Phoenix from the wasteland

Patrick Harpur's previous book The Philosopher's Secret Fire a History of the Imagination changed my life. I was studying Philosophy at university and was stuck fast in a rigid literal rationalist perspective. It opened my eyes to metaphor and myth. By showing me the mythic nature of the scientific world view it was if somebody had pulled the rug from beneath my feet. It provided me with the intellectual tools I needed to initiate a dialogue with my soul. Many of my friends have reported the same experience on reading the book.

I was eagerly awaiting his recently republished book Mercurius: The Marriage of Heaven and Earth and it did not disappoint. The story is about two people separated by time but united by place and subject. The subject is alchemy and this book is the best exposition of the subject I have read. One character literally sets up an alchemical laboratory and carries out the physical process. The other finds his notes in the future and analyses them from a comparative mythological and psychological perspective. As the processes of alchemy are described they are mirrored in the events in the book and the psychological growth of the characters. What is incredible is that Harpur manages to achieve this whilst still telling an enjoyable story full of mystery, suspense and believable characters.

One of the fascinating aspects of reading this book was the way in which the ideas within it relate to the way in which the text can be interpreted. As the characters gain a greater understanding of alchemy I gained a better understanding as to how to interpret the book. The process of reading the book became an alchemical process in itself. I actually felt transformed after reading it. As each of the stages of alchemy unfolded in book I would notice the same processes unfolding in my own life and mind. This self-reflective nature of the book makes me sure that on every re-read I will find hidden subtleties in myself and the book.

Lately, since Jung, it has been the vogue to interpret alchemy as solely psychological process. However the whole point of alchemy is to understand the united nature of the inner and the outer. The physical processes of alchemy are intimately related to the inner processes of the practitioner. I think that this understanding has almost been forgotten. It’s truth is currently being hinted at by the developments of quantum physics. This book makes a noble attempt at expressing this difficult reality.

If you want to learn about alchemy then buy this book. But be careful. It might awaken the sometimes challenging, maybe even dangerous, initiatory process of alchemy within and without you.

Click here for Mercurius on Amazon