Str : Alchemical items are Light bulk, so you can carry a ton of them. However, you may want 10 so that you can wear leather armor without worrying about the check penalty. Dex : Dexterity will improve your poor AC and make you more accurate with alchemical bombs and ranged weapons.
Mutagenists work a bit differently from other alchemists. Mutagens offernumerous great ways to improve your durability and to add melee options likeclaws and bite attacks. However, this means that you need to more heavilyinvest in Strength and Constitution or in weapons to be a meaningful threat inmelee.
Str : You need it for damage output when you move into melee with Feral Mutagen. Con : You need it for when your terrible AC fails to protect you. Wis : You need it for your terrible Will saves and your terrible Perception.
Bonuses to important abilities like Constitution and Intelligence are great,but we can also benefit from other racial options like better weaponproficiencies, and energy damage resistances especially fire to mitigatepotential splash damage.
Dwarf : Constitution, Wisdom, the Free Ability Boost goes into Intelligence, and Dwarfs get more starting hit points than other published races.
Unfortunately, none of the ancestry feats are especially interesting for the Alchemist. Arctic, Cavern, and Seer elf are all good options. Elven Weapon Familiarity gets you access to several excellent weapon options like rapiers and bows.
However, elves have low ancestry hit points so be cautious at low levels. Sensate Gnome and Umbral Gnome are both great choices. Charhide Goblin offers fire resistance, and Razortooth Goblin offers a bite attack which can fill in for feral mutagen until your mutagens become more powerful.
The Burn It! Halflings have several excellent ancestry feat options, including universally good options like Halfling Luck. At 5th level you can take Cultural Adaptability, allowing you to take great ancestry feats from other Ancestries like Animal Accomplice from the Gnome or Burn It!
Orc : Strength is a hard choice for the Alchemist, so I recommend using the Optional Flaw rules to dump Strength and boost either Dexterity and Intelligence or Constitution and Intelligence.
Even then, the only appealing combination I see here is the Mutagenist. The final proofs were read but the corrections not made before going to press. These errors have now been corrected. It is to be hoped that by carefully following the instructions the practical results which may be obtained will prove of help to the serious sttdent of Alchemy with visible manifestations in the labora- tory.
That such results are obtainable is beyond question as a great number of the students who have studied practical alchemy with the Paracelsus Research Society can testify. This applies not only to the Lesser Work with plants, but also to minerals and metals. More than a decade of practical laboratory work taught openly with no cloak of secrecy or any oath of silence should be proof of the validity of this work. If it were not for the cleansing, purging, and aging of the alchemist-to-be over a great length of time, like the subjectum he is working with, how could it be kept from the profane and the unworthy?
Only that which has stood the test of fire has been purified. That there is still a cloak of secrecy covering alchemical processes, CHAPTER I and that this must yet remain so will have to be accepted by all aspiring alchemists. For personal greed has no place in Alchemy. A nonacceptance of this excludes one automatically from the circle of Adepts.
My friends of the medical profession, as well as the pharmaceutical What is Alchemy? This is the first and most vital question to be chemists, will readily disagree with me when reading what follows. This must be taken for granted and, in fact, has been so since what This question can be answered to the satisfaction of the inquiring is presented here is so foreign to the standardized teachings in present mind, but all careless paging through this book will be to no avail.
Since I agree with them, on their terms, it is If the reader has no previous knowledge of Alchemy and, moreover, no only fair to ask that they think of the contents of this book in the knowledge through conscientious study concerning mysticism, occult- terms of an alchemist. If this is impossible, then the book should be ism, or related subjects, the answer to the above question will have laid aside for the time being and forgotten until it can be examined little meaning.
What, then, is Alchemy? It is "the raising of vibrations". For this reason it is wise not to attempt to experiment with the No attempt is being made here to write on allopathic therapeutics. These experiments are only for those This shall be left to those versed in this particular branch of healing. Since the scope of Arcana, the lapis philosophorum. As all students of alchemystical Alchemy is so immense, one earthly incarnation in many, if not most, literature have come to realize that the exact process for the opus cases is an insufficient time for the full completion of the work.
In magnum has never been completely revealed in simple language or put climbing the alchemist's ladder, there are many tribulations to consider into print, they will appreciate the fact that here is given a detailed involving time, money, heartaches-to mention only a few of the description of the lesser circulation.
The aspirant then should think long and well before In Alchemy there are the lesser and greater circulations. The former undertaking such an ordeal, for if he is not prepared all will prove pertains to the herbal kingdom and the latter to the most coveted of unsuccessful.
A correct understanding, and The process in both the lesser and greater circulation is basically not just knowledge, of the herbal process will open the gate to the not expensive. In fact, it is relatively insignificant.
But before this great Arcanum. Months and years of experimentation in your alchem- state can be reached much money, time, and effort can and, most likely, ical laboratory will prove the truth of this statement.
The fact that Al- will be spent. It is for these reasons that an urgent appeal is made chemy is a life's work will be accepted by those who have spent months not to venture rashly into Alchemy, not to see oneself sitting in perfect and years behind books and retorts.
It is this significant fact which personal health at the end of a rainbow with the world at one's provides our spagyric art with such an armor that no materialist can feet and with full pots of glistening gold. There is more to be gained in Alchemy Faithfully to receive the blessed Sacrament, than vainglory. This, in fact, cannot be obtained in Alchemy. Such Upon this Oath that I shall heere you give, vainglory is as far from the true goals of Alchemy as night is from For ne Gold ne Silver as long as you live, day.
This brings us back to the simple statement made at the begin- Neither for love you beare towards your Kinne, ning of this chapter: "Alchemy is the raising of the vibrations.
Such a person is like one Neither by writing nor by no swift speech; who claims that since he knows all the letters of the alphabet he can, But only to him which you be sure therefore, read any language as they are all composed of letters from Hath ever searched after the seacrets of Nature? But does he read with understanding when the To him you may reveale the seacrets of this Art, letters are interchanged, forming words in different languages?
A Under the Covering of Philosophie before this world yee depart. Their true origin? Their first state? This we shall leave for those Sooner or later, most students experience a desire to find an Adept who are concerned to answer. If all the foregoing statements do not in order to become his pupil or disciple. But no matter how sincere discourage the aspirant and make him clap the book shut and put such a desire is, it is futile for the student to attempt to locate a it away with disgust, perhaps then it will help him to find himself teacher versed in the Grand Arcanum.
One may metic philosophy, with its practical arcanum, repeats itself over and search, one may aspire, one may work and study hard until the wee over again in the ancient axiom: "As above, so below.
As below, so hours of the morning, and yet it will not be evidence that he or she above. For it takes more than mere study. An honest heart, a clean heart, a true heart, It is questionable whether or not historical references to Alchemists a benevolent and contrite heart accomplishes more than all the book of the past have a place in these pages. There have been so many learning can ever do. Yet, strangely enough, learning must accompany books published already that have made it their business to elaborate the virtues just cited.
Without a knowledge and an understanding of on the history and romance of Alchemy. For this reason, no attempt natural laws and their corresponding spiritual parallels, no one could is being made here to add to the wealth of biographical material sup- ever truly be called an Alchemist or a Sage. Our emphasis falls, rather, on present-day al- I am not attempting to vindicate Alchemy. It needs no vindication. Our aim in these pages is to attempt to demonstrate and to perience to have come to a realization.
To experienceI To realize! To reveal the truth of Alchemy in contemporary language, while still have found "the light that shined in the darkness. Perhaps a heavy doubt Alchemist's Oath. The practice of Alchemy, not only in earlier times may weigh upon the heart of the lover of Alchemystical Research. This can best be illustrated by the following oath from sponsibility is connected with it. He who has read about the lives of Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum London, This oath, in only the Alchemists has found that most often many years had to elapse slightly modified form, is still being used by present day Adepts: before their goal was reached.
Many had to tles, after passing through the condenser tube, into a water-like sub- await another incarnation before they proved themselves worthy and stance of a yellowish color carrying with itself something oily which ready to receive it. But, if all doubts are put aside and if a finn Belief gives the tinge to the extracted water. This oily substance, or alchem- has grown into a strong Faith, then that quickening moment that ical Sulphur, is just as essential to alchemical preparations as Salt and produces knowledge will eventually help one to come to "Understand," Essence.
I do not wish to go into this any further at this point, as this to "Realize" the oneness of the universe, the secret behind Creation will be treated more explicitly later on. A repetition of certain phrases and sentences may be found through- This brings us to the natural questions: "What is the secret of out this book. This is not arbitrary; they have been purposely inserted creation?
And what constitutes life force? Much answered before the would-be Alchemist can accomplish anything in that is written here must be reread many a time in order to lift the his laboratory.
This only can be accomplished individually by each student. That Since everything that grows comes from a seed, the fruit must be which follows will be discovered when the practical experimentation contained in its seed. Mark this well, for here lies the secret of creation. The raising of specimen, as said before, is the raising of vibrations. Now to the alchemist's laboratory. This usually takes on a sinister Herbs, animals, as well as minerals and metals, grow from seed.
To un- coloring as one's imagination runs wild. Even today, so-called religious derstand this secret of nature, which is only partly revealed to mankind people are inclined to discuss Alchemy in rather subdued whispers be- generally, constitutes the main theoretical subject in Alchemy. Once cause, so they claim, it is the devil's work. Ignorance is bliss to some, this is known, then only the proper understanding is necessary in order and no one has a right to take another out of his or her bliss.
We must to obtain results in the raising or elevating of specimen, which is noth- ignore those that have religious scruples against Alchemy, as we do ing else but transmutation. If we can help nature in her ultimate goal, not intend to convert anybody. The aim laid down here is to help the that of bringing her products to perfection, then we are in harmony alchemical aspirant on his laborious road.
This road begins in the lab- with her laws. Nature does not resent an artificial effort, or a shortcut, oratory. Everything in the laboratory revolves around the fire or its to bring about perfection. To illustrate: the seed of a tomato may be emanation: heat. The rest is composed of a few flasks, a condenser, put into the ground late in the fall.
Snow and ice may cover it during and some ingenuity. It sounds rather simple and really is so. What ,the winter. But no tomato plant will grow during this time, outdoors about all the other instruments that clutter up an alchemist's labora- in freezing temperatures.
However, if the same seed is planted inside tory, as pictures would have us believe? Just as an artist needs only I where sufficient warmth and moisture is provided, and if it is placed' canvas, paint, and brushes to paint a picture, but may add an indefinite in the proper matrix it will grow into a plant and bear fruit.
This is number of other related objects to his studio, so mayan alchemist not contrary to nature. It is in harmony with the natural laws. For fire add other related equipment as he sees fit. No doubt he is going to heat , water, air, and earth are all that are necessary to cause a seed experiment and probe deeper into the mysteries to unlock one after to grow and bear its predestined fruit.
The life force originates not in another. Once the soul hungers and thirsts for truth and the unfold- fire, earth, air, and water. This life force is a separate essence which ment of nature's laws, there is no end to its search until the ultimate fills the universe.
This essence, or fifth essence quintessence , is the has been reached. It is the fifth of the four: Where should a laboratory be located? How can one practice fire, water, air, and earth, and is the most important one for the alche- Alchemy in a crowded city?
Such questions will have to be answered mist to find and then to separate. After such a separation has taken individually by each student. He who wishes to practice our spagyric work will have bring about an understanding within the individual concerning that to do all the work himself.
How fortunatel How else could it be? How else can one appreciate the experience if he does not arrive at In Alchemy there is only one way that leads to results. The aspirant the crucial point of knowledge by his own individual efforts? Enough must show his worthiness and his sufficient preparation. This prepara- has been said now concerning the hardships and disappointments tion extends over many and varied subjects, but most of all does it that undoubtedly will be encountered.
If the student, in spite of these concern the search for truth. The living, waking, or conscious state difficulties, still wishes to enter the portals of the spagyrist's holy tem- must be immersed in the truthfulness that speaks out of every word ple, he will find a welcome guide in the following pages.
These un- and action. There must be a love for mankind that knows no passion, a fold, in simple language, the process of the lesser circulation. It cannot be given. It is not desires.
All of these virtues one must acquire first. Only then will the permissible. But-and this is of utmost significance-he who can wisdom of the Sages and Adepts begin to make sense. Then Nature accomplish in his laboratory what the following pages present by way will become a willing companion to serve us.
The world, as we will of instruction, can surely accomplish the Grand Arcanum, if he is then realize it, begins to take on form and shape, whereas previously ready. The preparation may take years or even tens of years. No time it enshrouded us in a haze which our vision could not penetrate. Some have a natural or inherited tendency, or gift, We will come to know God. Illumination wiIl enlighten our whole to delve into the mysteries.
Some can never even enter. The "why" life. It will cease to be a mere fight for an existence, for the Divine for this has no place here. But to those who are ready to travel the will have entered our hearts. Think surround us amidst turmoil and strife. This the wisdom of the Sages and live cleanly and charitably and dwell always in truth-that which will help us to attain.
But only our own preparation and proper living you honestly consider and believe to be the truth. We must do the work ourselves, for no one can cannot fail then.
Remember, "Seek and ye shall find; knock, and it do it for us. We will begin to realize that everything is no longer so shall be opened unto you. We is the term in which we will The wisdom of the Sages represents a culmination of all that is think. We, God and I, humanity and I become entwined. The "I" essential for men to have faith in, knowledge of, and understanding loses its meaning; it becomes submerged in the Cosmic AlI. He who has attained such a state of illumination is indeed in becomes many, as part of many that has its ultimate in one.
Individ- harmony with the universe and at peace with the world. To reach uality, though still existing, becomes "All-individuality. The be a constant alertness to the possibilities that confront us in our daily wise men, Sages, Adepts or whatever names we may give them, lives, to raise our thought world above the drudgery of this everyday those who have become illuminated, meet on the same plane.
They life, and eventually to find the peace within us. If one has not under- have climbed to the mountain top. They can see what happens below and that which will it has been termed, he will find it extremely difficult to obtain results happen because of their far-reaching sight. Those in the valley, twist- in his practical laboratory experimentation. He may produce things ing and turning and searching behind obstacles are too close to the he knows nothing about, consequently passing them up as worth- pattern of events to see it.
Sages read Nature as an open book printed less. It is not sufficient only to know; it is understanding that crowns in clear type whose sentences they fully understand. All agree with one another. Only "6. Man has free choice. He has tremendous powers of both good the uninitiated believes he detects inconsistencies and seeming con- and evil, depending upon his conscious realizations. Exemplary in its precision "7. Since the individual soul is part of the universal soul, man has and profundity are the seven points dealing with Rosicrucian concepts access to powers he does not know, but which time and knowledge as given during an extra curricular lecture to students of The Rose and experience will gradually reveal to him.
It cannot be changed. But the theories of men "1. The Origin of the Universe is Divine. The Universe is a mani- and their opinions, which are incorrectly given by some as truth, are festation of, and an emanation from, the One Absolute Cosmic Being.
Because one calls himself a philosopher does not All manifestations of life are centers of consciousness and expressions necessarilv make him such. Only he is a philosopher who has a sincere of the One Life within the framework of its material limitations. It saturates sincerely to apply it in his daily life. Wisdom is acquired through and fills all forms, shapes, and manifestations of life. It is understanding applied. The acquisition of a "2.
The soul is a spark of the divine consciousness in the Universe. In the human being it develops the personality and the right to such a title. To be acquainted with the history of philosophy, the lives and "3. The soul-force possesses potentially the powers of the divine teachings of those called philosophers, is only a study and knowledge principle at work in the universe. The function of life on earth is to of their universal concepts and what has been derived from them.
Since one incarnation on earth cannot possibly be sufficient, to that understanding, knowing well that only by giving unhesitatingly the personality must return again and again in order to achieve the and unselfishly will our belief in mankind be justified.
When this maximum development. The moral law is one of the basic laws of the universe. It is Transmutation always takes place on a higher plane, and in the physi- likewise called the principle of Karma, the result of cause and effect, cal world laws cannot be adhered to or violated without producing or action and reaction. There is nothing vindictive about this principle. Beneficial karma, if it is permissible to use a It works impersonally like any law of nature.
As the fruit is contained term, because karma is impartial, is brought about by harmonious in the seed, so the consequences are inherent in the act. This principle applications of natural laws.
These natural laws must be adhered to if, guides the destinies of both men and nations. Knowledge of this according to predestined results, we wish to obtain what nature has principle gives man the power to control his own destiny.
Life has a purpose. Life is not meaningless. Happiness is a very If the foregoing even in its very condensed form has made any real thing and is a by-product of knowledge, action, and living. How often it is that we use words and '" Thor Kiimaletho granted the author permission to quote from "The Basic Rosicrucian Concepts.
To begin with, the selection of herbs for medicinal purposes must be known to the aspirant. The novice juices are most abundant in them. After shaving off remedy. It is safe to say, and experience has taught it to be so, that the outer portion of the bark, cut thinly.
Philosopher's Stone. However justified this goal may be, nevertheless, without proper preparation, it is usually soon abandoned when after Roots a comparatively short time of experimentation no results become These should be dug after the leaves are dead in the fall at which manifest. Then Alchemy is condemned, called a fraud, or given similar time all the strength has gone down into the root.
But better names and erstwhile serious students, due to lack of proper prepara- still, dig them in early spring before the sap rises. Seeds and Flowers In this chapter of practical alchemystical laboratory experimentation, Onlv after they are fully ripened and in full bloom should seeds the beginner will be patiently instructed on how to obtain the true and' flowers, respectively, be gathered.
Then they should be dried alchemical herbal tinctures, extracts, and salts. As the reader will quickly in the shade. These should be taken while in blossom for best results, but can This word should be painted in large letters and then hung above be gathered at any time before the frost comes.
Dry quickly in the alchemist's Athanor', It is incomprehensible that anyone can the shade. Later, personal experience will let the beginner come to a full Leaves should be collected while the plant is in flower. Dry realization of this important statement.
If, therefore, the Neophyte quickly. Dry quickly. These Herbs. Tin cans are to be preferred to other containers for storing meaning dead head, are then taken and burned to ashes. This is ac- powders. Roots are best kept in covered boxes. Tinctures and extracts complished by taking the residue and placing it in an earthenware or should be kept in dark glass bottles to protect them from the action porcelain dish which is placed over the fire. The contents of the dish of light. After these ashes have become light, Melissa Melisa officinalis has been selected.
After the selection of they should be placed into a mortar and ground to a fine powder the desired herb from which the true alchemical medicinal potencies with a pestle. They are as follows: and biochemic medicinal procedures become evident. Allopathic ther- apeutics generally use tinctures or salts alkaloids , while homeo- 1. Maceration pathic and biochemic therapeutics use salts minerals triturated. The fresh or dried herb is soaked in water and left standing in The triangle is a great help in explaining the necessity of a conjunc- room temperature.
Circulation occurs only in Alchemy. To illustrate: The fresh or dried herb is circulated percolated. It then repeats this process which is also known as reflux. Salt Water, Alcohol or Ether may be used as extraction media menstrum.
The above three ways are chiefly employed to obtain the extract or If an herb, immersed or steeped in boiling water, produces a tea the tincture. A tincture derived from a distillation with water does not that helps to remedy bodily disorders, how much more effective must contain as much of the essential essence of the herb as the macerated be the manifestations of an extract, or even conjunction of extract herbal extract obtained by immersion in alcohol or ether.
To obtain all and salt, in the human body. It may be well for further demonstra- possible essence, including the oily substance inherent in the herb, tion to present here the three principal kingdoms of nature in their the latter method, that by extracting it in an extraction apparatus proper relationship, Le.
A Soxhlet or other , is preferable," common error that has been and is still being made is the intermixing of vegetable essence with animal or mineral salts. Since each consti- tutes a separate sphere or vibratory group, a mixture of these not 3 This will be dealt with in a later chapter.
It is for this reason that animal or even mineral kingdoms. It is because of a misunderstanding Mercury from the vegetable kingdom should not be mixed with the of these vital principles of Alchemy that such a furor has been caused salts from either of the other two kingdoms. Each represents a separate among pseudo-alchemists when they have failed to produce any al- unit.
The animal eats herbs and contracts and cures ills from the chemical manifestations, while in their estimation these manifestations same source. Where the cure fails, only the next higher ones will help. It is seemingly impossible to convey funda- Even here it must be stated that the highest Elixir will not function mental principles to newcomers in Alchemy without the use of indefinitely if the mind is not kept in proper condition. Humans, analogy. Through concentration, from a commonly harmless sub- belonging to the animal group, eat both vegetables and meat.
There- stance, a poison can be produced. Therefore, it is also possible to fore, they can be cured with both, i. However, the most potent form of If the reader will follow patiently through the labyrinth of seem- terrestrial manifestation is produced from the salts and essences from ing contradiction, he will emerge truly triumphant at the end of its the minerals and metals. In its highest form and brought to perfec- winding path; carefully avoiding prejudice and misconception, he tion only by man this is known as the Philosopher's Stone.
Nature will be able to see the light. To be sure, Alchemy is a slow process. It is not a subject that can principalities. Each one, herbal, animal, and mineral elixir, can be be mastered by means of the intellectual faculties alone. Nature does not produce the Philosophers The two principles of Essence and Salt have now been presented. Stone in the same sense that it forms the crystals of the earth. However, before taking the next difficult step of joining the Essence From the foregoing it should have become clear to the reader to the Salt and thus producing an alchemical manifestation , a few that there are: words dealing with what the Essence and Salt represent should be carefully noted by the reader.
Three kingdoms or principalities as follows: 1 The Essence Quintessence or active force in the vegetable a. Vegetable kingdom is the same in all plant life. Animal 2 The Salt or ashes to which any plant can be reduced differs c.
Mineral from one plant to another. Each kingdom has its own Mercury. All three Mercuries are derived from the same original source, but manifest under This Essence, or "Mercury" as alchemists call it, is the life-giving energy that is manifest in all matter. The same Mercury exists through- different vibrations in each realm. The Salt of each vegetable manifestation differs from one plant mineral kingdom. Yet, and the reader will please note, although the to another.
This also holds true of all Salts from animal and Mercury is of the same origin, it is of a certain vibration in the mineral products. Substances Essence and Salt should not be intermixed when elixirs or alchemical medications are prepared. Alchemical elixirs are not products of natural formation, but of poison, each according to its own nature.
Author unknown artificial production. To Salt- e explain why human beings are endowed with reasoning powers that are. Here we are dealing with the phys- that for the planet Mercury. If, by divine wisdom, man, as highest specimen of the animal As previously explained, alchemical Mercury is not the same as realm, has been placed in the middle of the three kingdoms, it has common quicksilver.
Neither is Sulphur common sulphur or brimstone. Man Nor is Salt common table salt or sodium chloride. This yellow substance is the Sulphur that common Into spiritual matter," Since these are actualities with which we are alcohol extraction did not set free sufficiently. With metallic Sulphur confronted, we must deal with them and attempt to understand them.
Only laws that are basic and of true cosmic value enter Alchemy. In the herbal process, the separation of the Sulphur from the Mer- There can be no speculation in Alchemy. Alchemy is based upon cury Essence is not as essential as in the mineral work. There is no other way than but will use Mercury and Sulphur combined and Salt separately.
The the. They is then produced. In this way, from any herb an elixir can be made apply to all three kingdoms. In mentioning the number three, it can by art that is more potent than either the tincture, extract, or Salt now be stated that this number of manifestation will be found re- taken alone, as is commonly prescribed by present-day therapeutics. When in the foregoing only two substances, The foregoing is an attempt to present a synopsis of the funda- Mercury and Salt, have been mentioned, it was done purposely in mentals in Alchemy, the basic theory underlying all alchemical work.
As there are three principalities What follows is an example of the practice, in this case, a presenta- or kingdoms, there are also three substances with which an Alchemist tion of the procedure for obtaining alchemical elixirs from herbs. Without them nothing can be accomplished The process used in the herbal work differs only slightly from that in Alchemy. They are Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur. If you want to use polymorph, or plan to go into melee combat, you may instead want to focus on Strength.
Str : Only important if you plan to use conventional thrown weapons. You can get away with starting with 16 if you want to emphasize other abilities. Cha : The Alchemist has no social skills, and no abilities that depend on Charisma, so dump it to 7. Dwarf : The Dwarf could make for an interesting melee Alchemist, especially with the racial favored class bonus contributing to the Mutagen natural armor bonus.
The Elf favored class bonus gets you some extra formulae known, but you can purchase extra formulae. Small size is also helpful. The Half-Elf favored class bonus improves the relatively poor range of alchemical weapons, but Long Shot will be more effective though the two stack nicely , and with ranged touch attacks you should rarely have problems hitting even with a few range increment penalties. Human : Always a good option, the human works for any Alchemist build.
The Human favored class bonus is the same as the Elf, and should be largely ignored. Pathfinder — Character Optimization. Pathfinder — Base Classes.
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