An artisan perfumer reveals a lost art and its mysterious, sensual history. For centuries, people have taken what seems to be an instinctive pleasure in rubbing scents into their skin. Perfume has helped them to pray, to heal, and to make love. And as long as there has been perfume, there have been perfumers, or rather the priests, shamans, and apothecaries who were their predecessors. Yet, in many ways, perfumery is a lost art, its creative and sensual possibilities eclipsed by the synthetic ingredients of which contemporary perfumes are composed, which have none of the subtlety and complexity of essences derived from natural substances, nor their lush histories. Essence and Alchemy resurrects the social and metaphysical legacy that is entwined with the evolution of perfumery, from the dramas of the spice trade to the quests of the alchemists to whom today's perfumers owe a philosophical as well as a practical debt. Mandy Aftel tracks scent through the boudoir and the bath and into the sanctums of worship, offering insights on the relationship of scent to sex, solitude, and the soul. Along the way, she imparts instruction in the art of perfume compositions, complete with recipes, guiding the reader in a process of transformation of materials that continues to follow the alchemical dictum solve et coagula (dissolve and combine) and is itself aesthetically and spiritually transforming.

Internal alchemy is a process that can transform lower energy into higher energy. This book is a collection of classes given by Hua-Ching Ni and covers topics of interest to students aspiring to genuine spiritual achievement.

Step into the enchanting realm of "The Natural Alchemist," your ultimate guide to mastering the ancient and noble craft of soap making. Immerse yourself in this transformative eBook, where the time-honored traditions of soap creation are unveiled, blending the mystique of alchemy with the practicality of homemade skin care. Embrace "The Natural Alchemist" as your cherished companion in discovering "The Joy of Handcrafted Soaps," where you'll journey through the treasure trove of benefits personalized soap crafting imparts. Learn how to curate your own soap making sanctuary, ensuring every creation is infused with your essence. Delve into "Soap Making Basics," where you'll equip yourself with the invaluable knowledge of essential tools, ingredients, and the fundamental soap making process. Safeguard your craft with expertly guided lye safety practices, ensuring every bar is a testament to your commitment to quality and care. "The Natural Alchemist" seamlessly guides you to "Designing Recipes for Specific Skin Types," catering to every individual's unique needs. Unlock the knowledge of essential oils and natural fragrances, finding harmony in blends that resonate with both your skin and spirit. Ascend to "The Science of Soap," a chapter dedicated to unraveling the chemical ballet of saponification and soap curing. Enhance your sensory palette with chapters on "Color and Texture" and "Luxurious Milk Soaps," invoking the alchemist's touch to conjure soaps that not only cleanse but mesmerize. For the compassionate souls, "Vegan Soap Crafting" illuminates the path to creating sublime, cruelty-free soaps. While "Advanced Decorative Techniques" invites the artist within to adorn your soaps with sculptural finesse, turning each bar into a masterpiece. Navigate through "Troubleshooting Common Soap Making Problems," arming yourself against the pitfalls that await any craftsman. Lavish your creations with "Luxurious Additions Butters and Oils," ensuring every lather is a caress of richness and rejuvenation. "The Natural Alchemist" does not stop at the craft; it whispers secrets of turning your passion into prosperity in "Selling Your Handcrafted Soaps." The journey concludes with an invitation to "Building a Community of Soap Crafters," fostering connections that extend beyond the craft, cultivating a legacy of sharing and growth. The path to becoming "The Natural Alchemist" is fraught with challenges and discoveries, but it's within this eBook that your transformation begins. Join the league of artisans who've transcended the ordinary, turning the mundane act of cleansing into a ritual of self-care, sustainability, and sheer delight. This cornucopia of wisdom and inspiration is not merely a book; it's a beacon for the aspiring alchemist in you, a symbol of potential for what your hands and heart can conjure. Embrace this journey. Embrace the alchemy. Embrace "The Natural Alchemist."

Exploring a European tradition formerly considered a lost art, this accessible guide offers day-to-day applications of earth-energy work. From the simple act of bed placement to choosing the location of a home, practical tools are offered for making living and working spaces healthier. Encouraging realignment with the natural earth patterns and influences on both personal and planetary levels, this exploration delves into work with trees, alignment of stones, and the value of sacred sites. Geomancers, feng shui enthusiasts, and those simply looking for more health and harmony in their lives will benefit from the hands-on, practical tools for building stable, flourishing relationships within daily environments and the world.

A fresh look at the role of astrology and alchemy in Renaissance thinking and everyday life.

This book is Part II of Course 12 in the 21 Brotherhood of Light Course series by C. C. Zain on the Hermetic Sciences, Astrology, Alchemy, Tarot, Kabbalah and the Occult. Evolution of Religion explores how contemporary religious beliefs and rituals have evolved from a more ancient past. The book traces the origins of the most primitive religions and shows how these and their cultures gradually developed into today’s more complex systems of belief. This book offers a comparative analysis of several present-day religions such as Native American, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity as well as the ancient stellar religions. It then sets forth the basic tenets of “The Religion of the Stars” and the importance of astrology in religion’s road map.

In an age when the nature of reality is complicated daily by advances in bioengineering, cloning, and artificial intelligence, it is easy to forget that the ever-evolving boundary between nature and technology has long been a source of ethical and scientific concern: modern anxieties about the possibility of artificial life and the dangers of tinkering with nature more generally were shared by opponents of alchemy long before genetic science delivered us a cloned sheep named Dolly. In Promethean Ambitions, William R. Newman ambitiously uses alchemy to investigate the thinning boundary between the natural and the artificial. Focusing primarily on the period between 1200 and 1700, Newman examines the labors of pioneering alchemists and the impassioned—and often negative—responses to their efforts. By the thirteenth century, Newman argues, alchemy had become a benchmark for determining the abilities of both men and demons, representing the epitome of creative power in the natural world. Newman frames the art-nature debate by contrasting the supposed transmutational power of alchemy with the merely representational abilities of the pictorial and plastic arts—a dispute which found artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Bernard Palissy attacking alchemy as an irreligious fraud. The later assertion by the Paracelsian school that one could make an artificial human being—the homunculus—led to further disparagement of alchemy, but as Newman shows, the immense power over nature promised by the field contributed directly to the technological apologetics of Francis Bacon and his followers. By the mid-seventeenth century, the famous "father of modern chemistry," Robert Boyle, was employing the arguments of medieval alchemists to support the identity of naturally occurring substances with those manufactured by "chymical" means. In using history to highlight the art-nature debate, Newman here shows that alchemy was not an unformed and capricious precursor to chemistry; it was an art founded on coherent philosophical and empirical principles, with vocal supporters and even louder critics, that attracted individuals of first-rate intellect. The historical relationship that Newman charts between human creation and nature has innumerable implications today, and he ably links contemporary issues to alchemical debates on the natural versus the artificial.