Term

Alchemy

also known as the Royal Art, spagyrics

Definition

Ancient art and proto-science of material and spiritual transformation. Outwardly: turning base metals into gold. Inwardly: a coded process of purifying the soul, with the metals as ciphers for stages of consciousness. Practiced from Hellenistic Egypt through medieval Islam to Renaissance Europe.

Etymology

Arabic al-kīmiyāʾ, from Greek khēmeia — possibly from Khēm, the black land (Egypt).