Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[Barbrey]

You know, I really just want one good modern textbook, written in English, that explains exactly the “usual” scientific practice behind the four stages, and a glossary of alchemical terms with their decknamens and imagery. I want to be more systematic about researching this in a way that might provide illumination on the VMs illustrations. I have been disappointed in a few promising ones that I’ve read.

Although not directly about the four stages, I can recommend the following work for a general introduction to alchemical imagery and a corresponding, good word index. A whole chapter is devoted to the Opus Magnum. In any case, the German-language paperback edition helped me to discover the one or other "common thread" in the illustrations ( as far as that is possible in alchemy ). The word index is, as I said, carefully done and usually leads to  corresponding illustrations.

Alexander Roob
Alchemy & Mysticism
English edition

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.