Table of Contents

                              i. Nuclear Science in Alchemy

                             ii. The Pentagon

                            iii. Hermetic Alchemy

                             iv. Base Metals

                              v. Noble Metals

Nuclear Science in Alchemy

Nuclear Reactions

     Radioactivity is the key to today's alchemy. What happens in a nuclear reactor? Uranium is transmuted into plutonium, caesium, strontium, barium, iodine, krypton and xenon, to name but a few elements. These often decay to other stable elements through various radioactive processes.

     Such nuclear reactions are used to produce americium-241 for use in household smoke detectors, technetium-99 for use as a radioactive tracer in health care, and in production of plutonium-239 - the isotope

of plutonium used in nuclear weapons.

     Such transmutations are interesting and useful, but what about making gold? In 1980, Glenn Seaborg was successful in transmuting minute quantities lead to gold, possibly via bismuth. In 1972, Russian scientists found that the lead shielding of an experimental nuclear reactor near Lake Baikal in

Siberia had unexpectedly turned to gold!

     Unfortunately such gold is likely to be radioactive, and would decay back to stable lead, whilst releasing dangerous radiation.

     A possible route to gold would be from mercury. If mercury of its various naturally occuring isotopes could be made to capture neutrons, the resulting nuclear decay chains would eventually yield gold-197, the most

common naturally occuring gold isotope, and perfectly stable.

     The neutrons used in this process would need to have an energy of at least 9 MeV in order for a complete transmutation of the mercury to occur. These energies are well within the capabilities of nuclear reactors

however the gold is likely to be contamiated with other radioisotopes. Particle accelerators could therefore be the alternative...

Particle Acceleration

     In modern particle accelerators it is possible to accelerate neutrons to energies of above 9 MeV. This is enough to convert all of a naturally occuring sample of mercury into gold, as noted above.

     However, as the atoms of mercury are mostly empty space with a central nucleus, most of the neutrons straight through the target. This makes the process of transmutation slow, and highly demanding of energy. The cost of this energy far outweighs the value of the gold produced and the transmutation is therefore not economically viable.

     Though particle acceleration may not be an economically viable method to produce gold, its transmuting abilities find applications in other areas.

     Nuclear researchers have suggested a type of nuclear reactor which uses a proton beam to create neutrons in fissionable material from spent nuclear fuel. This system would be sub-critical without the source of neutrons but with it becomes a source of energy. At the same time this reduces long lived nuclear waste, with half lives in the order of millions of years, to short lived isotopes, whose half lives are only a few hundred years.

     This is a schematic of an Accelerator driven Waste Treatment (AWT) reactor as described above.

     A problem with this design is the high energy protons required cannot yet be produced in sufficient quantities to drive the reactor.

Density and its Properties

     Density is one of the most important characteristics in the universe as it gives us a way to relate mass and volume. You can determine the density of an object by dividing the mass of it by the volume.

     Density can be increased or decreased depending on how you affect the mass and/or volume of an object. For example, let's say you have two balloons of the same mass. You take one balloon and try to compress it into a small size. By squeezing the balloon, you are decreasing its volume thus causing the balloon to become denser due to the air particles inside having less room to move.

     Another example of increasing the density would be increasing the mass of the object while keeping the volume constant. Let's say you have a bowling ball and a volleyball that are both the same size. Which is heavier? Obviously the bowling ball will be much heavier because it has more mass than the volleyball, thus the bowling ball is the denser one of the two.

     The reason you float in water is credited to density. In order to float, you have to have a smaller density than what substance you are floating in. Have you ever tried to mix oil and water together? They don't really mix and you will notice that the oil will always move above the water. That's because oil is less dense than water. A density tower like the one shown is a fascinating way of showing how this works.

Chemical Nomenclature

     Next is the chemical nomenclature of binary molecular compounds. Chemical nomenclature is a list of rules to name chemical compounds. While this may not seem very important, we do look at certain chemicals in the laboratory, so you need to know how to look at a name for a chemical and determine how many atoms of whichever elements are in the compound.

     Even though this is typically used in the Muggle world, alchemists need to be able to understand how to use and analyze chemical nomenclature. Modern chemistry is the Muggles’ successor to alchemy, so their findings can often be applicable to our own findings. The most common system used today was developed by the Muggle organization, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The IUPAC is a federation established in 1919 that represents chemists internationally and is best known for standardizing nomenclature.

     Why do we need chemical nomenclature? Well, the main purpose of having nomenclature is to ensure that there is no uncertainty about what makes up a chemical compound. Fun fact, early nomenclature in alchemy was aimed towards making everything cryptic, rather than easy to understand like modern nomenclature. They were often rich in description and that was so it would be harder for the general public to interpret someone’s findings. Modern Muggle chemists say that this was one of the biggest flaws in alchemy, when in reality it was a way to create an extra wall of secrecy between alchemists and non-alchemists.

     Now that we got that out of the way, let’s look at binary molecular compounds. Binary molecular compounds are compounds made up of two non-metal elements. These are the easiest compounds to name. There is also a Periodic Table of Elements above if you need to reference anything. It may look a little squished so here’s the link to it as well. Here are a few rules to when you’re naming a binary molecular compound:

     The atom with the most positive charge always comes first.The negative atom, which comes second, always has the suffix “-ide.”Each prefix in the chart below indicates how many atoms are in the compound.

CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

     As you can see on the periodic table, carbon is “C” and oxygen is “O.” The name “Carbon Dioxide” refers to there being one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Due to carbon having not as many electrons as oxygen, it’s first in the nomenclature. Since there are two oxygen atoms in the compound, the prefix “Di-” is needed. Also, because oxygen is the more negatively charged of the two, it is at the end of the nomenclature, so you will need to add the suffix “-ide.” On a quick note, the number of electrons an atom has is generally the same as the number of protons. The atomic number of the element on the periodic table indicates the number of protons in the atom.

P4S5 - Tetraphosphorus Pentasulphide

     Here is a more complicated example of naming a binary molecular compound. This compound contains four atoms of Phosphorus (P) and five atoms of Sulphur (S). Looking at the prefixes listed in the chart and the different elements in the nomenclature, you can easily figure out how to write the chemical formula.

The Pentagon

Fusion

takes two elements (represented by the hydrogen and carbon), then fuses them into the atom with atomic number matching the sum of the protons (in this case, the nitrogen.) Distinct by the three lines and the inward pointing lines, as seen in the figure below on the right.

Fission

Takes one element (represented by the nitrogen atoms)and divides it into atoms (hydrogen and carbon). The Laws of Conservation must be followed or lest your life be claimed. Don't try to divide oxygen into two elements whose atomic numbers add up to a number greater than the centered element. Distinct by the two lines and ouward pointing lines, seen below on the left.

     If there are any extra protons, neutrons and electrons, they will be sent safely outside the glyph so no unwanted elements are mixed in the transmutation. You can also use the extras in other glyphs if it is needed.

     The Pentagon is used for transmutation that take place in different areas. For example, the pentagon is used when trying to access the ethereal plane or when accessing different areas for a transmutation. If one were to create a transmutation circle that had the components in different areas, the pentagon would be the shape of choice. The planes and life are what are used for the extending of the transmutation into other planes or sectors.

     A pentacle (also spelled and pronounced as pantacle in Thelema, following Aleister Crowley, though that spelling ultimately derived from Éliphas Lévi) is a talisman that is used in magical evocation, and is usually made of parchment, paper, cloth, or metal (although it can be of other materials), upon which a magical design is drawn. Protective symbols may also be included (sometimes on the reverse), a common one being the six-point form of the Seal of Solomon.

     Pentacles may be sewn to the chest of one's garment, or may be flat objects that hang from one's neck or are placed flat upon the ground or altar. Pentacles are almost always shaped as disks or flat circles. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, though, a pentacle is placed within the triangle of evocation.

     Many varieties of pentacle can be found in the grimoire called the Key of Solomon. Pentacles are also used in the neopagan magical religion called Wicca, alongside other magical tools. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Wicca, pentacles symbolize the classical element earth. In the 1909 Rider–Waite–Smith tarot deck (the pentacles of which were designed by Arthur Edward Waite), and subsequent tarot decks that are based upon it, and in Wicca, pentacles prominently incorporate a pentagram in their design. This form of pentacle is formed upon a disk which may be used either upon an altar or as a sacred space of its own.

The Pentacle

     The pentagram, basically the graphic image of a five pointed star, has existed as a symbol for at least 2,000 – 5,000 years, when during the stone age it was carved into rock, no doubt with some spiritual tenor. Since then it has been in constant use by countless peoples and various ethno-religious and spiritual groups, perhaps most famously, the legendary King Solomon. These include the Greeks and the Babylonians for which it represented the five elements, (earth, air, fire, water and spirit), but also the Chinese, the Jews, the Christians, ancient folk communities everywhere and more recently, by occultists and spiritualists.

     The pentagram often had sacred connotations, including its association with the Roman goddess Venus, (who eventually morphed into Our Lady Mary), and was later adopted by the Christians, especially but not exclusively, to represent the five wounds of Christ. Since the 16th century, occultists and mystics, (the early ‘scientists’, such as Cornelious Agrippa), and esoteric groups such as the Rosicrucians, Freemasonry and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn have made extensive use of the pentagram. Significantly now of course, the neo-pagan Wiccan movement very much identifies with the ancient symbol.

     However, there was never any particular distinction in the orientation of the pentagram until the mid 19th century, when the French, self-styled magician Eliphas Levi, wrote a book in which he personally declared it to symbolise ‘evil’ if pointing down! Following that, in 1897 the French occultist, de Guaita, drew the ‘Sabbatic Goat’ which, by 1966 had become associated with Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan, together with its adopted deity, Baphomet.

     This is actually a misunderstood concept and Lévi never intended the deity to represent ‘evil’, but ‘the absolute’ and the balance and harmony of everything; male and female, mercy and justice, etc. Around 1900, however, Alistair Crowley hijacked the symbol of the pentagram, inverted, to represent his representation of evil; the die was cast. This modern misconception of the inverted pentagram has since been reinforced in popular culture by its ubiquitous and repeated use by Hollywood’s occult and horror film industry, who have universally and continually exploited this theme.

     To conclude, therefore, the concept of the ‘evil’ and anti-Christian pentagram is a modern invention and in fact groundless. Seen carved in the stones of ancient churches across Europe and decorating many temples of the Western world, Christianity has used the pentagram in both forms from the early middle ages, as demonstrated by its inclusion in Amiens’ 13th century cathedral north transept rose window…

Hermetic Alchemy

     Hermeticism, or Hermetism, is a label used to designate a philosophical system that is primarily based on the purported teachings of Hermes Trismegistus (a legendary Hellenistic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth). The term Hermetic is from the medieval Latin hermeticus, which is derived from the name of the Greek god Hermes. In English, it has been attested since the 17th century, as in "Hermetic writers" (e.g., Robert Fludd). Hermes Trismegistus invented the process of making a glass tube airtight (a process in alchemy) using a secret seal. Hence, the term "completely sealed" is implied in "hermetically sealed" and the term "hermetic" is also equivalent to "occult" or hidden.

     The universe runs on natural laws. Apples fall. Birds fly. We live. We die. When we take the time to understand these laws, we can use them. We can leverage them. We can push against gravity to fly. We can use the knowledge one day we must die, to live better lives. And since the very beginning of civilization the wisest of us have been united by this pursuit of discovering what these natural laws are, so we can learn from them and use them to experience more happiness, meaning, and control over our lives in the time we do have.

     These days, this pursuit manifests as the top shelf of the self-help and personal growth sections at the bookstore. But nearly 2,000 years ago, when these themes and ideas would get you killed for heresy and blasphemy, they were discussed in whispered tones and ed down only from a master to their student in moments extreme trust.

     However, through effort of preservation and excavation we are able to get look into our philosophical past and a once-great tradition, which lead to an overall greater understanding of the universe, our place in it, and catalyzed the Italian creative renaissance, influenced the American revolutionaries, and now shows up in much of modern day personal growth media. This tradition, is Hermeticism.

What Is Hermeticism?

     The hermetic tradition represents a non-Christian lineage of Gnosticism, which is the name for a variety of ancient religious ideas and systems dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D.

     The surviving writings of Hermeticism are known as the Corpus Hermetica, which is composed of a series of letters from a master, Hermes Trismegistus, wherein he tries to enlighten his disciple. These letters were lost to the western world after classical times, but survived in the Byzantine libraries.

     In the Fifteenth century, the letters were rediscovered and translated into Latin by the court of Cosimo de Medici (yes, grandfather to Lorenzo de’ Medici, the patron of Leonardo Da Vinci and several other renaissance artists). These letters were so influential during the time that they acted as a catalyst in the development of Italian Renaissance thought and culture.

     In 1964, s A. Yates advanced the thesis that Renaissance Hermeticism, or what she called "the Hermetic tradition", had been a crucial factor in the development of modern science. While Yates's thesis has since been largely rejected, the important role played by the 'Hermetic' science of alchemy in the thought of such figures as Jan Baptist van Helmont (1580–1644), Robert Boyle (1627–1691) or Isaac Newton (1642–1727) has been amply demonstrated.

     Throughout its history, Hermeticism was closely associated with the idea of a primeval, divine wisdom, revealed only to the most ancient of sages, such as Hermes Trismegistus.[10] In the Renaissance, this developed into the notion of a prisca theologia or "ancient theology", which asserted that there is a single, true theology which was given by God to some of the first humans, and traces of which may still be found in various ancient systems of thought. Thinkers like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494) supposed that this 'ancient theology' could be reconstructed by studying (what were then considered to be) the most ancient writings still in existence, such as those attributed to Hermes, but also those attributed to, e.g., Zoroaster, Orpheus, Pythagoras, Plato, the 'Chaldeans', or the Kaballah.

     This soon evolved into the idea, first proposed by Agostino Steuco (1497–1548), that one and the same divine truth may be found in the religious and philosophical traditions of different periods and places, all considered as different manifestations of the same universal perennial philosophy. In this perennialist context, the term 'Hermetic' tended to lose even more of its specificity, eventually becoming a mere byword for the purported divine knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, especially as related to alchemy and magic. Despite their occasional use of authentic Hermetic texts and concepts, this generic and pseudo-historical use of the term was greatly popularized by nineteenth- and twentieth-century occultists.

Late Antiquity

     In Late Antiquity, Hermetism emerged in parallel with early Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, the Chaldaean Oracles, and late Orphic and Pythagorean literature. These doctrines were "characterized by a resistance to the dominance of either pure rationality or doctrinal faith."

     The texts now known as the Corpus Hermeticum are dated by modern translators and most scholars to the beginning of the second century or earlier. These texts dwell upon the oneness and goodness of God, urge purification of the soul, and expand on the relationship between mind and spirit. Their predominant literary form is the dialogue: Hermes Trismegistus instructs a perplexed disciple upon various teachings of the hidden wisdom.

Renaissance

     Plutarch's mention of Hermes Trismegistus dates back to the first century CE, and Tertullian, Iamblichus, and Porphyry were all familiar with Hermetic writings. After centuries of falling out of favor, Hermeticism was reintroduced to the West when, in 1460, a man named Leonardo de Candia Pistoia brought the Corpus Hermeticum to Pistoia. He was one of many agents sent out by Pistoia's ruler, Cosimo de' Medici, to scour European monasteries for lost ancient writings.

     In 1614, Isaac Casaubon, a Swiss philologist, analyzed the Greek Hermetic texts for linguistic style. He concluded that the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus were not the work of an ancient Egyptian priest but in fact dated to the second and third centuries CE. Even in light of Casaubon's linguistic discovery (and typical of many adherents of Hermetic philosophy in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries), Thomas Browne in his Religio Medici (1643) confidently stated: "The severe schools shall never laugh me out of the philosophy of Hermes, that this visible world is but a portrait of the invisible." (R. M. Part 1:12)

      In 1678, flaws in Casaubon's dating were discerned by Ralph Cudworth, who argued that Casaubon's allegation of forgery could only be applied to three of the seventeen treatises contained within the Corpus Hermeticum. Moreover, Cudworth noted Casaubon's failure to acknowledge the codification of these treatises as a late formulation of a pre-existing oral tradition. According to Cudworth, the texts must be viewed as a terminus ad quem and not a terminus a quo. Lost Greek texts, and many of the surviving vulgate books, contained discussions of alchemy clothed in philosophical metaphor.

     In 1924, Walter Scott placed the date of the Hermetic texts shortly after 200 CE, but W. Flinders Petrie placed their origin between 200 and 500 BCE.

Modern Era

     In 1945, Hermetic texts were found near the Egyptian town Nag Hammadi. One of these texts had the form of a conversation between Hermes and Asclepius. A second text (titled On the Ogdoad and Ennead) told of the Hermetic mystery schools. It was written in the Coptic language, the latest and final form in which the Egyptian language was written.

     According to Geza Vermes, Hermeticism was a Hellenistic mysticism contemporaneous with the Fourth Gospel, and Hermes Tresmegistos was "the Hellenized reincarnation of the Egyptian deity Thoth, the source of wisdom, who was believed to deify man through knowledge (gnosis)."

     Gilles Quispel says "It is now completely certain that there existed before and after the beginning of the Christian era in Alexandria a secret society, akin to a Masonic lodge. The of this group called themselves 'brethren,' were initiated through a baptism of the Spirit, greeted each other with a sacred kiss, celebrated a sacred meal and read the Hermetic writings as edifying treatises for their spiritual progress." On the other hand, Christian Bull argues that "there is no reason to identify [Alexandria] as the birthplace of a 'Hermetic lodge' as several scholars have done. There is neither internal nor external evidence for such an Alexandrian 'lodge', a designation that is alien to the ancient world and carries Masonic connotations."

     In the philosophical Hermetica, the ultimate reality is called by many names, such as God, Lord, Father, Mind (Nous), the Creator, the All, the One, etc. However, peculiar to the Hermetic view of the divinity is that it is both the all (Greek: to pan) and the creator of the all: all created things pre-exist in God, and God is the nature of the cosmos (being both the substance from which it proceeds and the governing principle which orders it), yet the things themselves and the cosmos were all created by God. Thus, God ('the All') creates itself, and is both transcendent (as the creator of the cosmos) and immanent (as the created cosmos). These ideas are closely related to the cosmo-theological views of the Stoics.

Prisca Theologia

     Hermeticists believe in a prisca theologia, the doctrine that a single, true theology exists, that it exists in all religions, and that it was given by God to man in antiquity. In order to demonstrate the truth of the prisca theologia doctrine, Christians appropriated the Hermetic teachings for their own purposes. By this , Hermes Trismegistus was (according to the fathers of the Christian church) either a contemporary of Moses or the third in a line of men named Hermes—Enoch, Noah, and the Egyptian priest-king who is known to us as Hermes Trismegistus.

As Above, So Below

     "As above, so below" is a popular modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Emerald Tablet (a compact and cryptic text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus and first attested in a late eight or early ninth century Arabic source),[45] as it appears in its most widely divulged medieval Latin translation:

"Quod est superius est sicut quod inferius, et quod inferius est sicut quod est superius."

"That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above."

     Three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe:

Alchemy:

     Alchemy, or the operation of the Sun, is not merely the changing of lead into gold, which is called chrysopoeia. It is an investigation into the spiritual constitution, or life, of matter and material existence through an application of the mysteries of birth, death, and resurrection. The various stages of chemical distillation and fermentation, among other processes, are aspects of these mysteries that, when applied, quicken nature's processes in order to bring a natural body to perfection. This perfection is the accomplishment of the Great Work (Latin: magnum opus).

Astrology:

     In Hermetic thought, the movements of the planets are believed to have meaning beyond the laws of physics and actually hold metaphorical value as symbols in the mind of the All, or God, which have influence upon the Earth, but do not dictate our actions; wisdom is gained when we know what these influences are and how to deal with them, and this wisdom is astrology, or the operation of the stars. The discovery of astrology is attributed to Zoroaster, who is said to have discovered this part of the wisdom of the whole universe and taught it to man.

Theurgy

     Theurgy, or the operation of the gods, is one of the two different types of magic, according to Giovanni Pico della Mirandola's Apology, completely opposite of each other. The first is Goëtia (Greek: γοητεια), black magic reliant upon an alliance with evil spirits (i.e. demons). The second is Theurgy, divine magic reliant upon an alliance with divine spirits (i.e. angels, archangels, gods).

     "Theurgy" translates to the "science or art of divine works" and is the practical aspect of the Hermetic art of alchemy. Furthermore, alchemy is seen as the "key" to theurgy, the ultimate goal of which is to become united with higher counterparts, leading to the attainment of divine consciousness.

Reincarnation

     Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a similar process hypothesized by some religions, in which a soul comes back to life in the same body. In most beliefs involving reincarnation, the soul is seen as immortal and the only thing that becomes perishable is the body. Upon death, the soul becomes transmigrated into a new infant (or animal) to live again. The term transmigration means ing of soul from one body to another after death.

     Reincarnation (Punarjanma) is a central tenet of the Indian religions such as Buddhism, most Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and most Paganism, although there are Hindu and Pagan groups who do not believe in reincarnation, instead believing in an afterlife. In various forms, it occurs as an esoteric belief in many streams of Judaism in different aspects, in some beliefs of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and some Indigenous Australians (though most believe in an afterlife or spirit world). A belief in rebirth/metempsychosis was held by Greek historical figures, such as Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato, as well as in various modern religions.

     Some of the most well-known Hermetic texts are:

— The Corpus Hermeticum is the most widely known Hermetic text. It has 18 chapters, which contain dialogues between Hermes Trismegistus and a series of other men. The first chapter contains a dialogue between Poimandres and Hermes. Poimandres teaches the secrets of the universe to Hermes. In later chapters, Hermes teaches others, such as his son Tat and Asclepius. It was first translated into Latin by Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499), whose translation set off the Hermetic revival in the Renaissance.

— The Emerald Tablet is a short work attributed to Hermes Trismegistus which was highly regarded by Islamic and European alchemists as the foundation of their art. The text of the Emerald Tablet first appears in a number of early medieval Arabic sources, the oldest of which dates to the late eighth or early ninth century. It was translated into Latin several times in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Among Neo-Hermeticists, "As above, so below" (a popular modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Tablet) has become an often cited catchphrase.

— The Asclepius (also known as The Perfect Sermon, The Perfect Discourse, or The Perfect Teaching) was written in the second or third century and is a Hermetic work similar in content to the Corpus Hermeticum. It was one of the very few Hermetic works which were available to medieval Latin readers.

     Other important original Hermetic texts include Isis the Prophetess to Her Son Horus, which consists of a long dialogue between Isis and Horus on the fall of man and other matters; the Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius; and many fragments, which are chiefly preserved in the anthology of Stobaeus.

      Since the earliest times, Alchemists have been interested in applying their Hermetic wisdom towards the perfecting of the body and soul of man -- the quest for Gold being left to the “puffers.”  For the Alchemist, the first stage of the “Great Work” is the Nigredo, the stage of Blackness, disintegration, chaos, where the material (metal, the soul of Man, or what have you) is reduced to the “prima materia” or formless original stuff, before it can proceed to the second stage, the Albedo (whiteness), where the material may be unified once again.  The Alchemical process is circular, alternating between Solve and Coagula on its path towards perfection.

Originally, “Alexandrian Alchemy” had as its purpose the transmutation of the baser metals into Gold.  Although this goal was quickly superseded by the loftier notions of the Alchemical Adepts, it is instructive to review the original understanding of the old “Masters of Fire.”  Aristotle laid the groundwork with his famous dictum: “Nature strives towards Perfection.”

The 7 Hermetic Principles for Self-Mastery

1. The Principle of Mentalism: The All is mind; The Universe is Mental.

     This first principle embodies the truth that ‘All is Mind.’ Meaning, the Universe itself, at an underlying and foundational level, is Mental. That all phenomena of life, matter and energy of the material universe are thoughts of an infinite and universal, living Mind. Which means all things share a connection in the fact they exist within the Mind of ‘THE ALL’, as it is put, and therefore are all subject to the laws of created things. This Mental Universe, for the sake of experiment, could be explained as an infinite intelligence, intelligent field, and even the nature of consciousness itself. Creating a dialogue of thought, which dances with thought.

     The Principle of Mentalism, explains the nature of ‘energy,’ ‘power,’ and ‘matter’ as being subordinate to the Mind, as it shows up within ourselves and the pervading nature of all things.

     In Hermeticism, there are many descriptions of different planes, levels or dimenions of existence, that overlay atop one another. They are usually depicted as layers of a concentric circle, where the inner-layers are more foundational and influence the outer layers. In Hermeticism, there are three Great Planes: the mental plane, physical plane, and spiritual plane. Which have varying lesser-planes between them that differ in degrees between undifferentiated matter and spirit.

     From a first person perspective, the mental plane is experienced simply as thought, insight, intuition, and reason. But wisdom of how this plane corresponds with other, unseen, or causal planes, tells us that there may be more to our thoughts than we perceive. That our thoughts are not tied simply to the physical plane, and have an effect on an energetic and spiritual level, which is less obvious but still very real.

     This principle is what allows the student to apply their mental faculty to leverage all other laws, almost perceiving thought as the operating system, that allows us to interface with other layers of being. To anticipate other natural and energetic laws, and cause them to occur in ways that benefit us. Making a science of all phenomena of the universe, because all other planes still exist within the realm of a Mental Universe — and therefore can be reasoned with. Through this principle David can take down Goliath, man can explore the Moon, and we can reason with all phenomena of the Mental universe.

2. The Principle of Correspondence: As above, so below; as below, so above. As within, so without; as without, so within.

     This principle embodies the truth that there is always a correspondence between the laws and phenomena of various planes that manifest as being and life. Grasping this principle is what allows one to deduce the hidden solutions to problems by looking at what exists a layer above, and below the problem, to infer the pattern and shadow nature of what is in-between.

      Of course, there are planes and phenomena beyond our knowing, as we are limited to the spectrums of visible light and audible sound, but by witnessing the patterns that do exist in our dimension we can deduce what may exist in higher and lower ones.

     Observing the Principle of Correspondence, we can come to know the whole of the Universe by exploring the higher and lower nature of things, which surround the mystery. And likewise, discover more of ourselves, by experiencing and studying the world we are integrally a part of through the pursuit of Gnosis. The micro is in the macro, and vice versa.

3. The Principle of Vibration: Nothing rests; Everything moves; Everything vibrates.

     This principle embodies the truths that ‘nothing rests,’ ‘everything is in motion,’ and ‘everything vibrates.’ It explains that matter, energy, and even spirit, are simply varying rates of vibration.

     A classic example of this being frequency in which the seven octaves of music, tuned up 44 octaves, miraculously becomes the spectrum of visible light (ing through states of being the buzz pitch of insects, ultra-sound, plasma, ether, hyper sound, and even octaves of heat.) While they change manifestation, the vibrations maintain the same correspondence, the difference being only in measurement and energy as frequencies slide up the electromagnetic spectrum.

     At the highest rates of vibration the rate and intensity are so rapid it appears to be motionless, like a spinning wheel appearing stable. And at the lowest levels of vibration, objects move so slowly they appear to be totally at rest. Between these two, exist infinite manifestations all occurring at varying octaves of vibration, each with their own phenomena. Knowing this, Hermeticists believe that even thoughts have their own rate of vibration, and can be controlled like tuning an instrument, to produce various results for the aim of self and environment mastery.

4. The Principle of Polarity: Everything is dual; Everything has poles; Everything has its pair of opposites; Like and unlike are the same; Opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; Extremes meet; All truths, are but half-truths; All paradoxes may be reconciled.

     The fourth principle embodies the truth that ‘everything has its pair of opposites,’ ‘everything has two poles,’ and exists in a state of ‘duality.’ But the true nature of this principle is that ‘opposites are the same, only varying in degree.’

     It explains that there are two poles in everything and that opposites are really only two extremes of the same thing, the difference being only in degree. An obvious example being hot and cold — both being temperature, varying only in degree. And that there is no clear crossover moment when hot stops being hot, and starts being cold and vice, versa with no absolutes on either end. The same can be said of ‘light and darkness’ ‘hard and soft’ ‘big or small’ and even ‘love and hate.’ With ‘love and hate’ there is no clear point where one emotion becomes another, or when it es through ‘like’ ‘dislike’ or ‘indifference.’ All are merely our perceptions of the degree. And the principle of Polarity exists to explain these paradoxes.

     Similar to how we can involuntary and rapid transitions in our psyche between love and hate, like and dislike, you can choose to experience these transitions by use of your willpower for the betterment of your life and others. That the difference is not a hurdle to be surmounted, but two expressions of the same thing, differing only in degree, to choose between. This practice is the art of Mental Alchemy.

5. The Principle of Rhythm: Everything flows, out and in; Everything has its tides; All things rise and fall; The pendulum swing manifests in everything; The measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; Rhythm compensates.

     Between the opposite poles of the principle of Polarity, is the pendulum swing of The principle of Rhythm. This principle embodies the truth that everything exists in a measured motion, from here to there, moving in and out, swinging backward and forward, the rise and fall of the tides, ebbing and flowing and never truly sitting still. Never stopping, always changing.

     This principle controls the cycle of life and death, creation and destruction, rise and fall, and of course manifests in our mental states.

     When you are in tune with the Principle of Rhythm and understand that every mental state exists in Rhythm, always ebbing and flowing, you can learn to use this principle to your advantage by polarizing yourself to the degree you desire. Then, through awareness of this principle and how it manifests, holding yourself there to keep the pendulum from swinging you backwards to its extreme.

     Through heightened awareness gained by understanding this principle, you can experience transcendental states of consciousness to rise above the swing of the pendulum. Rhythm will have an effect on you one way or another, but with awareness you can use it to propel you forward and ride it back to recovery.

6. The Principle of Cause & Effect: Every cause has its effect; Every effect has its cause; Everything happens according to law’ Chance is but a name for law not recognized’ There are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the law.

     This principle embodies the fact that there is a ’Cause for every Effect;’ and an ‘Effect for every Cause.’ Meaning, that nothing merely ‘happens for no reason,’ and that there is no such thing as ‘chance.’ In harmony with the principle of Correspondence, there are higher planes dominating lower planes and nothing escapes the Principle of Cause & Effect. Nothing happens without explanation.

     The empowering use of this principle is to make the conscious choice to rise above the plane of thought you currently occupy to become your own Cause, and not just an Effect of others and the situations you find yourself in. That is to say, be your own first mover as opposed to someone who merely reacts to circumstance.

7. The Principle of Gender: Gender is in everything; Everything has its masculine and feminine principles; Gender manifests on all planes.

     This principle embodies the fact that both the masculine and feminine exist in all things. Not just in sex, but in the creative nature of all things, on all planes. In harmony with the principle of Correspondence, this means that the masculine and feminine exist not only in the physical plane, but also the mental, and the spiritual as well. The principle of Gender plays a role in all things generation, creation, and regeneration — nothing can come into being without the use of this principle.

     The masculine is the penetrative, assertive, progressive, conquesting, explorative energy that drives progress. The feminine is the receptive, sacred, treasured, protective energy, that maintains tradition and honors the priority of what is most important, while nourishing that which is most essential to life.

     Too much masculine energy, without a balance of feminine, leads to a growth of power to the extreme of reckless abandon — where we lose perspective of what is most important and forget the principles which began the conquest in the first place. While, too much feminine energy, without a balance of the masculine, leads to a life grounded so deeply in the present, that our lives become determined by the cycles and external circumstance out of our favor.

     All beings contain this great Principle within them, as two parts. Every male has feminine energy, and every female has masculine energy. In our moods, actions, attitudes, and personalities we see the dance of these energies within ourselves.The most potent use of this principle is how Gender is responsible for creation, generation, and regeneration on the mental and spiritual planes, and not just the physical. True progress is possible through the balancing of the two energies of Gender in oneself, relationships, and environment.

Base Metals

     Base metals are elements that oxidize or corrode easily. Oxidation is when there is a loss of a subatomic particle (namely electrons) and an increase in the oxygen molecules in the metal. The opposite of this process is known as reduction (redox reaction).

     Another way to tell if a metal is a base metal is to use a diluted form of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is a colorless, odorless solution of hydrogen chloride and water that is found naturally in the stomach. Obviously if your body produces it to digest food then it's highly corrosive.

     Lead is a soft, malleable, yet heavy post-transition (elements located between transition metals and metalloids on the periodic table) metal that is a part of the carbon group. The scientific symbol for lead is Pb. Why is the symbol Pb when neither of those letters are in the word? It comes from the Latin word for lead, plumbum.

    Lead is one of the easiest metals to manipulate with magic due to the amount of potential energy it carries. It has the right amount of energy that is prime for the transition into gold. It's known for its durability and resistance to change. Even Muggles use lead in firearms due to its good retention in velocity and energy.

     When you are melting lead, you need to be aware of a few things:

Melting point: 327.5° C / 621.5° F / 600.7 K

Boiling point: 1740.0° C / 3164.0° F / 2013.2 K

Density: 11.342 g/cm³

     Around 2000 B.C.E., the people of ancient Egypt used lead to create coins. The Greeks saw that lead was less prone to corrosion than wood so they used a form of lead for the hulls of their ships. Dzou Yen was capable of transmuting lead into gold with a specific recipe that he concocted and no other alchemist seemed to be able to accomplish this again until Nicolas Flamel.

     The Harmony of Elements and Organs chart will show that lead and Saturn are grouped together. It's said that some metals with an atomic weight greater than lead will disintegrate over time from radioactive decay and revert into lead. This is called nuclear transmutation and it's actually the reason why it's easier to transmute gold into lead instead of the other way around. This process is dictated by Saturn, which introduces the characteristic of time to the metals.

     Due to nuclear transmutation, lead is the lowest ranking base metal because metals revert into it, however, that doesn’t mean alchemists respect it any less. In alchemy, lead is the metal of transformation and redemption. We will talk more about time and Saturn at a later time.

     The next element is zinc. Zinc is a bluish-white metal and the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust. The symbol for zinc on the periodic table is Zn. Paracelsus named zinc after the German word Zinke, though it's also known by the name Spelter. Zinc is known to be one of the weakest metals, especially pure zinc, which makes it very cheap.

Melting Point: 419.5° C / 787.2° F / 692.7 K

Boiling Point: 907.0° C / 1664.6° F / 1180.2 K

Density: 7.134 g/cm³

     Zinc is represented by five different symbols instead of just one. They all mean zinc, yet they don't look similar at all (with the exception of the third and fourth). Why are they all so different? It's simply due to location and time. These symbols vary depending on the country and time period a manuscript was written in. It actually isn't uncommon at all to have more than one symbol represent an element; especially considering how alchemy has been developed in different regions all over the world throughout time without a way for these different cultures to each other.

     Zinc is most commonly found in the form of an alloy. An alloy is a mixture composed of an element and a metal. You all have heard of brass right? Of course you have! You bought brass scales when you were a first year because it was on the supply list. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper that has been used at least as far back as the 10th century B.C.E. in Judea.

     Alchemists burned zinc in the air as part of their rituals. This would leave a white wooly substance called philosopher's wool or nix alba. Nix alba is Latin for "white snow." In scientific , this substance is commonly known as zinc oxide (ZnO). It has many uses such as pigments in paints and in ointments to treat skin diseases.

     Zinc is an important mineral in the body if you want to keep your health in a relatively good condition. Zinc deficiency is actually linked to several diseases that affect at least two billion people. However, taking too much zinc is also bad for you because that can lead to other problems such as lethargy and copper deficiency.

     Nickel is a silvery-white element with a golden tinge that has a high polish. The symbol for nickel on the periodic table is Ni. It's hard and ductile. Nickel is actually considered corrosion-resistant due to its slow rate of oxidation at room temperature. Larger pieces of nickel are slower to react with air because they form a protective oxide surface. Even then the metal is still reactive enough that it is more commonly found within Earth's crust rather than the surface. It's one of the four metals magnetic at room temperature; the other three are iron, cobalt, and gadolinium.

Melting Point: 1453.0° C / 2647.4° F / 1726.2 K

Boiling Point: 2732.0° C / 4949.6° F / 3005.2 K

Density: 8.902 g/cm³

     Nickel has been used as far back as 3500 B.C.E. in the form of alloys used to make Syrian bronzes. It was also used to make Chinese coins in 235 B.C.E. It was classified as an element and isolated in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. Cronstedt was attempting to extract copper out of a mineral called niccolite, however, instead of copper he ended up with the white metal we now know as nickel. It's named after a mischievous sprite from German miner mythology named Nickel. Cronstedt was also one of the founders of modern mineralogy, discovered scheelite, and named the element tungsten.

     Nickel can be used as a green tint in glass depending upon its concentration, and is also capable of producing blue, violet, and black glass. Witches and wizards use the Mineral Concentration Charm to change the color of glass. This works by transfiguring the amount of a mineral in the glass that is used to give it its color.

    Iron is a lustrous silvery-gray metal. Its symbol on the periodic table is Fe. As mentioned earlier, iron is one of the four metals that are magnetic at room temperature. It's the most common element found on Earth by mass and it's the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust.

Melting Point: 1535.0° C / 2795.0° F / 1808.2 K

Boiling Point: 2750.0° C / 4982.0° F / 3023.2 K

Density: 7.86 g/cm³

     When iron is met with oxygen in the presence of water or moisture in the air, it oxidizes and forms iron oxides. You may all know this as rust. Rust develops on the outside of the metal and occupies more volume than the metal. Due to this, it flakes off and exposes the fresh iron underneath to go through the whole process again.

     Like zinc, iron is very important in maintaining good health. Every living organism has iron-proteins in their body. Have you ever bit your lip and wondered why your blood has a metallic taste? The color of your blood is because of hemoglobins, which are proteins that contain iron. Other enzymes and proteins that contain iron mainly do biological oxidations and transportation.

     Iron was also listed on the Harmony of Elements and Organs chart created by Paracelsus. He linked iron up with Mars, and rightly so. The soil on Mars is high in concentration of iron and most of it is oxidized as that's what gives the planet its red color. Mars is often associated with blood, war, and fire. Out of the seven metals listed on the chart, iron is the only metal that burns. These similarities aren't subtle in the least. The symbol for iron is associated with the male gender; therefore, iron is considered to be very masculine.

Noble Metals

     First on the list is silver. Silver is a soft, lustrous, white metal that most of you have heard of. The symbol for silver on the periodic table is Ag, which is short for argentum in Latin. The word argentum actually comes from a root word in the Proto-Indo-European language meaning "gray" or "shining." It naturally occurs either in its natural pure form or as an alloy. However, most silver is a byproduct of gold, lead, copper, and zinc refining. In alchemy, the symbol used for silver represents the moon and femininity.

Melting Point: 961.9° C / 1763.5° F / 1238.1 K

Boiling Point: 2212.0° C / 4013.6° F / 2485.2 K

Density: 10.5 g/cm³

     It has the most thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal! The chart to the left shows the thermal conductivity of several metals. Notice that silver is at the top, followed by copper and gold. It's also used in telescopes, mirrors, and jewelry because of its reflective property.

     The Lydians utilized silver to make their form of currency. In fact, they were the first to do this. They used a silver and gold alloy to create the coins. The Lydians were also the first civilization to have retail shops in permanent locations. The debate over when the coins were actually made is still ongoing today and is heavily talked about. However the most common view is that they were made around the reign of King Alyattes from 609-560 B.C.E. He was believed to be the first person who minted silver and gold and saw its true potential.

     Here's a fun fact: silver isn't toxic and you can actually use it in food decoration. In fact it's usually used in food coloring. In some traditional Indian dishes, silver is made into a decorative foil known as vark. Silver dragées are also commonly used to decorate various desserts such as cookies and cakes.

     The best way to melt silver is to use a graphite crucible. A crucible is a container used to alter or melt its contents. Why does it have to be made out of graphite? That's because graphite is highly resistant to extreme temperatures and can withstand the temperature needed to melt silver. It doesn't have to be just silver we can melt. Graphite crucibles are used when we have a non-ferrous (non-magnetic) or a non-iron element. Common elements melted with a graphite crucible are aluminum, brass, gold, and silver. Crucibles also have a low reactivity towards molten metals, making it a great tool to use in the lab.

     When buying silver, or really any noble metal, the question of whether or not it's authentic always comes up. Muggles have come up with a few means of trying to tell real silver from counterfeit. For example, silver jewelry isn't always made out of real silver. Fake silver tends to leave marks on the skin after wearing it for a few hours. Hopefully you didn't pay too much for it.

     When witches and wizards, namely alchemists, are out shopping for elements of any sort, they use certain spells to tell the authenticity of that element. For silver in particular, there is a spell called the Magnetic Spell.

     Gold is a soft, malleable, bright reddish-yellow metal in its purest form. Its symbol is Au on the periodic table, which comes from the Latin word aurum. Gold was believed to be in the dust that formed our solar system. Most of the gold from Earth's earliest days was said to have sunk to the core and that the gold in the crust and mantle was delivered to Earth later by asteroids and other space matter. Gold can resist being corroded by acids, however it can be dissolved by aqua regia, or royal water. It's a highly valuable and sought out metal that has been used for currency, jewelry, and other crafts before history was recorded.

Melting Point: 1064.4° C / 1947.9° F / 1337.6 K

Boiling Point: 2807.0° C / 5084.6° F / 3080.2 K

Density: 19.32 g/cm³

     The art of alchemy during ancient times was focused on taking something of seemingly little value and turning it into something precious such as turning lead into gold. Why did alchemists want to end up with gold? Why not another metal? Gold is upheld for its beauty and its unique properties. It was the king of metals. It represents perfection and flexibility, which could be a metaphor for humankind striving to be perfect.

     The idea of transmutation actually branched off of observations of omnipresent changes that occur in nature along with applying correspondences and analogies. The ability to transmute base metals into gold was the main push for alchemists to attempt to create the Philosopher's Stone, which, as you learned in an earlier lesson, has the ability to turn lead into gold. Lead is the metal of time because some metals can revert into lead as a result of nuclear transmutation. Alchemists thought they could reverse this process to turn lead into gold.

     The Egyptians believed that there was a metaphysical presence lying within gold. They thought gold had healing properties because of its close ties with the sun. Ancient Egyptian mythology told of the gods having skin made out of gold. Luckily enough, Egypt was a major gold mining area for much of history. Egyptian hieroglyphics from 2600 B.C.E. talked about King Tushratta of Mitanni (present-day northern Syria and southeast Anatolia), describing it as "more plentiful than dirt."

     Much like the Egyptians, Paracelsus also believed that gold received its influence from the sun. He wrote that gold was the heart of the universe. Alchemists believed that colloidal gold would help harmonize the body on every level (physical, metaphysical, etc.). Colloidal gold is a colloidal suspension of gold nanoparticles in a fluid such as water. This means that the gold particles are insoluble and dispersed throughout the solution, unable to settle or taking a very long time to settle. Alchemists also believed that gold would help cure disorders such as depression, melancholy, fear, sorrow, and much more. The rich color of gold gives it, as well as our magic, certain characteristics such as vitality, health, radiance, and virtue.

     Some cultures would consume small pieces of gold because they believe it would help balance their spirit. Like silver, it can also be used as decoration in modern and traditional food. There are also European beverages that contain flakes of gold leaf. In medieval times, the use of gold in cuisine would be a way to flaunt the host's wealth.

     Platinum is a dense, gray-white transition metal. The periodic table symbol for platinum is Pt. It's the least reactive metal, yet it's the most ductile of all the noble metals. Platinum is a very heavy metal and that can actually lead to health issues upon exposure. Short-term exposure can cause irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes while long-term exposure can lead to skin and respiratory allergies.

     Since it has a high resistance to corrosion, platinum isn't as toxic as other metals. Most of platinum's natural deposits are located in South Africa, which s for 80% of the world's production of the element. It's quite rare as only a few hundred tonnes are produced annually, making it a major commodity.

Melting Point: 1772.0° C / 3221.6° F / 2045.2 K

Boiling Point: 3827.0° C / 6920.6° F / 4100.2 K

Density: 21.45 g/cm³

     Platinum has been around for quite some time. It was noticed around the pre-Columbian era in Ecuador. The indigenous people used alloys containing platinum to produce artifacts. The artwork from this time period was quite interesting might I add. It's definitely worth looking at in your spare time! The first European reference occurred in 1557 when Julius Caesar Scaliger wrote about an unknown noble metal found around Mexico that no Spanish artifice or fire could melt.

     The discovery of platinum was credited to a Muggle astronomer and the first Spanish governor of Louisiana, Antonio de Ulloa, along with a Muggle mathematician Jorge Juan y Santacilia. They were sent on the French Geodesic Mission proposed by King Louis XV in the 18th century. This expedition to Ecuador was done to measure the roundness of the Earth and to measure the length of the degree of latitude at the Equator. Ulloa and Santacilia remained in Ecuador from 1736 to 1744. During their time there, they discovered platinum and also anticipated the discovery of platinum mines.

     An interesting use for platinum is that it can be used to fight cancer. Studies have shown platinum to be effective in fighting against tumors so they use it in antineoplastic agents in chemotherapy. There are three different types of platinum-based chemotherapeutic treatments: cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. Platinum is also used in laboratory equipment, dentistry equipment, thermometers, and jewelry. Platinum and cobalt can also be combined to create strong permanent magnets.

     In alchemy, platinum helps open your awareness to your inner-peace as well as inner-knowledge. Platinum is revered for its endurance; it represents our determination, grit, and perseverance in seeing our manifestations and works to completion. Notice how the symbol is the Sun and the Moon combined. That's because alchemists believed platinum was the amalgamation, the combination of gold and silver.

     Ruthenium is a metallic silvery-white element. The symbol for ruthenium on the periodic table is Ru. It's extremely rare, only being the 74th most abundant metal found in the Earth's crust. Most deposits are found in the Ural Mountains, North America, and South America. Other occurrences would be in small deposits found around South Africa and Ontario, Canada.

Melting Point: 2250.0° C / 4082.0° F / 2523.2 K

Boiling Point: 3900.0° C / 7052.0° F / 4173.2 K

Density: 12.2 g/cm³

     Ruthenium is a part of the platinum group on the periodic table. Platinum group? What is that? Believe it or not, platinum has its own family in the periodic table consisting of six elements: platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium. These six metals share similar physical and chemical characteristics and they even tend to be found in the same mineral deposits.

     Ruthenium was found by a famous Baltic German chemist and naturalist named Karl Karlovich Klaus, who was also known as Carl Ernst Claus. He was a professor at Kazan State University. Klaus was also one of the first to apply quantitative methods to botany. He received platinum ore samples in 1840 and tried to isolate noble metals found in the ore. Four years later, he discovered ruthenium as well as its atomic weight and chemical properties. He was awarded the Demidov Prize for this discovery and used the money to send financial help to his family.

     Ruthenium is mostly known for being used in wear-resistant electrical s. It's very sturdy by itself, but it becomes harder when combined with platinum. Ruthenium contains a chemical that is known to stain the skin and it's also found in used nuclear fuel. I encourage you to wear dragonhide gloves while handling this metal.

     Ruthenium is represented in alchemy by a circle overlapped with a cross. Alchemists believed the symbol to be connected to divinity. This concept was so favored that the symbol was later adopted by the royal families. The royals sought its power due to the whole belief that monarchies rule by divine right. This means that the monarchy is not subject to earthly authority, but that an overseeing divine being puts them in power. Ruthenium is also known to give witches and wizards a sense of self-empowerment in its presence. It's certainly no Felix Felicis, but it's still powerful enough in its own right.

Complex Transmutation Cirlces

How to transmute Lead into Gold

     Long before alchemy came into practice, gold was already the most valuable metal.  It was a symbol of power and wealth and was prized for its beauty.  It was also considered to be the most perfect metal, which is why alchemists would try to transmute common, ordinary metals (such a copper, tin, iron, lead) into gold.

     Since Nature always seeks perfection, every other metal was thought to be gold in the making.  Alchemists would test various other metals, and rank them according to how far or close they were to gold.  Based on these findings, they would use various metals, ranging from silver and mercury to lead and copper, and try to transform them into gold particles.

     Unfortunately, there is no ONE way that all alchemists followed in order to create gold.  In fact, most alchemists never succeeded in creating gold at all!  Basically, they believed that if they could change the properties of the metal, they could transform the metal itself.   Some of the properties they tried to modify were the lustre (shiny-ness), heaviness, metallic-ness, malleability (bendy-ness), solidness, and colour of the metals.  They would try to change the properties by combining different substances, heating and cooling them, and sometimes even by chanting and dancing around their experiments.  Yes... pretty much anything was tried at least once in the quest to produce the elusive gold!

     Many alchemists felt that mercury was the closest metal to gold.  Those who worked with mercury were the alchemists who more often than not, claimed to have successfully transmuted gold.  They may have been correct, since in the 1960's physicists were able to create gold atoms from mercury atoms.  These metals are next to each other in the periodic table of elements (gold has 79 protons, while mercury has 80).  By knocking out a proton from the nucleus of mercury atoms, these modern physicists were able to create very small quantities of gold, thus proving that creating gold from another metal -IS- possible!

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Resources

Rebirth of the Night - alchemy

Principles of Alchemy2

Hogwarts is Here - alchemy

Modern Alchemy

Pentacles

List of Alchemic Symbols

Alchemy and Baphomet

Hermeticism.