[MD] philosophers stone

[Ron Kulp]

Refers to the successful completion of the transmutation of base matter
into gold <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold> . It has subsequently been
used as a 

metaphor for spiritual transformation in the Hermetic tradition
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism> . Its three stages are:[3]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus#cite_note-2#cite_note-2> 

*	nigredo(-putrefactio), blackening(-putrefaction): individuation
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individuation> , purification, burnout of
impureness; see also
*	 Suns in alchemy - Sol Niger
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suns_in_alchemy#Opus_Magnum>  
*	albedo, whitening: spiritualisation, enlightenment 
*	rubedo, reddening: unification of man with god, unification of
the limited with the unlimited. 

 

For a long time, it was the most sought-after goal in Western
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_culture>  alchemy
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy> . In the view of spiritual
alchemy, making the philosopher's stone would bring enlightenment upon
the maker and conclude the Great Work
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus> .[1]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophers_Stone#cite_note-0#cite_note-0
> 

 

Within Thelema <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema> , the Great Work
is generally defined as those spiritual practice leading to the mystical
union of the Self and the All-"The Great Work is the uniting of
opposites. It may mean the uniting of the soul with God, of the
microcosm with the macrocosm, of the female with the male, of the ego
with the non-ego."[5]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus#cite_note-4#cite_note-4>
According to Aleister Crowley
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley>  (1875-1947), this is
first represented by what he called the "Knowledge and Conversation with
the Holy Guardian Angel
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Guardian_Angel> ."[6]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus#cite_note-5#cite_note-5>  From
another perspective, he also considered the Great Work to be the pursuit
of self-knowledge, to "obtain the knowledge of the nature and powers of
my own being." [7]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus#cite_note-6#cite_note-6>
Although Crowley often discussed the idea of "succeeding" or
"accomplishing" in the Great Work, he also recognized that the process
is ongoing:

The Quest of the Holy Grail, the Search for the Stone of the
Philosophers-by whatever name we choose to call the Great Work-is
therefore endless. Success only opens up new avenues of brilliant
possibility. Yea, verily, and Amen! the task is tireless and its joys
without bounds; for the whole Universe, and all that in it is, what is
it but the infinite playground of the Crowned and Conquering Child, of
the insatiable, the innocent, the ever-rejoicing Heir of Space and
Eternity, whose name is MAN?[8]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus#cite_note-7#cite_note-7> 

 

According to legend, the 13th-century scientist and philosopher Albertus
Magnus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertus_Magnus>  is said to have
discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it to his pupil Thomas
Aquinas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas> ,

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophers_Stone