Outline of alchemy
overview of and topical guide to alchemy
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to alchemy:
Alchemy – A philosophical tradition recognized as protoscience, that includes the application of Hermetic principles, and practices related to mythology, religion, and spirituality.
Branches
Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam
Chinese Alchemy
Neidan
Processing (Chinese materia medica)
Iatrochemistry
Spagyric
New Age
Psychoanalysis
Analytical psychology
Individuation
Metacognition
Rasayana
Influences
Influences upon alchemy – alchemy developed dependent on a number of influences and experienced regional and period-specific variations:
Aristotelianism
Esotericism
Western Esotericism
Esoteric Christianity
Gnosticism
Hermeticism
Humorism
Metallurgy
History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent
Platonism
Neoplatonism
Pseudoscience
Pythagoreanism
Taoism
Stoicism
Related fields
Anthroposophy
Astrology
Ayurveda
Homeopathy
Kayaku-Jutsu
Magic, magick
Moxibustion
Tay al-Ard
Yoga Nidra
Concepts
Alchemical elements – Primarily the four Classical elements of:
Fire (classical element)
Water (classical element)
Earth (classical element)
Air (classical element)
For variations see: Wu Xing • Mahābhūta • Five elements (Japanese philosophy)
Alchemy in art and entertainment
Alkahest
Anima mundi
Chrysopoeia
Filius philosophorum
Takwin
Homunculus
Philosopher's stone
Cintamani
Elixir of life
Panacea
Prima materia
Yliaster
Septenary of the seven metals and Classical planets in Western alchemy
Lead • tin • copper • iron • mercury • silver • gold
Saturn • Jupiter • Venus • Mars • Mercury • Moon • Sun
Tria Prima (three primes)
Salt • mercury • sulfur
Body • soul • spirit
Unity of opposites or coincidentia oppositorum
Hieros Gamos
Rebis
Processes
Magnum opus – great work of alchemy consisting of:
Nigredo
Albedo
Citrinitas (sometimes excluded)
Rubedo
Alchemists also engaged in practical and symbolic processes including:
Calcination
Ceration
Cohobation
Congelation
Digestion
Distillation
Fermentation
Filtration
Fixation
Multiplication
Projection
Solution
Sublimation
Symbolism
Alchemical symbol –
1. Glyphs
AGLA
Monas Hieroglyphica
2. Imagery
Suns in alchemy
Undine (alchemy)
3. Visual Symbolism
Porta Alchemica
Serpent (symbolism)
Caduceus
Ouroboros
Nehushtan
Scientific connections
Biological transmutation
Chemistry
Historicism
Nuclear transmutation
Obsolete scientific theories
Physics
Scientific method
Synthesis of noble metals
Substances of the alchemists
phosphorus • sulfur (sulphur) • arsenic • antimony
vitriol • quartz • cinnabar • pyrites • orpiment • galena
magnesia • lime • potash • natron • saltpetre • kohl
ammonia • ammonium chloride • alcohol • camphor
sulfuric acid (sulphuric acid) • hydrochloric acid • nitric acid • acetic acid • formic acid • citric acid • tartaric acid
aqua regia • gunpowder
blue vitriol • green vitriol • vinegar • salt
more...
Apparatus
Stills
Alembic
Retort
Retort stand
Vessels
Aludel
Crucible
Hessian crucible
Cupels
Mortar and pestle
Heating devices
Athanor
Bain-marie
Sand bath
Alchemy organizations
Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism
Freemasonry
Rosicrucianism
Alchemical texts
Axiom of Maria
Alchemical Studies (Carl Jung)
Aurora consurgens
Buch der heiligen Dreifaltigkeit
Cantong qi
Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz
Hermetica
Emerald Tablet
Sirr al-khalīqa ("The Secret of Creation")
The Hermetical Triumph
Fasciculus Chemicus
Musaeum Hermeticum
Mutus Liber
Rosary of the Philosophers
Splendor Solis
Theatrum Chemicum
Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum
The Mirror of Alchimy
Turba Philosophorum
Journals
Ambix
Aries
Early Science and Medicine
Isis
Alchemists
The most influential names in the history of alchemy include:
Hermes Trismegistus – by tradition, the founder of Western alchemy; many alchemical works were attributed to him.
Wei Boyang – authored the earliest known book on theoretical alchemy in China.
Pseudo-Democritus – anonymous author of the oldest extant works of Greco-Egyptian alchemy.
Zosimos of Panopolis – influential Greco-Egyptian alchemist.
Khālid ibn Yazīd – credited with introducing alchemy to the Islamic world.
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