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Ancient Alchemy Symbols - water symbols, circle symbols, and wedding symbols and their modern evolutionWhat is Alchemy? In today's world, a good definition of Alchemy is the personal transmutation or spiritual evolution within ourselves. If we look at alchemy in the 17th century literature or even more ancient times, much of it is bound up within ancient alchemy symbols, which often only the esoteric architects of alchemy can understand. Using complex series of symbols was not only necessary as a consciousness tool; it was a necessity to avoid persecution in some cases. When we study the great works of the western world at Educate Yourself for Tomorrow, it is with the understanding that the great authors and artists bring out this process of alchemy and transmutation within their works. Let us take Goethe for example. To many he is just the great poet and playwright. Less known is that early in his life he studied a great deal of alchemy. Many of his works can be seen as modern versions of classic alchemical works, helping the ardent student to consummate what is known as the alchemy wedding ceremony within, the achievement of our true individuality through self knowledge. Through his emphasis on metamorphosis and flow, much of his work can be seen as a kind of alchemy water symbol of flow, movement, and growth. Learn Goethe's method of personal introspection and science in our course HUM 202: THE HIDDEN WISDOM OF GOETHE, an online personal growth workshop in the alchemical tradition. What these great writers and artists have done, whether they are Plato, Goethe, Rudolf Steiner, Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci (for facts about Leonardo Da Vinci press here), William Blake, Mozart, and Beethoven or Somerset Maugham is distill the essence of alchemy chemistry and alchemy symbols into literary or new artistic forms so that by studying them we may share in the benefits of personal transmutation. In today's world it can be very difficult to go back into the frame of mind of the ancient alchemist to try to understand the ancient alchemy symbols which were generally kept behind closed doors as esoteric knowledge. But what we can do is look at the artistic work of some of the greatest minds and experience how these alchemy archetypes are passed on in ways that are more amenable to modern consciousness. How do we achieve our own alchemy wedding ceremony within our own individuality? Just as the circle in alchemy is an ancient symbol of wholeness, can we apply this unifying principle in our own lives? This is the struggle and achievement of many of the great authors and artists which we study at Educate Yourself For Tomorrow. Each of our courses is like an online spiritual growth workshop, where we study these great people and increase our self-knowledge, following the ancient maxim of the west, to Know Thyself.
HUM 201: LEONARDO, THE TURNING POINT |
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Alchemy Course:
HUM 202: THE HIDDEN WISDOM OF GOETHE |