ARS ALCHEMICA - FOUNDATIONS OF PRACTICAL ALCHEMY
Being a Prima in the Paracelsian Arte of Solve et Coagula
By Gary St. M. Nottingham
To be an alchemist, traditionally one must gain access to the Philosophers' Garden - but to advance into the garden one must be an alchemist. ARS ALCHEMICA: Foundations of Practical Alchemy provides essential instruction to assist the student to gain ingress into this sacred realm.
This work teaches the practical laboratory alchemy of the past masters and for the first time reveals many of their secrets, including the volatilization of the salts and the mysteries of the sal ammoniac salts. These are a major key to many operations of the arte without which the student fails in their operations.
The author, Gary St. M. Nottingham, additionally explores various alchemical formulae, and shares for the first time clear and detailed instructions omitted in other modern alchemical works. This enables the student to perform both simple and complex operations of the arte.
The correct mindset of the alchemist, often overlooked, is also considered. Alchemy deliberates that all life is one – as such the alchemist is influenced by the work as much as the work is influenced by the alchemist.
2016, 132 pages. Hardback with dust jacket, paperback & Kindle editions available.
ISBN 978-1-905297-98-6
B&W 6.14 x 9.21 in or 234 x 156 mm (Royal 8vo) Perfect Bound on Creme w/Gloss Lam
978-1-905297-99-3
B&W 6.14 x 9.21in or 234 x 156mm (Royal 8vo) Blue Digital Cloth™ Cover w/Jacket on Creme w/Gloss Lam
Ars Alchemica - Foundations of Practical Alchemy by Gary St. M. Nottingham
Introduction
In the beginning: being an account of the necessary attitude unto the arte
'Solve et coagula, et habebis magisterial': dissolve and bind and you will then have the magistery
Considerations and timing of the arte
Modus & the tools of arte the practicalities of arte
Aqua opus: the water works
The seven helpers: seven planetary tinctures
The elixir workings: the arte of salt volatilization
Vini tartarus: wine tartar and its mystery
The primum ens: accessing the essentials of plants
Lapis vegetabilis and the circulatum minor: of the vegetable stone both liquid and solid
The bhasma: metals as medicine
Gemstones: the tinctures thereof
Glauber and the aurum potable: the medicine of the sun
Urania: ingress into the lapis philosophorum
Essential reading
Index
Gary St. M. Nottingham’s commitment to the study and practice of the alchemical arte, ritual magic, grimoires and spirit conjuration means that he can often be found peering at bubbling flasks or a shewstone – or otherwise engaged in deepening his knowledge and understanding of such matters. His practices also draw on the work of the 17th-century astrologer William Lilly and the arte of horary astrology.
He organised the legendary Ludlow Esoteric Conference (2004-2008), helped produce Verdelet occult magazine, has taught many free day workshops on basic occult skills and is a popular speaker at esoteric conferences.
The seven volumes of Foundations of Practical Sorcery are an unabridged collection of Gary’s much sought-after previously published work, updated and made available to a wider readership at last. Ars Alchemica and Ars Angelorum may be seen as companion volumes to this central work.
Gary was raised in south Shropshire, where, during his mid-teens, he became involved with a small Coven, thereby gaining an excellent grounding in a wide selection of magical practices. Following the conjuration of a spirit, and asking it for help that manifested when least expected, he subsequently became involved with a group of practising alchemists.
He has a background in horticulture, enjoys spending time in the garden and playing chess.