Basics of Alchemy - Second Class - Period Five - Monday, 9/8

[brandyforapples.livejournal.com]

As today was mostly going to be a lecture class, there hadn't been much of anything to set up. Abby Irene sat at the front of the class, leaning against her desk, and the students filed in as they would. There was nothing on their desks but a number of papers and nothing on the board for the moment. That would soon change, of course, as she launched into the lecture... but they should enjoy it for the meantime.

"I certainly hope you came into class today prepared for a bit of work. I know a few of you will have it somewhat easier for having been in my last class, but for all I know the others might have some passing familiarity with beastiaries which could provide them the same advantage. That said, let's dig into this, shall we? I promise, this should be the least explosive class of the semester."

[ocd coming up!]

Comments

Lecture

[brandyforapples.livejournal.com]

The various (http://www.alchemywebsite.com/hermhera.html) and (http://www.hyle.org/journal/issues/9-2/obrist.htm) assorted (http://www.alchemywebsite.com/prink-ma.html) handouts (http://www.alchemywebsite.com/toad.html) certainly made a tall stack at each desk, but Abby Irene worked to cover some of the basics from each one.

"Alchemy" she wrote on the board as she spoke, "from the Arabic 'al-kīmiyā' refers to a philosophical and spiritual discipline, combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art all as parts of one greater force. Alchemy has been practiced in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, Japan, Korea and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in the Muslim civilizations, and then in Europe up to the 19th century—in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years.* (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy)

"Today, we will be covering alchemical symbology, and this study is expansive for two reasons: the first is that the study works in both directions, with outside forces shaping the symbology as well as the symbology shaping the use of certain objects and representation in other forms... and because not everyone was working from the same influences and as such there has been quite a lot of hobbing about to make it all fit in the same general system. That said, as most remaining texts can be found from medieval sources at one point or another, we will be focusing on this system specifically if only to keep our brains from exploding outside of our heads.

"You might wonder why we're covering this at all, since most of the lessons and practicals will be given in plain English. The reason is because it is an important part of the study and because I will not always be here to translate for you. Knowing how to read music is as important as knowing which keys to press and it would be a disservice not to teach such to you.

"I'll go over things somewhat for the time being, however..."

And so she got to.

Re: Lecture

[makescherries.livejournal.com]

Cimorene was taking very detailed notes.