Decoding alchemical manuscripts

[WisdomAddict]

How can i do this?
I was meditating on them to try to understand their meaning but,after a while
I thought these need keys to understand their real and true meaning behind them.
Any thoughts? On this matter ...

 

[Öwnchef]

Crowley's key for alchemy was T.R.I.N.C.

 

[Noth]

There are several different types of ciphers. I'd suggest the Three Books on Occult Philosophy or the Picatrix to start.

These have some of the oldest, and easily recognizable symbols and clues.

However, you'd have to do a deep dive into the history of the manuscript, see what keys were (or more accurately, the ones you can best guess at) used. Lots of people hid little traps in their alchemical texts to foil or harm those who should not be reading the text.

 

[WisdomAddict]

There are several different types of ciphers. I'd suggest the Three Books on Occult Philosophy or the Picatrix to start.

These have some of the oldest, and easily recognizable symbols and clues.

However, you'd have to do a deep dive into the history of the manuscript, see what keys were (or more accurately, the ones you can best guess at) used. Lots of people hid little traps in their alchemical texts to foil or harm those who should not be reading the text.

Wow three books of occult philosophy is a book that i wanted to read in a long time because ts too good !!
Same as pictarix
I will try them , anyway, its sounds like an essential book in many aspects
Thank you a lot...

 

[WisdomAddict]

There are several different types of ciphers. I'd suggest the Three Books on Occult Philosophy or the Picatrix to start.

These have some of the oldest, and easily recognizable symbols and clues.

However, you'd have to do a deep dive into the history of the manuscript, see what keys were (or more accurately, the ones you can best guess at) used. Lots of people hid little traps in their alchemical texts to foil or harm those who should not be reading the text.

Thats the same problematic matter
The traps and keys...
I want to figure it out

 

[Yazata]

How can i do this?
I was meditating on them to try to understand their meaning but,after a while
I thought these need keys to understand their real and true meaning behind them.
Any thoughts? On this matter ...

There are of course different types of Alchemy texts. Ones that give "practical" recipes, others that are allegories and (lots) that most likely are written to keep people entertained / puzzled. Like how some people deliberately are as vague as they can be in the hope that someone interprets their words (whether it is with the intended meaning or something that boosts their ego..)

I currently am translating some "practical" recipes from an old book.

 

[WisdomAddict]

There are of course different types of Alchemy texts. Ones that give "practical" recipes, others that are allegories and (lots) that most likely are written to keep people entertained / puzzled. Like how some people deliberately are as vague as they can be in the hope that someone interprets their words (whether it is with the intended meaning or something that boosts their ego..)

I currently am translating some "practical" recipes from an old book.

Can you help me ?
How to tell the difference or doing the same as these "practical" recipes you mentioned,
Or were to begin,
I read that book called alchemy and mysticism few years ago
All alchemy material i have is just forum torrent alchemy folder and i dont think i have future material...

 

[Noth]

Thats the same problematic matter
The traps and keys...
I want to figure it out

Luckily the traps are bit easier for us to sus out in our day and age. For example, I wouldn't ingest, or even apply to my skin, anything from any manuscript until I understood the basic chemical components.

I would need to know if something is dangerous, or even just an irritating chemical. I wouldn't want to suffer burns on my skin while using an ancient "beauty cream" because I didn't know enough to be suspicious about the amount of lye I was instructed to add.

For our purposes here, the internet is a good starting tool for discerning what is a dangerous trap.

 

[Yazata]

Can you help me ?
How to tell the difference or doing the same as these "practical" recipes you mentioned,
Or were to begin,
I read that book called alchemy and mysticism few years ago
All alchemy material i have is just forum torrent alchemy folder and i dont think i have future material...

The practical recipes I meant are olde recipes to make silver and gold etc. (Today's science would debunk most of them ) More physical rather than spiritual alchemy. For the latter I think your own judgement is the best key.

 

[WisdomAddict]

The practical recipes I meant are olde recipes to make silver and gold etc. (Today's science would debunk most of them ) More physical rather than spiritual alchemy. For the latter I think your own judgement is the best key.

Interesting , thats the same material i have try before,
But my point of view was on spiritual and mental side of it,
I asked an alchemical friend of mine about alchemical keys :
She said , the key is you...
its kinda the same metaphor , you mentioned too

 

[Mider2009]

A teacher

least IMO

 

[Diluculo_DelFuego]

Luckily the traps are bit easier for us to sus out in our day and age. For example, I wouldn't ingest, or even apply to my skin, anything from any manuscript until I understood the basic chemical components.

I would need to know if something is dangerous, or even just an irritating chemical. I wouldn't want to suffer burns on my skin while using an ancient "beauty cream" because I didn't know enough to be suspicious about the amount of lye I was instructed to add.

For our purposes here, the internet is a good starting tool for discerning what is a dangerous trap.

Ive found a couple recent Botany and Inorganic Chemistry textbooks on ZLibrary, in addition to the astronomy and geology.mineralology books.

 

[Diluculo_DelFuego]

Luckily the traps are bit easier for us to sus out in our day and age. For example, I wouldn't ingest, or even apply to my skin, anything from any manuscript until I understood the basic chemical components.

I would need to know if something is dangerous, or even just an irritating chemical. I wouldn't want to suffer burns on my skin while using an ancient "beauty cream" because I didn't know enough to be suspicious about the amount of lye I was instructed to add.

For our purposes here, the internet is a good starting tool for discerning what is a dangerous trap.

Why not just advise him to take of Pharmacy certification course? That is modern alchemy in action.

 

[Noth]

Why not just advise him to take of Pharmacy certification course? That is modern alchemy in action.

That would definitely help OP with recognizing chemicals.

However, I don't know if they have the time or inclination to take a full on certification. For my part it has been far less time consuming to research the chemicals, toxicity, and herblore by itself.

 

[Diluculo_DelFuego]

I have thought of getting one of the Chemistry Kits mades for kids/teens, and doing the experiments diligently and in full comprehension as to what is going on with the experiment at hand and dutifully logging a diary.
Then expanding this to an alchemy experiment.
Hobby shops sometimes carry this as well as basic chem equipment.

 

[Diluculo_DelFuego]

With a diy herb growing kit from a pharmacy, you could harvest and dry after getting accustomed to the plant kingdom hopefully at a level where you are into watching it grow and see whats going on; then after harvest and drying, use those for an alchemy tincture.
Say, lavender or lemongrass.

 

[Öwnchef]

Buy and read the books of C.G. Jung on Alchemy. That will give you a precious key of fundamental understanding.
Chemical experiments are frustrating without the above knowledge. But do whatever you like.

 

[Yazata]

A couple of years ago the father of an old German lady i know died and I helped a bit with cleaning out the apartment. I got a lot of his cabinets / closets and a couple of neat books. K.C. Schmieder's "die Geschichte der Alchemie" which is a history of alchemy that gives a lot of info about (in their time) well known alchemists and various accounts that hint at the existence of true transmutations.
Another book is Alchemie & Mystik which is (pretty much) all art from the Hermetic Museum in Amsterdam.
Also a very cool brass candlestick in the shape of a sort of turtle/dragon "alchemical" creature. And a couple of books on Hitler as well
The brother of the old lady was constantly walking in and out with bags full of books that he was taking to his own home. Only got the Hitler books because my ex saw that name and said "those are coming with us!" Lol.
Haven't found any secret compartments in the cabinets. Yet.

 

[Diluculo_DelFuego]

Manly P Hall had a figure or two in Secret Wisdom of all Ages, which can be found fro free download at cia's website.

 

[Öwnchef]

Hitler

Germany needs to step the fuck up. 'nough said.