Alchemy Hats
Description: Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least three major strands, which appear to be mostly independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and Indian alchemy, centered on the Indian subcontinent; and Western alchemy, which occurred around the Mediterranean and whose center has shifted over the millennia from Greco-Roman Egypt to the Islamic world, and finally medieval Europe.
Description: The philosophers stone in the middle which represents enlightenment, and perfection in alchemy. The stone is then surrounded by the three primes, namely sulfur (symbolizing the mind), mercury (the spirit) and salt (the body). The outer circles are: Copper (symbol embodies such characteristics as love, balance, beauty, and artistic creativity.), silver (associated with the moon, holds attributes of intuition, inner wisdom, and contemplation. ), gold (represents perfection in all matter, on any level) , iron (represents a need to temper primal urges), antimony (represents animal tendencies found in humankind – a wild nature in all of us) and tin (philosophically viewed as the breath of life.)
Description: Behold, the dance of the elements. Earth, steadfast and grounding; wind, swift and unpredictable; water, flowing and ever-changing; fire, passionate and transformative. Master them all, and you shall unlock the secrets of the universe. But remember, balance is key. Only through harmony can you achieve true enlightenment.
Description: Rebis. Digital illustration of the sixth woodcut from the book - The Azoth of Philosophers. Written by German alchemist Basil Valentine. Published in 1613. The Rebis (from the Latin res bina, meaning dual or double matter) is the end product of the alchemical magnum opus or great work.
Description: “The excellence of the soul is understanding; for the man who understands is conscious, devoted, and already godlike.” ― Hermes Trismegistus The beautiful silent movie actress Gloria Swanson combined with the meditative emblem from the Azoth of the Philosophers, by the German alchemist Basil Valentine, 1659.
