
Alchemy: The Great Work
A Brief History of Western Hermeticism
Cherry Gilchrist(Author)
Coronet Books (Publisher)
Published on 4. June 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-4736-0626-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Packed with strange stories and shiny nuggets of information, Alchemy: the Great Work is erudite but reads very clearly. But what I admire about it most is how enlightening and enlivening it is.' - Jonathan Black
Alchemy is the art of transformation. At its simplest, the alchemist turns base metals into gold. However this is only one dimension of alchemy - at a more sophisticated level the alchemist's 'base metal' is symbolic of himself that needs to be worked upon and the 'gold' produced is the alchemist himself in his or her quest to perfect his own nature. In short, true alchemy is a discipline involving physical, physiological and spiritual work aimed at producing wholeness and enlightenment.
From the origins of alchemy, both reputed and documented, Cherry Gilchrist's lively and sympathetic narrative takes the reader from the alchemical interests of the ancient Egyptians to the flowering of alchemy in the seventeenth century. She also elucidates the complexities of alchemical symbolism and examines the ways in which alchemy has developed in the twentieth century.
With an introduction by Jonathan Black
Alchemy is the art of transformation. At its simplest, the alchemist turns base metals into gold. However this is only one dimension of alchemy - at a more sophisticated level the alchemist's 'base metal' is symbolic of himself that needs to be worked upon and the 'gold' produced is the alchemist himself in his or her quest to perfect his own nature. In short, true alchemy is a discipline involving physical, physiological and spiritual work aimed at producing wholeness and enlightenment.
From the origins of alchemy, both reputed and documented, Cherry Gilchrist's lively and sympathetic narrative takes the reader from the alchemical interests of the ancient Egyptians to the flowering of alchemy in the seventeenth century. She also elucidates the complexities of alchemical symbolism and examines the ways in which alchemy has developed in the twentieth century.
With an introduction by Jonathan Black
Reviews / Votes
Packed with strange stories and shiny nuggets of information, Alchemy: the Great Work is erudite but reads very clearly. But what I admire about it most is how enlightening and enlivening it is.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
122 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4736-0626-5 (9781473606265)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
06/2015
1st Edition
Hodder & Stoughton
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Cherry Gilchrist read English and Anthropology at New Hall, Cambridge.
She is the author of more than thirty books on a wide range of subjects.
She is married to artist, Robert Lee-Wade, and they live near Stroud in Gloucestershire, where they enjoy trying out new recipes in the kitchen and dreaming about their next road trip abroad.
Find out more at www.cherrygilchrist.co.uk
She is the author of more than thirty books on a wide range of subjects.
She is married to artist, Robert Lee-Wade, and they live near Stroud in Gloucestershire, where they enjoy trying out new recipes in the kitchen and dreaming about their next road trip abroad.
Find out more at www.cherrygilchrist.co.uk