Gold: Israel Regardie's Lost Book of Alchemy

Needs to be combined with Philosplopher's Stone and edited to create a comprehensable over view of Alchemy as viewed by Isreal Regardie.

A fine work by Dr. Regardie. Helpful commentary by The Ciceros.

Gold – Israel Regardie's Lost Book of Alchemy is a peculiar work worthy of some consideration. Written between 1938 and 1941 it is a continuation of his earlier work, The Philosopher's Stone published in 1938. It was in The Philosopher's Stone, a book written over a two week period between 1936 and 1937 while convalescing for a case of severe bronchitis, that Regardie formalized his thesis that alchemy was not a physical art, but a form of psychotherapy. In Gold, this thesis is expanded and elaborated upon. However, Regardie would later change this position thirty years later when he encountered Frater Albertus and attended the Paracelsus Research Society (later named Paracelsus College) in Salt Lake City, Utah and participated in its series of seven year alchemy classes. For more information on the intriguing and at times contentious relationship between Regardie and Albertus see, Israel Regardie and the Philosopher's Stone by Joseph Lisiewski, Introduction by Mark Stavish.So then, what are we to make of this book in light of Regardie's change of heart? A few things really. First, Regardie was willing and able to change his mind when presented with new information and new experiences. A critical personality trait for anyone in any field of work, more so in esotericism. Secondly, from reading his earlier works we are able to read, analyze, and understand his train of thought as well as how it evolved over time. Finally, we are able to look at this peculiar interior aspect of alchemy – the psycho-spiritual aspects that once so emphasized courtesy of Regardie and others in the esoteric community – that are increasingly being pushed into the background by too many laboratory alchemists. Paracelsus's great axiom is, “You only transmute without what you have first transmuted within.” Books like Gold help us by providing theories, mechanisms, and tools for that inner transformation so that we can bring it forth in the tangible domain of material life. In many ways The Philosopher's Stone and Gold are a sort of spiritual diary or autobiography in that through them we get to see the intellectual path trod by one of the most important figures in Twentieth Century occultism. Reading these books in this light allows us room to imitate this path and in a way, make it our own, something we must do anyhow if we are to be real Adepts of the Art. Be it inner or outer, alchemy is a journey to experiencing wholeness, or as the Emerald Tablet states, “To accomplish the Work of the One Thing.” To round out the work, the Cicero's have added The Art of True Healing (1937) as an appendix, for those unfamiliar with it, this is Regardie's brief precursor to his landmark book The Middle Pillar, along with an extensive glossary, bibliography, and index.

I don't like this author's writing style. I'm finding it a difficult and confusing read. Also, IMO this book has a very misleading title.

I've been reading various books on the occult and spiritual growth for about seven years now, and this is just what I needed. Excellent book on further development.

this is one interesting books i have read yet.

Intéressant, mais il manque la partie operative de l'alchimie.Pour cela, on pourra lire avec profit le livre de Robert Bartett:Real Alchemy.