Is Astrology and Alchemy relateable in anyway?

Question

I was wondering, since Alchemy uses planets and so does Astrology.
And also, can someone tell me which planet rules over which element in Alchemy? (if such thing exists)

Answer 1

All of it is called magical thinking.



According to psychologist James Alcock, "'Magical thinking' is the interpreting of two closely occurring events as though one caused the other, without any concern for the causal link. For example, if you believe that crossing your fingers brought you good fortune, you have associated the act of finger-crossing with the subsequent welcome event and imputed a causal link between the two." In this sense, magical thinking is the source of many superstitions. Alcock notes that because of our neurobiological makeup we are prone to magical thinking and that therefore critical thinking is often at a disadvantage. Think of the post hoc fallacy and the gambler's fallacy. Think of trying to make sense of or give meaning to coincidences.



Zusne and Jones (1989: 13) define magical thinking as the belief that



(a) transfer of energy or information between physical systems may take place solely because of their similarity or contiguity in time and space, or (b) that one's thought, words, or actions can achieve specific physical effects in a manner not governed by the principles of ordinary transmission of energy or information.



Two of the more obvious examples of magical thinking are Jung's notion of synchronicity and Hahnemann's notion of homeopathy (Stevens). Other examples would be applied kinesiology, graphology (Beyerstein), palmistry, and psychokinesis.

Answer 2

You've given a very broad range of issues, here. Many are not against God. Many are, historically speaking, against Paganism. Modern Pagans don't seem aware that the Pagans of old executed witches and sorcerers the same way Christians did. Alchemy was widely accepted by the church for years. Until Protestant Reformation, when may alechemists were executed by the Protestants as witches. Someone in another response brought up divination. Divination, in all its forms, is against God's will. We should live each day as we are given it. Not trying so hard to see what the future holds, but praying each day to follow His will for us. Numerology is not biblical. It was, however used by some Hebrews and can be found in the Kabbala. Do not confuse astrology with astronomy. Astrology is studying the stars. Astronomy is divination by the stars. So too, "esp" is not against God. It is a God given gift. But a lot of fundamentalists do not understand and lump it all together with occultism.

Answer 3

There is a connection between Astrology and Alchemy.Alchemy aims to create purity in order for spirit to be reflected and manifested in this earthly realm.Astrology interprets the meaning of the planets and zodiac, alchemy interprets the meaning of the elements and metals. The planets are embodied intelligence; the metals are intelligent bodies. While the metals were generated in the womb of the earth they are essentially under the influence of the seven planets.

Answer 4

Yeah in the sense that many of the attributes or qualities of the Signs & planets carry over philosophically into Alchemy. In many ways it was kind of a secret language as certain symbols differed depending if they were used in Europe or in the Mid-east. I wish I could go furhter in depth but i've just barely scratched the surface myself into this Astro-Alchemy connection.



As far as elements Fire & Water seemed to be represented by right side up & upside down triangles. The Sun represents Gold, the Moon Silver, & Mercury (you guessed it)



Heres a link to a chart I posted in another Q linking astrology to alchemy...it show the elements in relation to planets and signs including the Nodes http://www.the-spoiler.com/ADVENTURE/Her.interactive/nancy.drew.curse.of.blackmoor.manor.1/NDcurse/elements.jpg

Answer 5

I think they might as well be related.



But I've only read half an alchemy book a long time ago so I don't remember much.



Sun rules gold, Moon rules silver, Mercury rules Mercury (?), Mars rules iron (?)... and I'm lost.



Maaan, I used to have all that in a notebook. But the notebook ain't here. Like... each alchemical process (coagulation, etc, etc.) is related to a particular sign. Virgo was purification, for example (if that was the name of the process).



Also each process corresponds to a chakra and each chakra is ruled by a planet.



Like the last process (and I really don't remember the names) is represented by 7th chakra and is ruled by the Sun. The last but one is represented by 6th chakra and is ruled by the Moon. The process before that - 5th chakra - Mercury, 4th chakra Jupiter, 3rd chakra Mars, 2nd chakra Venus, 1st chakra Saturn. That's what I remember.



Then according to Manly P. Hall, for example, each planet represents a challenge we must handle in order to stop the process of reincarnation and return home. Moon - parting with our illusions, Mercury - getting over the need to over-intellectualise, Venus - compassion instead of passionate love, Sun - existing without the need for energy and Mars... I forgot. The idea is when you handle all those you go to the gatekeeper (Saturn) who judges you on how well you've mastered them. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto represent things beyond ordinary human awareness.



I think alchemy is quite useful as each process signifies a stage in the development of your psyche, a real spiritual guide. What I remember is that first you had to burn your own ego, then immerse what is left into water and precipitate, than you work on what is left, there was some integration of opposites, etc. I think it's a real spiritual guide and not to be taken literally but quite symbolically.



Not a very coherent narrative but you reminded to have a look at those once again. Thank you and the universe for that.

Answer 6

Not in any direct sense in that you can switch from one to the other or directly use principles of one with the other. Alchemy is, like phrenology, largely misunderstood. Phrenology does not study bumps on the head and alchemy is not only about changing base metals into gold. In fact, ancient rudimentary alchemy referred to changing metals into gold before gold had the monetary value it subsequently achieved. Gold was associated with the Sun and the Sun was the material manifestation of the deity in many cultures. Therefore the switch was attempted for spiritual reasons. That purity of thought didn't last long and people tried to turn base metals into gold for more practical reasons. Obviously they never succeeded.



However there is more to alchemy than making gold and it originated and largely was a spiritual activity. Like medieval and earlier astrology it was based on the idea that all things are connected somehow. But that is pretty much where the similarities end.



There is a branch of astrology, popular in the middle ages and Renaissance called "astrological magic." It is not the kind of magic that you see on a stage. It was and is an attempt to use one or more things in nature to produce other results in nature, e.g. produce good crops. Talismans, gems, astrological elections and similar things are part of it. It is a strange field, in my opinion, and not too many people are legitimately familiar with it.



Each planet rules certain metals and the list is extensive. Saturn rules lead, Jupiter rules tin, Venus rules copper (I think), the Moon rules silver and the Sun rules gold. Not sure about Mars and Mercury (quicksilver for sure another name for the metal mercury). You can look them up in almost any old astrology text. William Lilly's Christian Astrology is a good source.



Edit: Chain do you just cut and paste or do you read the questions? Do you understand them? No one practices alchemy any longer, not seriously anyway. So your contemporary psychological definitions are irrelevant and silly. But brace yourself, I agree with you on what usually passes for understanding of Jung's idea of synchronicity. Astrologers' understanding of it is absurd, but what Jung really meant is a lot more sophisticated that it is usually portrayed.



As it was explained to me by a student of Jung (psychology not astrology), it has to do with events caused psychological reaction to common experience, such as those common experiences people of the same culture share. This gave rise to another misunderstood Jungian concept, the collective unconscious. This type of synchronicity/collective unconscious has nothing to do with magical thinking or anything that might be construed as supernatural. I also doubt Jung was as friendly to astrology as some claim. He did study it however, and that puts him way up over the more common critics.

Answer 7

I've studied astrology, but haven't ever heard of alchemy.