Soul Alchemist - Alchemy

Alchemy is an ancient philosophical tradition that has been around since 73-49 BCE in china and the first few centuries in the greco-roman Egypt. Unlike many probably have thought, alchemy dealt with much more than the conversion of metals. The transmutation of lead to gold was a mere analogy for personal transmutation, purification, and perfection - known today as the act of transcending one's life. At the time, Alchemists sought to create the philophoner's stone - a stone that was also called the Elixir of life; granting immortality for the one who possessed it - through the Magnum Opus, also called the Great Work. It was also believed that those who went through the Great Work would be able to achieve the perfection of human body and soul, reaching the Gnostic state, according to Hellenistic and Esoterism.

Moreover, the creation of Panaceas was one of the highest goals of alchemy from those times. Named after the Greek goddess of medicine of universal remedy, Panacea is any given remedy that can cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. In addition to the creation of such medicine, the development of an Alkahest - a universal solvent - was also a remarkable achievement that alchemist were looking to achieve back then.

Nowadays, we see alchemy taking place in alternative medicines like Ayurveda, Herbalism, Reiki and other kinds of holistic and natural medicines. In nature we see caterpillars turning in to butterflies, the evaporation of water through the element of fire - the sun - in to a finer, less dense element; making our soil more fertile as the end result.

1. Soul Alchemist - Panaceas (Original Mix) 7:19
2. Soul Alchemist - Philosopher's Stone (Original Mix) 7:20
3. Soul Alchemist - Magnum Opus (Original Mix) 7:17
4. Soul Alchemist - Alkahest (Original Mix) 7:03