The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
- ISBN13: 9780738709031
- Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
- Notes:
Alchemy offers tremendous insight into alternative therapies, new medicines, and the depths of the human mind. Illuminating a truly esoteric practice, Mark Stavish reveals how to create and apply “medicines for the soul” in this remarkable guide to plant and mineral alchemy.
The Path of Alchemy introduces the history and basic laws of this ancient practice, and explains how it ties into Qabala, tarot, astrology, and the four elements. Safe, modern techniques-based on spagyrics (pla
Rating: 
(out of 18 reviews)
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Review by Alan Driscoll for The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
Rating:
The Path of Alchemy – Energetic Healing and the World of Natural Magic by Mark Stavish is simply the finest book on practical alchemy that I have ever read. While focusing on introductory material and plant work, or spagyrics, it has enough meaty stuff for everyone. There is a fascinating discussion of the role of homeopathy in alchemy; extensive meditations and practices to link laboratory work (Labora) with inner work (Ora); initiation and the Tree of Life via alchemy; and some good background material on alchemy in the 20th Century. However, even the appendices are juicy in their description of the Tarot and the Alchemical process; the famed Longevity Tea of the Comte de St-Germain, similar to the confirmed recipe found in the long out of print, and very valuable biography on St. Germain by Jean Overton Fuller, and a fascinating description of the Flamel Path, of Nicholas and Pernelle Flamel, made famous in the first Harry Potter book, “The Sorcerer’s Stone”. If you are going to read just one book on alchemy this year, or ever, I suggest “The Path of Alchemy”.
P.S. Speaking as someone with next to no background in the Art, Mark Stavish has delivered a user friendly manual that renders the most obscure and complex material in plain language. However, this does not imply that the work is simplistic. As the Alchemists say, it requires both prayer and labor, “ora et labora”.
Review by Robert Elm for The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
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This book is a true gem. Before reading it I had little interest in laboratory alchemy and while I still have little interest in the path of mineral alchemy, my interest was more than just a little piqued by this book.
Plant Alchemy or spagyria is the application of alchemical theory to herbal products. By breaking up the plant into it’s “Mercury” (alcohol product), “Sulfur” (essential volatile oils) and “Salt” (the white/gray ash left over from a slow, low temperature burn) these three principles are then recombined in various ways (even producing a plant “stone”) to enhance and purify the occult, energetic properties of the plant.
The true value of this book is in the author’s ability to make the work seem so possible, even easy. Mr. Stavish also has the courage to admit that he believes that plant alchemy can be more than just a healing art but also has the potential to be an initiatory path in and of itself (a claim usually reserved for the path of laboratory mineral alchemy). I agree with him with the caveat that a strong energetic bond must first be forged with the very plant whose product is being worked upon. The practice of “dieting” a plant as practiced in some South American shamanic traditions would seem to be a useful practice as a preliminary to such laboratory work (see Plant Shamanism by Heaven and Charing).
The only criticism I have for this book is that it would seem to make it all look too easy. In fact I would prefer to have more guidance in the actual temperatures at which to heat the product at various stages and for how long to expect each stage to take. I would also have liked to learn more about the distillation processes as the technique Mr. Stavish goes into is only for those on a shoe string budget. However, as the title of my review states, this book is the best of all possible beginnings.
Other sources to study are the works of Junius Manifred and the works of Jean DuBuis whose works expand upon and fill in the gaps of this brilliant primer.
Review by David Rankine for The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
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This book remedies one of the main problems in publications about alchemy – it is both understandable and practical! The basic practices and symbolism of alchemy are detailed, with emphasis on spagyrics (plant alchemy), including how to make various tinctures and plant stones. The author is to be commended for laying open so clearly this complex area of esoteric study.
This book is not for the lazy! It gives you material that will take years to work through, though it is all explained in a way that will encourage you to try things and see for yourself. It has certainly got me thinking about purchasing some of the equipment to give it a go!
A cautionary note, some of the alchemical symbolism differs from the classic Qabalistic symbolism. The author does explain this, so pay attention to these sections to avoid confusion. All in all this is an excellent practical and thought provoking book that I would recommend to everyone who is genuinely interested in magick. I hope the author will write a further book exploring the wealth of alchemical symbolism with a similar level of clarity to further the availability of the huge corpus of alchemical material which is largely ignored today. Now pass me that alembic!
Review by John H. Reid III for The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
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This year I have read three very good works on alchemy. “The Path of Alchemy” by Mark Stavish, “Real Alchemy” by Robert Bartlett and “The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy” by Brian Cotnoir. If you buy just one book on practical alchemy this year make it “The Path of Alchemy” by Mark Stavish. Marks book presents easy and clear laboratory instruction while also presenting detailed and clear references to Qabala. The solid hermetic meditations that go hand in hand with the physical work, are practices that can be fit into anyone’s daily routine with ease.
Review by Time Keeper for The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic (Pathways to Enlightenment)
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The Path of Alchemy – Energetic Healing and the World of Natural Magic, offers an interesting introduction into the philosophy and methods of alchemy as they apply to the Plant Kingdom of Nature. The author’s suggested meditations are useful in that they reflect the laboratory work instead of replacing it. His techniques and ideas train the aspiring alchemist the think alchemically, and thereby better experience and understand the working of Nature.
The book also presents additional information on the stages of alchemy and its relation to the Major Arcana of the Tarot, dream work, and interpreting the Path of Flamel into an operative laboratory technique. I find all are interesting personal penchants of the author, and are aimed at those who wish to move from `spiritual’ or `psychological’ Alchemy into the real nuts and bolts of the Great Work by following such lines of thought. Overall, a very good read, and one that deserves the attention and effort of anyone who wants to call him or herself, “Alchemist.”