Alchemy

Dragons represent certain symbols and meanings within alchemy, which will be explored in this section.

• Introduction
• Symbols
• Ouroboros
• Footnotes

Alchemy is not just a science nor is it a simple philosophy. The overall attempt of alchemists was to understand the foundation of the cosmos.² Basil Valentine, believed to have lived in the fourteenth century, was said to have created the Twelve Keys, which supposedly would help to create the philosopher's stone.²

While alchemy has not succeeded in its attempt, it has laid the basis foundations needed for chemistry to evolve, and it is still being practiced today. It has also opened the insight to psychology and even provided some with metaphysical, mystical, or religious experience or learning.³

There is a distinct difference between the study of alchemy and the study of folklore, mythology, and history. Alchemy was started by people who were in search of explanations, with no direct formula.¹ On the other hand, those who wrote down mythology, history, folklore, and the like, had a formula to stay to. It is only natural that an oral tradition would lose or gain certain qualities as it is passed down from generation to generation. A small detail that seems superfluous here is dropped off, while a new detail, which fits in better with the story, is added.¹ This is the difference, mainly, between the study of alchemy (as something metaphysical, religious, or the like) and the study of mythologies, folklore, etc.

Alchemy is far more complex than people make it out to be. Not only do alchemists study both philosophy and science (along with other various things), they write with usually cryptic or symbolic means, making it impossible for those who do not fully study alchemy to understand.⁴ To make matters worse, those who fully immerse themselves into alchemy can be driven insane by it.¹ Thus, a straight forward overview about alchemy cannot be written. This section shall focus on the symbolism of the dragon in alchemy.

The symbol for Mercury is the caduceus, which is two serpents entwined upon a rod. This is derived from Greek mythology, using the story of Mercury, the god's messenger, and his intervention between to fighting serpents.² This symbol was depicted both with and without wings. This was probably due to Mercury's volatile state, for which it also carried various names.²

The dragon and various serpents were used in alchemy often. This could be simply because of its role in the symbolism of religion. Most alchemists were extremely pious men who wanted to explore science, and they never really discarded the spiritual world from the physical world in order to study.⁴ In addition, alchemists were probably influenced by the dragon's dracontia, which alchemists believed would help in the making, in part, of the philosopher's stone.⁴

In Arabic Alchemy, the salamander is a symbol. The prima materia displays this creature roasting in a fire.¹ This could do with the Wiccan belief of that the salamander was the creature that represented fire. In any case, the alchemical symbol represents the frustration of analytical work.¹

The Greek viewed the Ouroboros as a sort of Western Yin Yang; it displays the qualities of two opposites in one.¹ In some interpretations, the creature was the guardian of the underworld, and there was a lot written about the relationship of the head and tail.¹ Sometimes it would be drawn with stars on the head and the rest of the creature would be black, although there were variations of this.¹

In the Arabic texts, there were non-serpent variations of the Ouroboros. The most common was a winged bird biting a non-winged's tail, and the non-winged one biting the tail of the winged one.¹ The Ouroboros basically described the flow and flux of life.¹

1. Alchemy, An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology by Marie-Louise von Franz
2. Dragons and Serpents of Alchemy
3. Introduction to alchemy
4. The Hill of the Dragon by Paul Newman

For more information about footnotes and references, please see the Bibliography.