Piatra Filosofala

by Israel Regardie

Piatra filosofala cuprinde o analiza textuala inedita a trei opere alchimice importante: Tratatul de Aur al lui Hermes Trismegistus, Cele sase chei ale lui Eudoxus si Coelum Terrae de Thomas Vaughan. Facand apel la o interpretare simbolica bazata pe perspective magice si psihologie, Israel Regardie rezuma obiectivul practicii alchimiei astfel: „La fel ca metodele psihologice moderne, formulele alchimice aveau drept obiectiv crearea unui om deplin, a întregului. [...] Alchimia nu se multumeste sa conceapa un individ ai carui constituenti ai constiintei sunt unificati, ci, cu nevoia de desavarsire specifica tuturor metodelor oculte sau magice, merge cu un pas mai departe. Ea aspira la dezvoltarea unui om liber si unificat, care este si iluminat. Acesta este punctul in care alchimia se separa de psihologia ortodoxa. Tehnica sa cuprinde si un scop spiritual sau religios”.

Cartea lui Regardie reprezinta astfel unul dintre cele mai importante tratate hermeneutice ale secolului al XX-lea, in care investigaţia simbolica, cea magica si cea psihologica se imbina armonios pentru a arunca o lumina unica si profunda asupra artei alchimice.

Genres: Alchemy, Occult, Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy, Magick, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1970

About the author

Israel Regardie (born Francis Israel Regudy) was considered by many to be the last living Adept of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. At an early age, Regardie worked as Aleister Crowley's personal secretary. In addition to his extensive writings, Regardie practiced as a chiropractor and as a neo-Reichian therapist. He taught psychiatry at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and contributed articles to many psychology magazines.

Reviews

[Äsruþr Cyneaþsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting work from Regardie. I always find the meshing of Jungian psychology with magical initiation to be one of the prime draw to Regardie. This book held true to this association and was extremely interesting when read in comparison with Jung's own work on alchemy.

The sections on practical alchemy of metals etc. were less interesting to myself and detracted from the overall impact of the book.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of it was a bit dry for me not having a lot of experience with old alchemical text. however, regardie's commentary was great and there are several little gems here within.

[Stacia Dinkens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry. Overly psychologizes alchemy.