Dr. Israel Regardie, who was my friend and mentor, suggested this school to me. At the same time, the person who had taught me the rudiments of Qabalah, Dan T., also referred to this school, indicating I would do well to look into it. Simultaneously, Mary F. invited me to her home to meet two people who had an unusual hobby: alchemy!

        These two people, Kurt and Helene von K., were destined to become good friends and teachers of mine. They talked about alchemy and how they cured their son of a mental dysfunction through the use of alchemical preparations. They showed us a small vial of an oily substance and declared that it was "oil of iron". 

         As a graduate civil engineer with an MBA and 20 years in the logical discipline of computer information systems, I could not readily accept what they told me. My engineering background always insisted that I should see, feel, taste and touch things to verify their reality. I had never heard of oil of iron, nor the oil of any other metal, so it could not possibly exist! That was my mind set at the time. Nonetheless, they managed to capture my interest. 

        What got me excited was that they had studied under Frater Albertus at the very same school that I had recently heard so much about, the Paracelsus Research Society! They explained how to apply to the school, and tantalized Mary and I with stories of alchemy.

        It did not take long for me to get on the telephone with Dr. Regardie and with Dan. They urged me to go. The clincher was Bill, an Episcopalian priest, who committed to attend, and my friend Mary decided to go as well.

        We applied, were accepted and soon found ourselves in Salt Lake City at the P.R.S. awaiting the commencement of the Prima class. The night before, the meeting room was abuzz with the new students. Sixteen in all, all ready to start the first of seven two-week courses at P.R.S. to learn the rudiments of alchemy.

        Everyone was intensely interested in everyone else: how they came to be here, what they were into, and so on. It turned out that the students were into a variety of things. There was a couple from Canada who had studied alchemy, they said, for many years, under the guidance of the god Mercury. There was an opera singer and her husband who was a conductor of a symphony, as well as being a concert pianist. He had been a child prodigy and had studied under Kofdaly.        

        There was a sweet old lady in her late 70s who was into crocheting; a computer programmer; a chiropractor; a chap who told us he was the master of the martial art of swords (and gave some fascinating demonstrations of power); a high energy Ph.D. candidate from Norway studying at M.I.T.; an industrial engineer; a surrealistic artist; a chemist (who was to perform some incredible alchemical experiments later on); a medical doctor; a priest; a lady who had been the secretary to a state governor, and a civil engineer. A mixed crew indeed! Yet before long, sharing this special experience, we came to be good friends and most of those friendships are as strong as ever today. Everyone button-holed everyone else and got into serious discussions of all sorts.

        The martial arts expert, in answer to my question as to what his art bought him, said: "I can tell past lifetimes from the aura". I urged him to 'read' my past lifetime. He squinted at me, sort of over and behind me and I could scarce conceal a smirk. Boy, was he 'coming on'! After a few minutes he told me I had been a worker in the pyramids of Egypt but was killed in an accident. I was stunned! This was the precise substance of a recurring dream I had as a teen. That I was working, as a stone mason in a pyramid when a block of stone struck me in the head and I died! This little incident was to be the first of many "weird" and often disquieting events during this class.

        The next morning, we assembled in the meeting room, per instructions from 'Sorror Emmy' bright and early. We could hardly await the arrival of 'Frater Albertus'. He arrived promptly and seated himself at the head of the table saying, as he was to do for the beginning of every class I took, "Good Morning Everyone" and then became silent and allowed his eyes to rest for a few moments on each student.

        He himself exemplified his belief in creating written records. Each experiment that was performed, was carefully written up in notes. These notes were, of course, kept by the student, and one set was put on file in the P.R.S. records.             The three basics which Frater told us all things were made of, were called by the alchemists, Sulphur, Salt and Mercury. These were analogs for Soul, Body and Spirit. Or, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, or Solids, Liquids, Gasses. In fact, a large set of triplicities fit these terms. He described and showed us the differences in these three as they varied in the different kingdoms of vegetables, minerals and animals. He taught us how to extract these, from plants, how to purify them and how to conjoin them again. His purpose was to show us the parallels between the kingdoms and how, using this spagyric technique, one could make medicines.

        Potent medicines. Medicines that were, in the main, different from those prescribed by orthodox physicians, yet medicines that have been known for millenia, preserved in "old wives tales", American Indian lore and in other 'occult' respositories. As we shall see, these medicines are being "revived" and are available to the public. It is my belief that it is from alchemical medicines pernicious diseases will at last be overcome. These medicines consisted initially of herbs and plants. Then we progressed to working with such metals as Antimony and Iron. In P.R.S., we used, as a text, Basil Valentine's incredible book, Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. Herein lie explicit, clear instructions on how to transmute a rank, poisonous element, Antimony, into one that can be used medicinally. From this matter, all manner of marvelous medicines can be made.

        While Basil Valentine set down many recipes there are a few "blinds" in his writings. To be absolutely sure in preparing such medicaments, one should seek a teacher to guide the student through the little traps set for the unwary. It is interesting to note that in the March 1987 issue of "AMBIX" magazine, Dr. Lawrence Principe, now at Johns Hopkins University, wrote an article in which he received a government grant to replicate the work done by Valentine in "Triumphal Chariot". His research proved to be invaluable as he showed a few 'traps' in the work and developed techniques to obtain the "Tincture of Antimony" by making this healing substance from the glass of antimony. In a conversation with him, I indicated it was not so much a miracle that he was indeed able to replicate the experiments, but that he got the government to pay for it! Larry injects the scientific disciplines into an arcane subject.

        In a different operation, we separated the essences of common chicken eggs and from the sulphur thereof, we produced a medicine that has proved salutary in incidences of artheriosclerosis. This substance, an oil, is also marvelous as a topical. Jody, my wife, will not be without it now as a skin care product. The metals, having long absorbed planetary influences, are far more powerful than herbs in healing. Consider the energy that was required to form a half fingernail covered with Uranium. How wonderful it would be if this energy could be harnessed for healing rather than destruction.

        Frater told us of the "Philosopher's Mercury" and of the "Stone of the Philosophers", legendary alchemical items. He did not show us, directly, how to create these things, but gave us hints, stories, analogies and insights. His method was, true to the code of alchemy, NOT to give anything away on a platter, but to make you work for it. To sweat for it. So, it was to be years later on, that marvelous day that I succeeded in making some potent alchemical, medicinal products as well as the sought-for goal of the alchemists, mercury. Oh, not quicksilver, but the Philosophical Mercury. The Universal Dissolvent. When my friend and teacher Dan T., helped me achieve this goal, I literally fell on my knees to thank the Father for his grace in discovering this secret to me! This is a product that thousands have worked for and yet few have obtained.

        Through all of this, Frater was ever mindful of and conveyed to us, the goodness and love of our common father for all his children. Indeed, as indicated by Valentine and others, the revelation of preparing these alchemical gifts were a direct gift of God. I don't think anyone in this domain doubts that! To augment this spiritual aspect, Frater read to us from such canonical texts as the (King James) Bible. He "opened us up" to new ideas as to how Qabalah and Alchemy were quite prevalent in this Holy book.

        In fact, we were all amazed as he offered proof after proof to substantiate his statement that the Bible is a Manual of Alchemy and contained vast secrets for those who have eyes to see. In my classes and seminars, I cite examples from such canonical texts as the Bible, to show how these texts are written in a code. A symbolic code that must be penetrated in order to glean the true (and hidden) meaning. As an example, there is a section in John that shows how to prepare the Philosophical Mercury! Genesis is a treasure house of mysteries not discerned by the casual reader. As Paracelsus told us, the Qabala (a Spiritual discipline that is part and parcel of alchemy) opens all sealed epistles.

        At the end of the seven year cycle at P.R.S., I had absorbed a good deal of alchemical knowledge. In fact, I got "hooked" on it. As a former counselor in a drug program, this is the only "addiction" I can safely say is healthy.

        My personal activity in networking started with my producing retyped and translated copies of old alchemical texts. This has caused many a student to knock at my door. It is a rare day when I don't write SOME fellow alchemist SOME where in the world!

        There are more alchemists than are dreamt of, Poland, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, India, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Australia and other countries.

        Before examining alchemy today, let us take a brief look at the principals behind the phenomena of alchemy.

        Firstly, as indicated, alchemists consider ALL things as composed of three essential, sulphur, salt and mercury. These are actually, consciouness (sulphur), a vivifying life force (mercury) and a vehicle in which the latter two are housed (salt). They correspond to soul, body and spirit, in that order. This is the same spirit and soul as found in religion. However, in alchemy, we learn how to separate these three so that they can be seen and held. This is part of the vast field of alchemical theory but a theory that allows direct proof to be made. You can see, weigh, and taste the three essentials from the various kingdoms. This enables you to KNOW and experience their existence rather than having faith. Alchemy trades off knowledge for belief!

        In the Indian alchemy called Ayurveda, the same principles apply under the term "Gunas" and include Sattva (consciousness), Rajas (spirit or energy) and Tamas (body or mass). Techniques for separation of the three principles are available as well as teachings for the "Three Fold Process", Separation, Purification and Cohobation. As an example, in the plant world, one can extract the alchemical sulphur; which is the essential oil. Then one can extract, from the putriified plant, the spirit. This exhibits itself as alcohol. Happily, "store bought" ethyl alcohol will do nicely. Finally, the residue of the plant, the 'fecal matter' is burned or calcined to a white ash or salt.

        These are all purified and then brought back together (cohobated) and through a certain process can be formed into a stone-like matter called a Plant Stone. So, we have killed the plant to enable it to give up its soul and spirit. Then we have re-united them and thus resurrected them in a new and glorified body. This product is the highest form of the plant attainable. Philosophically speaking, we note that the plant could not do it for itself. It needed a higher power (in this case, processing by man) to accomplish this highest transmutation. The plant stone can not only perform interesting physical phenomena, but is an extremely powerful medicine. What it will cure depends on what plant or herb it was made from. Alchemists believe that the teachings of astrology apply here.

        The plant stone is also a teaching device as its confection is an exact analog of how to make a stone in the other kingdoms. The curative powers of the plant stone are the focused and the concentrated healing powers of the original herb. If the herb had been rosemary, the part of the body it would heal would be the heart, since rosemary is a sun plant and the sun governs the heart.

        Further, the sage plant, governed by Venus which also governs the kidneys, would be useful in kidney problems. Mercury governs valerian and the thyroid so a goiter condition might be eased with a tincture from the valerian plant or, more likely CURED with a valerian plant stone. While the sulphur is the major healing agent, utilizing, spagyrically ALL the parts of the plant, a more efficacious medicine will obtain. Going a step further, we know that planets also have rulership over metals as well as plants and specific parts of the body. The Sun for example rules gold and Venus rules copper. The Sun also rules sunflowers, frankincense and rue as well as the heart. It should be clear then, that a medicine can be made for specific parts of the body from metals. And that since metals have "been around" longer, absorbing beneficial rays, they will be more potent.

        Recall the analog of Uranium! How do you make a tincture from a metal? Why just like one does with the plants. "As above, so below". I can personally attest to the efficacy of Aurum Potabile or tincture of gold. The process is one of extracting the sulphur of gold, purifying it and using this product as a medicine. As mentioned, if one could combine the other two essentials, the effect would be absolutely astonishing. However, getting the other two essentials in the mineral kingdom is not so easily done!

        Returning to the present, what is happening now? Sources tell me that more alchemical information is being made available than ever before. Anyone working in this field can tell you that. Alchemy is said to have Sufi roots. Frater Albertus in his book "The Alchemist of the Rockie Mountains" refers to this. He went so far as to say that in the HinduKush mountains, in a little town called Nuristan, alchemists were busy converting base metals into gold. Their purpose was to prepare for the financing of the coming avatar. An atlas shows this town to be in Afghanistan. Did you ever wonder why the Soviets were so bent on getting into Afghanistan? There weren't all that many natural resources available. In fact, it is only a very hardy person that can eke a living from that difficult and hostile country. So what did they want? Could it be they heard that someone was producing gold there? Maybe even mass producing it? Who can say with certainty? The same sources mentioned, said that the Adepts who were there moved to France well in advance of the Russians. Again, anyone in this field will tell you that, yes indeed, France is a hot bed of alchemical activity. More groups being formed, more books being written, etc. Lets consider some specifics in various countries including France. Australia is very "hot" when it comes to alchemy. As an example, Dr. Manfred Junius has formed AUSTRALHERBA to formulate various spagyric products. He combines the essences of herbs (all three essentials) with honey and other natural substances. These products will nourish the body like no other substances can. His herbal wines are the spirits of plants extracted purified and combined with other essences to create an invigorating and stimulatng beverage. These qualities are imbued by the herbs used.

        Would you believe: "A healthy wine"? These products are now being distributed in the United States. Dr. Junius, a friend, has written excellent books on alchemy, gives concerts playing the Sitar and he also teaches alchemy and otherwise shares that which he has been given through lectures and seminars. Dr. Junius will be in Dallas the last week of July 1990 to teach a one week course in Alchemy.

        Jurgen Klein, together with his wife Ulrike, have formed 'Jurlique Ageless Skin Care Products'. He was a student of Rudolph Steiner and taught at the Waldorf School. Dr. Steiner was a brilliant man and his pioneering work with herbs and plants are carried on today by the Waleda Co. who offer various health and cosmetic preparations.

        Dr. Conway of New Zealand, who was a student of Frater Albertus, (as was Dr. Junius) founded a firm to compound creams and emolients from natural ingredients using spagyric techniques. That is, alchemical processes.

        On Connaught Circus. in New Delhi, we find the "Ayurvedic Pharmacy" where alchemical products are sold over the counter and are compounded to prescription. Out in the front of the pharmacy, we find workers with huge iron mortars and pestles.

        With it they grind metals laboriously by hand for months. Day after day they grind a particular metal or gem into a powder so fine it is almost a liquid. These are then treated and mixed with other ingredients to make medicines. Diamond powder will yield a medicine for the brain, and gold bashma (oxide) is salutary for the heart. And many Indian preparations contain shilajeet which is obtained from a certain type of rock from the Himalayas. This rock, under the influence of moonlight, oozes out a tar like substance. It is this tar-like material that is used to provide medicinal effects.

        Alchemy is especially flourishing today in France. Jean Debuis leads a group called "Les Philosophes de la Nature". The organization boasts a membership of over 1500 people, all practicing alchemy. I mentioned this organization to friends in Colorado and it was decided to organize an American branch. The lessons from France are translated into English and offered to Englishspeaking alchemical students as a correspondence course.

        The lessons span a number of years and include Qabala as well as Spiritual and Practical Alchemy. These lessons are being offered today. And Karin Kabbalah in Jasper Georgia, offers a very complete set of lessons dealing with the Qabala.

        In the fall of 1986 I spent a week with an alchemical society called Filiation SOLAZAREFF. They held a 'pilgrimage' in the woods of southern France. The proved alchemy can be done "in the wild" without the trappings of modern equipment and "store bought chemicals". Solazareff is a powerful and charismatic man who is well versed in alchemy. He and his followers consider themselves to be the 'guardians of alchemy' and in particular in the service of "La Dame" (the Virgin).  I documented this adventure in A French Alchemical Romance and Adventure, which is included in the book Alchemical Symbols.

        In Germany, Barbara Theiss formulates herbal medicines and markets them. And in Germany, long a bastion of alchemy, numerous Hermetic groups flourish.

        In Belgium Dr. I. Beck spearheads alchemical studies in Antwerp and in Bruxelles Marcel Jirousek is researching the properties of magnesium as a cure for AIDS.

        In Switzerland, a group that studied under Augusto Pancaldi are busy translating his writings from Italian to German. (While my group, R.A.M.S. is busy translating German into English!) Augusto was a gentle and knowledgeable alchemist.

        It was he who arranged for Frater Albertus and Eugene Canseliet (the latter served under the master Fulcanelli, who legend reputes to be hundreds of years old!) to meet and exchange views. It is regretable that all three of these giants of alchemy have passed through transition. However, Urs G. and Alois W. keep the work of Pancaldi ongoing.

        Siegfried H. in Canada reports that there is a Swiss PRS group that follows the precepts laid down by Frater Albertus even to the extent that they make spagyric preparations. Also in Canada, Ralph F. has started an alchemical study group.

        In Spain Julian P. and in Portugal Jose A., typify alchemists who, with members of their groups, search the writings of the ancient alchemists to extract clues to be more successful in their alchemical endeavors.

        Germany, Switzerland and England have organizations publishing alchemical journals. Arthur Fehres, in Australia, relates he is working on a new technique to obtain oil of iron. He teaches alchemy in two-week seminars. It will be recalled that oil of iron is helpful in problems concerning the head. It has proved most effective in severe headaches and might prove effective in amnesia and other such "head related" problems. It appears to work better than anything you can get in the drugstore, we might add!

        Greg Collins relates that due to a history of family colonic cancer, he had a check up. To his great dismay, polyps were discovered in his colon by his physician. He decided to try some alchemical preparations and took a colloidal extract combining gold, silver and copper. In addition, he took three drops of gold tincture once a week. Five weeks later, his physician, after exploratory examination, announced, "The polyps went away". A check-up in May this year re-confirmed the efficacy of the gold tincture.

        Mary Lynne of Ohio read a passage in Biblical Exodus that gave her a clue to making perfumes. It gave her insight on how to extract, from a handful of dried flower petals, copious quantities of essential oils. From this oil she made delic ate and exquisite perfumes. Her pupil Pete B. still produces perfumes from the generated oils. George F. is overseeing the printing of a book by Mary Lynne describing her techniques. George, a beautiful man and friend conducts private research into alchemy and has been a fifty year member of an esoteric RC order, AMORC.

        Dan T. used his knowledge of alchemy to make herbal flavorings. These are used to create delicious beverages often found for sale in health food stores. Dr. Jack Hinze and his son Shane have an organization (Apotheca Naturale) that produces a variety of spagyric tinctures. Dr. Dan Clark, of Melbourne Florida has formed Bioactive Nutrients and offers spagyric and homeopathic tinctures and remedies.

        Harold Wilson has developed an incredible biodegradable solvent that will radically dissolve gold! The marvel of his invention is that it contains no corrosives, no toxic chemicals, and one of its main constituents is water. This could be a great boon for anyone in the gold-mining business. Ore containing a variety of elements are introduced into this fluid and it radically dissolves ONLY the gold. A second fluid precipitates the gold back out and recovery is at the 99.6% level.

        Bill van D. has developed nutrients that will feed gold and make it multiply. Peter M. grows gold crystals. Other people are engaged in making exotic palliatives and cures, doing private research, and so on.

       Surely this business with gold sounds, well, far fetched. But that is probably due to a lack of exposure to and awareness of, these recondite disciplines. Yet we read that Dr. Paul Cottle, of the University of Florida, is utilizing a linear accelerator to hurl lithium ions at gold, thus converting it into lead. Shades of wrong-way Corrigan!

        Dr. Cottle, of course, was trying to prove something about the functioning of atomic nuclei. He also gave weight to the idea that transmutation is entirely possible.

        But Bainbridge, Sherr and Starr proved that in the 1940s as have recent experimenters in Australia (alchemists) who have transmuted quicksilver into silver and have created artificial gems indistinguishable from the 'real thing'.

        And as exemplified by Larry Principe's research, the governments of various countries have shown to be QUITE interested in alchemy. A paper studying the possibility of producing work from the heat given off by transmutations conceded that the work of Kushi, Kervran and others were correct. That is, transmutations DO take place. This paper was written by the U.S. Army!

        Beyond this, there is actually a tremendous amount of alchemical activity taking place. As previously indicated, hundreds of researchers are in the laboratories trying to wrest the secrets of healing and of life itself, from Nature. Many closely follow the teachings of the ancient alchemists, reading texts written long ago. They try to decipher the archaic and code-like words often written in foreign languages.

        To aid them, my group, R.A.M.S. is involved in translating old alchemical texts and transmuting these ancient manuscripts from dusty items taking up space, into a form readable and thus usable. It is hoped that some researcher will discover a new approach or even a key to unlock secrets heretofore hidden away. To some extent, this has already been the case.

        These are usually not large organized groups but clusters of individuals now turned on to the possibilities promised by alchemy. And, to some extent folk concerned about the environment and pollution seeking better ways.

        Russell Schilling in Atlanta, Ron DiSalvo in Marina del Rey, Dhyana M. in Marietta, Robert M. in Marshfield WI, Anthony House and Laura J. both in Seattle, Mack Ross in Australia and a veritable legion of individuals are tuned into the same philosophy and trying to use alchemy to help their brothers and sisters.

        We would be remiss not to mention other literary efforts in the Hermetic field. These include Publications such as "The Hermetic Journal" published in England by the tireless Adam McLean; the eclectic magazine GNOSIS; Dr. Hoffman's "Four Worlds Journal", the French journals "Tempete Chymique" and "La Tablet Emeraude"; a newsletter emanating from Israel "Kabballah"; the Swiss alchemical German language Journal "Essentia"; the venerable "AMBIX" from England; from the U.S. we find "Cauda Pavona" and "Hermetica" both published in academic environments and, of course, the venerable FATE. Mr. Ritman in Amsterdam has opened to the public an incredible library of alchemical documents. This is the "Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica". Tom Brown's "Borderland Sciences" group often have articles on Hermetic subjects. The American branch of the Les Philosophs de la Nature will soon produce a newsletter to add to a growing number of alchemical journals. They are based in Boulder CO.

        We can see then, that there is quite a bit going on, with or without our knowledge. There are many more groups and invididuals than imagined working quietly, even secretly, doing research, conducting experiments, testing and finally, it is hoped, coming up with those products that are most potent in healing. Perhaps, some of these researchers will be instrumental in bridging the wide gap between the alchemist and the scientist.

        It might be asked, and who are these people? Since I travel all over the U.S. and beyond, giving lectures, classes and seminars, I can answer that question with accuracy.

        The answer is: the neighbor down the street, your Sunday school teacher, the milkman and a host of others that one would not suspect as being involved in arcane studies. They are without doubt out there. And they aren't mysterious or sinister folk either. They are sincere, probably very spiritual, people dedicated to the common good.

        One day, like Sir Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton, they will "come out of the closet". Hopefully, at that time, the fruits of their discoveries in alchemy, unlike Boyle and Newton, will be recognized and utilized to heal mankind of all his illnesses, both spiritual and physical. As the good Lord told us in Genesis, all these things, plants, herbs, minerals, etc. are here for our use and benefit, to nourish and sustain and heal us. Thus it was He who instituted this Holy Art and Science.

        He left for US the challenge and joy of discovering the deepest secrets of matter. Truly, as Frater Albertus was wont to say: "God IS good".

Finis.