I was asked to explain in layman's terms the basics of these. Off the cuff, I decided to try and give my basic understanding of them and how they fit in Masonry. There are many Works out there that refer to these three schools and I wanted to share my perception of them. Keep in mind, that these are my interpretations and I'm only presenting them here for Masonic discourse.
I'll start with Alchemy. The basics are this...As you probably know it is an ancient form of what we would consider chemistry today. Back then, they believed that in order for transmutation (chemical change) to occur, the stars or planets needed to be in a certain position, and prayers had to be performed. Angelic influence was also a factor. each planet, constellation, and Angel had a specific purpose for the work at hand. The idea was to convert base metals into gold. To do this they believed that they could work with other materials to create what is known as the philosophers stone. The stone when used was a catalyst to convert metal into gold.That's the operative version. Now for the allegorical side of Alchemy. In a nutshell, as Mason's we work to better ourselves. We learn how to learn, Prepare to learn, and then move on to teach (mastery). It's basically a process that trains your brain to think differently. That's why the symbolism starts to make sense and take on an individual mean for you when you look at it. Speculative Alchemy is the process of that chemical change in your brain that creates the gold in your brain.
Now on to Hermetics-"As Above, So Below" redirects here.The concept was first laid out in The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, in the words "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing".In accordance with the various levels of reality: physical, emotional, and mental, this relates that what happens on any level happens on every other. This is however more often used in the sense of the microcosm and the macrocosm. The microcosm is oneself, and the macrocosm is the universe. The macrocosm is as the microcosm, and vice versa; within each lies the other, and through understanding one (usually the microcosm) you can understand the other. In a nutshell, If you understand your internal self, you can then decipher the mysteries of the universe.
Now on to the Kabbalah... The Kabbalah is known as the tree of life and is supported by three pillars (sound familiar?). Attached to those pillars are 10 sephiroth;According to Lurianic cosmology, the Sefirot correspond to various levels of creation (ten sefirot in each of the Four Worlds, and four worlds within each of the larger four worlds, each containing ten sefirot, which themselves contain ten sefirot, to an infinite number of possibilities), and are emanated from the Creator for the purpose of creating the universe. The Sefirot are considered revelations of the Creator's will, and they should not be understood as ten different "gods" but as ten different ways the one God reveals His will through the Emanations. It is not God who changes but the ability to perceive God that changes.The 10 Sefirot, arranged into the 3 columns, with the 22 Paths of Connection of three typesAltogether 11 sefirot are named. However Keter and Daat are unconscious and conscious dimensions of one principle, conserving 10 forces. The names of the Sefirot in descending order are:Keter (supernal crown, representing above-conscious will)Chochmah (the highest potential of thought)Binah (the understanding of the potential)Daat (intellect of knowledge)Chesed (sometimes referred to as Gedolah-greatness) (loving-kindness)Gevurah (sometimes referred to as Din-justice or Pachad-fear) (severity/strength)Rachamim also known as Tiphereth (mercy)Netzach (victory/eternity)Hod (glory/splendour)Yesod (foundation)Malkuth (kingdom)Basically it's a study in Virtue, and Mastery of the Sephiroth improve your ability to understand the Micro/macrocosm that is life.
Feel free to discuss...
I'll start with Alchemy. The basics are this...As you probably know it is an ancient form of what we would consider chemistry today. Back then, they believed that in order for transmutation (chemical change) to occur, the stars or planets needed to be in a certain position, and prayers had to be performed. Angelic influence was also a factor. each planet, constellation, and Angel had a specific purpose for the work at hand. The idea was to convert base metals into gold. To do this they believed that they could work with other materials to create what is known as the philosophers stone. The stone when used was a catalyst to convert metal into gold.That's the operative version. Now for the allegorical side of Alchemy. In a nutshell, as Mason's we work to better ourselves. We learn how to learn, Prepare to learn, and then move on to teach (mastery). It's basically a process that trains your brain to think differently. That's why the symbolism starts to make sense and take on an individual mean for you when you look at it. Speculative Alchemy is the process of that chemical change in your brain that creates the gold in your brain.
Now on to Hermetics-"As Above, So Below" redirects here.The concept was first laid out in The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, in the words "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing".In accordance with the various levels of reality: physical, emotional, and mental, this relates that what happens on any level happens on every other. This is however more often used in the sense of the microcosm and the macrocosm. The microcosm is oneself, and the macrocosm is the universe. The macrocosm is as the microcosm, and vice versa; within each lies the other, and through understanding one (usually the microcosm) you can understand the other. In a nutshell, If you understand your internal self, you can then decipher the mysteries of the universe.
Now on to the Kabbalah... The Kabbalah is known as the tree of life and is supported by three pillars (sound familiar?). Attached to those pillars are 10 sephiroth;According to Lurianic cosmology, the Sefirot correspond to various levels of creation (ten sefirot in each of the Four Worlds, and four worlds within each of the larger four worlds, each containing ten sefirot, which themselves contain ten sefirot, to an infinite number of possibilities), and are emanated from the Creator for the purpose of creating the universe. The Sefirot are considered revelations of the Creator's will, and they should not be understood as ten different "gods" but as ten different ways the one God reveals His will through the Emanations. It is not God who changes but the ability to perceive God that changes.The 10 Sefirot, arranged into the 3 columns, with the 22 Paths of Connection of three typesAltogether 11 sefirot are named. However Keter and Daat are unconscious and conscious dimensions of one principle, conserving 10 forces. The names of the Sefirot in descending order are:Keter (supernal crown, representing above-conscious will)Chochmah (the highest potential of thought)Binah (the understanding of the potential)Daat (intellect of knowledge)Chesed (sometimes referred to as Gedolah-greatness) (loving-kindness)Gevurah (sometimes referred to as Din-justice or Pachad-fear) (severity/strength)Rachamim also known as Tiphereth (mercy)Netzach (victory/eternity)Hod (glory/splendour)Yesod (foundation)Malkuth (kingdom)Basically it's a study in Virtue, and Mastery of the Sephiroth improve your ability to understand the Micro/macrocosm that is life.
Feel free to discuss...