Alchemy - Where to Begin - Introduction to the Summa Perfectionis (Sum of Perfection) Pseudo-Geber

Alchemy is one of the most difficult fields of study in Western Esotericism for a host of reasons: texts are often in ancient languages, practically encoded, full of arcane symbolism and obscure instructions. One of the most daunting tasks is even where to begin. There are thousands of alchemical texts spread over 1500 years - which is the best starting point if you want to study alchemy? In this episode of Esoterica, we argue that the Summa Perfectionis (c. 1310) is the best answer. We explore the question of the text's authorship, transmission, composition, alchemical theory of substance, change, and, of course, metallic transmutation.

Recommended Readings

Newman - The Summa Perfectionis of Pseudo-Geber: A Critical Edition, Translation, and Study - 978-9004094642 (ILL this one)

Other Readings:

Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 978-0521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.
Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 978-0226103792. An up-to-date history of alchemy.
Newman, William. Newton the Alchemist: Science, Enigma, and the Quest for Nature's "Secret Fire" 978-0691174877. Cutting edge research on alchemy in the 17th century.
Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 978-3836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!

Spiritual / Psychology School of Interpretation

Atwood, Mary Anne. A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery….(many re-print editions). The first text to introduce the ‘spiritual interpretation” of alchemy.
Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. 978-0226203904. Religious-philosophical interpretation of alchemy.
von Franz, Marie-Louise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology. 978-0919123045. An introduction to the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy.

#alchemy #geber #hermeticism #occult #chemistry

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[dioneosphorus]

As of January 2024, Newman's critical edition of the Summa Perfectionis is available in its entirety on the Internet archive in pdf (since July 2023). Grab it before Brill finds out and has it taken down.

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