with in their practical experiments and symbolical interpretations they are considered mundane in the sense of being more ordinary or Earthly compared to the more spiritually and astrologically significant elements and metals vitriol known today as sulfuric acid vitriol was essential in Alchemy for breaking down substances symbolically it was seen as a powerful transformative substance capable of purifying or decomposing materials antimony used by Alchemists in purifying processes antimony symbolized the wild Untamed aspect of Nature and was often used in efforts to purify other metals arsenic known for its poisonous properties Arsenic and Alchemy symbolize both danger and transformation it was used in various processes often associated with transmutation these mundane elements played a dual role in alchemy serving as both physical substances used in laboratory work and as symbols for deeper spiritual and philosophical Concepts number five symbols representing philosophical Concepts alchemical symbols for philosophical Concepts represent a blend of mystical spiritual and material ideas philosopher stone this was a legendary alchemical substance that could turn base Metals into gold or silver it's also believed to offer Rejuvenation and immortality for many centuries finding the Philosopher's Stone was the main goal in alchemy an alchemist's effort to discover the philosopher stone was known as the magnum opus sadly no one was successful in this endeavor this legendary Stone embodies the ultimate goal of alchemy not just physical transformation but also the transmutation of the human soul into a higher enlightened State akin to achieving Heavenly Bliss or a profound understanding of the universe oror the oror symbolizes the concept of Eternity and the Perpetual renewal of life this represents a core idea in alchemical philosophy that everything is constantly evolving yet remains fundamentally unchanged green lion the green lion represents raw nature the untamed and unrefined a aspects of the world it also represents copper acetate an important substance in alchemy the green line is sometimes seen devouring the sun symbolizing the powerful sometimes destructive nature of certain substances and the idea that raw natural materials can be used to achieve higher states of knowledge in being White Eagle the symbol of the White Eagle in alchemy stands for sublimation and purification key processes in the alchemist's work the White Eagle signifies the movement from a lower baser state to a higher more refined condition both physically in substances and spiritually in the practitioner Black Crow or Raven this symbol represents the stage when an alchemist Heats a substance to break it down into its basic components much like the breakdown of ego and false beliefs in personal transformation the black crow Pro Heralds the destruction that must occur before there can be creation Alchemy as it was practiced in medieval times has largely evolved into modern scientific disciplines particularly chemistry and medicine but it's not entirely dead it lives on through its symbols found in various aspects of modern culture from art and literature to psychology and spiritual practices which one was your favorite alchemical symbol let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed this video please like it and subscribe to our Channel it helps our Channel grow so we can continue to make more content like this thanks for watching

Channel: Symbol Sage

Views: 195,231

Keywords: alchemy, alchemical symbols, ancient symbols, symbols, symbolism, meaning, three primes, planetary symbols, philosopher’s stone, Mercury, Salt, Sulfur, Earth, Air, Water, Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Iron, Lead, Antimony, Vitriol, Ouroboros, Green Lion

Id: WeTboOMtsAU

Length: 10min 53sec (653 seconds)

Published: Tue Jan 09 2024