Transformation of a Lump of Lead into Gold, Your Alchemy Primer |
 May 12 2008, 08:23 PM
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Hitchhiker's Guide of Harry's Alchemical Journeys  Posts: 2,870 Joined: 9:08pm March 20, 2006 Location: In the Alchemy Lab   |
The Transformation of a Lump of Lead into Gold Your Alchemy Primer  "I've never wanted to be a witch, but an alchemist, now that's a different matter. To invent this wizard world, I've learned a ridiculous amount about alchemy." JKR - From an interview in The Herald Dec 1998. Alchemy, just the name is formidable. What the heck is it? And why is it important to Harry Potter fans? In this thread we are going to be exploring just that, but first, to delve into the world of Alchemy, you will need a primer. Here in a nutshell (I hope) are the things you need to know: ~ Alchemy starts with an Alchemist (Such as Dumbledore, or Jo Rowling herself) and Prima Materia (Sometimes referred to as the First Matter) - which is the lump of lead or any material that is to be transformed (Such as Harry Potter, or the idea for a book about a boy who is a wizard and doesn’t know it.) ~ Alchemy ends with the Alchemist being transformed into the purified body or White stone (Harry or JKR) and it is then unified with the pure spirit to make the Elixir of Life which can turn things into gold. (Harry, purified, vanquishes Voldemort and lives a happy life / JKR finishes and publishes her idea and lives a happy life). ~ Along the way from point A to point B, there are seven steps in three phases to make this transmutation … or should I say that is what we will be considering as there are as many interpretations of this process as there are Alchemists. It's the journey through the Alchemy operations that transforms both the Prima materia and the Alchemist. It’s important to understand that this journey repeats itself until the ultimate transmutation takes place. ~ The seven steps or operations are: 1. Calcination – submitting the substance to be transmuted to fire until it turns to ashes; 2. Dissolution – combining fluid with the ashes to further purify them; 3. Separation – separating out the opposites and filtering the product; 4. Conjunction – recombining the elements that were separated into a new substance; 5. Fermentation – allowing the substance to putrefy and then to ferment which releases new life into the substance. (These first five steps are all part of the Black Stage.); 6. Distillation – condensation of the matter into it’s purified form (This is the White Stage.); 7. Coagulation – the coming together of the purified matter with the purified soul to form the Philosopher’s Stone. (This is the Red or purple Stage.) ~ There is not one interpretation of alchemy! There are tons! Some reference Alchemy from the point of view of the actual metallurgic process; others from the spiritual transformation that occurs; Carl Jung, the famous psychologist, interpreted Alchemy as the psychological journey one must take to rid themselves of psychological baggage and become a balanced person; then there is the literary interpretation that we actually see within the Harry Potter septology, but certainly not exclusive to HP, – it’s prevalent in English Literature from Shakespeare to Charles Dickens to J.R.R. Tolkien. This is a lot to take in and it probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to you at the moment! However, what if I told you that each of the Harry Potter books had this framework woven into the plot! And that furthermore, the total Septology had an alchemical framework! It’s intriguing and certainly makes some of the plot twists more acceptable and understandable when the alchemical nature is taken into consideration. So here we are at the beginning! A place to learn about the framework that underlies these beloved stories. I challenge you to get to know the operations and stages of Alchemy so that you can glean a deeper understanding of Harry Potter and JKR herself. For further reading on Alchemy, try this link - Alchemy 101 Here are the links to the Scribblius Essays by Arianhrod - Part I and Part II Special thanks to Alchemist Apprentice for her input into this thread. Here are some questions to start us out: 1. Why did JKR call the first book The Philosopher’s Stone and not title the last book this? Note - She did allow the American publisher to change the Title to Sorcerer's Stone. Do you think it has the same connotation as the British title? 2. In the first 3 chapters, what people, place or objects do you recognize as being symbolic of the prima materia? Who do you think is the Alchemist? 3. Considering the differences of the metallurgic, spiritual, and psychological views of calcination, what needs to be burned away, i.e., what psychological baggage, spiritual impurities, or characteristics of lead need to be 'fired away' in order to allow change? 4. What parts of Harry must be “burned away” to make him amenable for the changes to come? 5. At what point do you think the second operation of Dissolution occurs? Check back in this thread each week as I will be adding more questions to help you to understand Harry's transformation. Week two: 6. What are the objects and/or people that are symbolic of Dissolution? 7. How is Harry experiencing the fluidity, i.e., the changeable quality of Dissolution? 8. How do we know we are in the Black stage? 9. At what point do you think the third operation of Separation occurs for Harry? 10. What imagery does JKR use to signify this operation? Week Three: 11. What does Harry have to separate out of his life to be amenable to continuing to the next operation and why? 12. What is the importance of separation through out the book and how does it bring forth another stage of alchemy? 13. What imagery or symbols stand out in these chapters as being alchemical? Week Four: 12. What stage is Harry in during the chapters for this week? (Chapters 8 & 9) 13. What imagery or symbols stand out in these chapters as being alchemical? 14. Describe the changes you have seen in Harry during these first few months at Hogwarts? Week Five: 17. At what point do you feel the fourth operation of Conjunction begins? 18. What symbols do you recognize as being representative of Conjunction? 19. Why is the melding of the Trio an important step in Harry’s Alchemical Journey? Week Six: 20. Which operation do you think Harry and company is experiencing in Chapter 12, in Chapter 13? 21. Why are the 12th and 13th chapters often the most important chapters in JKR’s books? 22. What symbols can you identify in these chapters as relating to Alchemy? Week Seven: 23. When do you feel the Operation of Fermentation begins? 24. What are the symbols that help us realize Fermentation has begun? 25. Are we still in the Black stage? What clues us into the stage we are in? Week Eight: 26. When do you think the operation of Distillation begins and ends? 27. When do you feel the last operation comes into play? 28. What are the symbols that indicate we are in the White stage? 29. What imagery indicates that we have crossed into the Red/purple stage? 30. How has Harry changed during this journey? What change in his character has occurred in this book? This post has been edited by HealerOne: Jul 6 2008, 05:50 PM -------------------- Sorting begins soon for HBP!  Follow the Lily and Stag on twitter, too! Thanks twiddlethosedials for the Siggy! |
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May 15 2008, 04:05 PM
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Working on Patronus with Neville  Posts: 506 Joined: 10:08pm March 30, 2006 Location: A Ladybug frollicking amoung Butterflies |
Thank you so much for the introduction to alchemy, HealerOne! That was a fantastic synopsis of an intricate theme in the Wizarding World! Nicely Done!  And I love your first question!: 1. Why did JKR call the first book The Philosopher’s Stone and not title the last book this? The thing that makes sense to me is that in the first book, JKR was introducing the beginning of Harry's journey. All throughout PS, Harry is fairly passive and is the prima materia himself--as yet unformed. The material Philohopher's Stone that Flamel created is basically the catalyst to start Harry on the journey toward becoming the Chosen One. In DH--he becomes the Philosopher's Stone--that which brings life back to the Wizarding World. Both the Philosopher's Stone and the Deathly Hallows were impetuses (impetusi ?) to draw him further along the path. So their using each of their names for part of his story seems apt. But Harry's goal was always to become the Philosopher's Stone--not find it. So the first book aptly describes that part of his story--which changed his life and our lives into something new! Jo did allow the American publisher to change the Title to Sorcerer's Stone. Do you think it has the same connotation as the British title? After all the work she did on alchemy--I cannot imagine how the Scholastic editor convinced her to change the name, since the name Sorcerer's Stone has no literary referent. It must have been a very intense conversation and perhaps a deal breaker. I think JKR has said that she regrets that she agreed to it. I am really grateful that I have the books from Bloomsbury--I love seeing "Philosopher's Stone" on the cover! --------------------   |
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May 16 2008, 02:20 PM
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Smart Cookie  Posts: 3,083 Joined: 1:26am September 30, 2006 Location: Somewhere in time and space  |
QUOTE(Nimbus Flyer @ May 15 2008, 04:05 PM)  1. Why did JKR call the first book The Philosopher’s Stone and not title the last book this? Oh, that's interesting. I haven't thought of this, but in this book it does indeed seem that Harry is the material to be transformed into the Saviour of wizarding world. I mean, he doesn't really know anything to be able to follow the path himself. And Dumbledore hasn't explained him anything yet, but I feel like he's already working on Harry, if that makes sense. I mean, I've always thought that he let Harry go through all of that stuff, like discover the Mirror and then, well, figure out that whole deal about the Stone.The thing that makes sense to me is that in the first book, JKR was introducing the beginning of Harry's journey. All throughout PS, Harry is fairly passive and is the prima materia himself--as yet unformed. The material Philohopher's Stone that Flamel created is basically the catalyst to start Harry on the journey toward becoming the Chosen One. In the later books, I think, Harry becomes an Alchemist and he and Dumbledore are both Alchemists - Dumbledore is sort of like the Teacher Alchemist and Harry is the Student Alchemist. But in this one, I find Dumbledore to be the only Alchemist so far. However, now I come to think of it, Riddle (or Quirrelmort) is kinda an Alchemist, too, isn't he? I mean, he's the one wanting the Stone. But then he wants the it for wrong reasons and is trying to get to it using the wrong means. I think, this might show how important it is for an Alchemist to choose the right way to reach Perfect-ness. When I read PS for the first time, I really thought that Dumbledore was a perfect man. Now, I'm happy that I've learnt that Dumbledore made some mistakes in his Alchemical journey as well. Well and from the first few chapters, I've always thought (well, since I "discovered" Alchemy), that Dumbledore putting out the lights when he first appears in Privet Drive must be Alchemically significant. However, I'm still trying to puzzle out what the significance might be. I think, Dumbledore might be sort of putting Harry to the Black Stage (the first stage of alchemy) or even somewhere before there, if that makes sense: he probably doesn't realise, but he sort of puts Harry into the Unknown, doesn't he? I mean, no one really knows about Harry's life with the Dursleys (though, I've always thought that Dumbledore knew about it more than he ever let go), and Harry, in turn, doesn't know anything about his past, his identity, so to speak, and such. This also makes me think of Dumbledore as the Alchemist in this book - because he puts Harry to the Dursleys, then sends Hagrid to take Harry out of there (well, I only assume that he does that). Well, I hope, this make sense 
-------------------- I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine. (P&P)
Images from adair7, iconsbycurtana, pirogoeths-icon @LJ.   |
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May 16 2008, 04:07 PM
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Newest Housekeeper at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 736 Joined: 4:41pm September 14, 2006 Location: looking for lost braincells in the L&S Broom Closet |
QUOTE(Mary Wanguard @ May 16 2008, 03:20 PM) QUOTE(Nimbus Flyer @ May 15 2008, 04:05 PM) 1. Why did JKR call the first book The Philosopher’s Stone and not title the last book this? The thing that makes sense to me is that in the first book, JKR was introducing the beginning of Harry's journey. All throughout PS, Harry is fairly passive and is the prima materia himself--as yet unformed. The material Philohopher's Stone that Flamel created is basically the catalyst to start Harry on the journey toward becoming the Chosen One. In the later books, I think, Harry becomes an Alchemist and he and Dumbledore are both Alchemists - Dumbledore is sort of like the Teacher Alchemist and Harry is the Student Alchemist. But in this one, I find Dumbledore to be the only Alchemist so far. However, now I come to think of it, Riddle (or Quirrelmort) is kinda an Alchemist, too, isn't he? I mean, he's the one wanting the Stone. But then he wants the it for wrong reasons and is trying to get to it using the wrong means. I think, this might show how important it is for an Alchemist to choose the right way to reach Perfect-ness. When I read PS for the first time, I really thought that Dumbledore was a perfect man. Now, I'm happy that I've learnt that Dumbledore made some mistakes in his Alchemical journey as well. Mary, that's a fantastic observation about Riddle. He's like the "Shadow-Alchemist" of the books (I just made up that term!), seeking his own transformation into a pure being -- not pure in heart, like Harry, but purely inhuman: not just immortal, but ruthless and cold to the point at which all normal human feeling is gone. QUOTE(Mary Wanguard @ May 16 2008, 03:20 PM) I think, Dumbledore might be sort of putting Harry to the Black Stage (the first stage of alchemy) or even somewhere before there, if that makes sense: he probably doesn't realise, but he sort of puts Harry into the Unknown, doesn't he? I mean, no one really knows about Harry's life with the Dursleys (though, I've always thought that Dumbledore knew about it more than he ever let go), and Harry, in turn, doesn't know anything about his past, his identity, so to speak, and such. This also makes me think of Dumbledore as the Alchemist in this book - because he puts Harry to the Dursleys, then sends Hagrid to take Harry out of there (well, I only assume that he does that). Well, I hope, this make sense No worries, M, your thoughts are very well expressed. Harry is plummeted into "the Unknown," where he is forced to recognize himself as the "prima materia" - learning he's a wizard, but not fully understanding or being able to control his own power, nor knowing what his role is ultimately to be. Perhaps another aspect of being "prima materia" is Harry's innocence in PS/SS. As he gets older, becoming stronger and more aware of himself, and of evil in the world, and his role in regard to evil, that innocence necessarily comes to an end. But I think as readers we love the "prima materia"/innocence in young Harry. Nimbus Flyer, now that we know the profound significance of "philosopher's stone," I wonder if Scholastic, at some future moment, will decide to revert to the original title. -------------------- Summer's lease hath all too short a date... |
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May 16 2008, 04:47 PM
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Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 416 Joined: 11:32pm October 3, 2006 Location: Somewhere at Hogwarts (check the Marauders' Map) |
Such a wonderful observations already!
I absolutely love the alchemy threads. I can't lie about that... Mary Wanguard, I find it very interesting that you see into Dumbledore's putting out the lights a sign of alchemy. It definitely could mean a lot. Yet, we must keep in mind that alchemy is about material transformation (the soul being considered the first material of the human being). In a way, he only "disconnects" the light and doesn't truly change it. That's why it is also called a Deluminator. The Light/Dark symbolism is very important throughout the HP books. I think the basic spells to perform with a wand are definitely Nox and Lumos. In the end, Dumbledore putting out the lights of Privet Drive is more an effect than affect. Theatrically speaking, it also creates a mind image which is entirely similar to what happens on stage or during most films : there's the dark even black screen to start with. It is the story beginning (and ending, by the way) device. However, it is very interesting when you think more deeply into the series and remember that the put-outer was Ron's heritage. And in that perspective, I think we could discuss this element on a very alchemical level. Just to start thinking, this little quote from the modern alchimist Jack Glass : "Aim at the firestone - a stepping stone - first. It will transmute lower metals. Then aim at the Philosopher's Stone. You are at one - you have attained." About the title and more specifally the "Philosopher's Stone" part, I'd like to start by saying that the alchemical symbolism itself is already a translation. Nicholas Flamel was French and he discovered the possible existence (throughout creation) of the Philosopher's Stone upon reading an old book he had dreamed of earlier. The book was in Latin which is among the less "exact" languages to translate from. There's always a margin of play with words and expressions when you translate but the limited vocabulary (even if expanded until after the Middle Ages) and specific construction of Latin makes it the less precise one to bring over into another language. I believe thus that we should less hang onto the specific words of the expression than the intern message and symbolism. Why would Rowling refuse to change the "exact" but in the end only English wording of the concept? The idea of the "lapis philosophorum" remains the same. The myth about the stone Flamel ended up truly making remains. The legend remains. But the wording changed for a specific audience and for specific cultural reasons. That is all... In my opinion, of course!  EDIT : I tend to forget a verb or word here and there... This post has been edited by MagicalKreacher: May 16 2008, 04:49 PM -------------------- |
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May 17 2008, 06:56 PM
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Waiting for Wednesdays  Posts: 9,150 Joined: 7:57am January 28, 2005 Location: Hiding from Hurricanes |
Wow - several awesome questions, but I'm going to just hit on a couple of them or I'd bore you guys!
QUOTE 2. In the first 3 chapters, what people, place or objects do you recognize as being symbolic of the prima materia? Who do you think is the Alchemist? My answer is kind of simple, but complex at the same time. The prima materia is the base for the "gold" of alchemy. It is the " prime ingredient" for what we're striving to achieve. Lily died to keep her son safe. Dumbledore wove spells to make sure he survived any possible attacks. Hagrid came to find him years later to assure that Harry would learn what he needed to help both muggles and wizards survive. His friends stuck by him when he needed them and didn't know it. Snape became a traitor to the Dark Lord to protect the child of a Muggle-Born witch. Dumbledore gave his life to make sure he was protected. All of these events occurred because of love. Harry became the alchemist, and had to learn to love unconditionally 'till he would willing give his life for his friends. Love is the prima materia. -------------------- |
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May 18 2008, 05:37 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 182 Joined: 8:52am May 22, 2005 Location: Cape Ann, MA USA |
In regards to question 5, I think Dissolution begins as soon as Harry arrives at Hogwarts. Clearly the Dursleys have reduced Harry to a pile of ash. Hogwarts is the biggest and best cauldron there could be and Harry is fully immersed in it. It's upon his arrival where everything good and bad comes to light. His mental duel with the Sorting Hat, his confrontation with Draco, the introduction to true friendship, both being accepted and an outsider, all these parts are swirled around and seperated and later reform in all the right places. Simple and basic, I know, but that's what I came up with.
-------------------- Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
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May 19 2008, 11:46 AM
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Monster Book Stacker Posts: 360 Joined: 3:54pm January 28, 2005 Location: Chamber 934 at the Lily & Stag Inn |
Beorn, I have to agree with you as to when dissolution appears to begin. I always thought that the Dursleys were a trial by fire unto themselves and served to create some characteristics in Harry that wound up being very helpful to him.
But it tends to upset what I thought the "Alchemical People" believed was a step for every book in the series. I just now looked over the seven stage list again and I saw where it might break down differently. Very simple analysis this is so be gentle please. Sorry to duck your questions HealerOne, but I am now curious as to what those of you who study this topic tend to believe represents each stage. QUOTE(HealerOne @ May 12 2008, 08:23 PM) ~ The seven steps or operations are: 1. Calcination – submitting the substance to be transmuted to fire until it turns to ashes; The decade with the Dursleys. (PS/SS) QUOTE 2. Dissolution – combining fluid with the ashes to further purify them; Harry's immersion into a new world at Hogwarts. (Still in PS/SS) QUOTE 3. Separation – separating out the opposites and filtering the product; Could this be referring to Harry's observation that he has many similarities with the young Tom Riddle and the lesson Dumbledore imparts upon him about choices, and how that differentiates them? Harry has to learn what makes him different, the opposite of Riddle, despite all their likenesses. (CoS) QUOTE 4. Conjunction – recombining the elements that were separated into a new substance; Harry being rejoined with people from his past who have been separated from him, Sirius and to some extent Remus, having now a sense of family that he did not feel before. He is in some way something new, a part of family he didn't know before. (PoA) QUOTE 5. Fermentation – allowing the substance to putrefy and then to ferment which releases new life into the substance. (These first five steps are all part of the Black Stage.); Goblet of Fire always seemed slow to me, and Harry's behavior in the Tri-Wizard Tournament was more often passive, like Harry was stagnating, letting things happen to him, in a sense putrifying. By the time he goes through Cedric's death and the no-communication summer, he comes through in the beginning of the next novel as someone not so pleasant to deal with. But that anger drives him into the fermentation process that continues throughout Order and by the end we have a reconciled Harry, with grief but also a prophecy. (GOF - putrification/Order - fermentation) QUOTE 6. Distillation – condensation of the matter into it’s purified form (This is the White Stage.); Having read Half-Blood Prince only a couple of times, the comparisons do not jump out at me, except to say that Harry becomes focused on what it is that he must do and he's learning information that prepares him for that task. (HBP) QUOTE 7. Coagulation – the coming together of the purified matter with the purified soul to form the Philosopher’s Stone. (This is the Red or purple Stage.) The obvious of course. Harry's become focused, has taken up the mantle fully, without any more assistance from Dumbledore, and in the end makes the fateful choice to do what the purified soul would have him do. Thus saving the world. (DH). -------------------- "Jiggery pokery! Hocus pocus -- squiggly wiggly!"
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May 21 2008, 09:49 PM
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Hitchhiker's Guide of Harry's Alchemical Journeys Posts: 2,870 Joined: 9:08pm March 20, 2006 Location: In the Alchemy Lab |
Sorry I haven't been able to post much here. Ginger and Beorn I disagree that within PS/SS dissolution begins as late as Harry's immersion into Hogwarts although I think it is part of the dissolution. One symbol that we should be aware of for dissolution is water. So my feeling is that when the rain starts during the roaming of the Dursleys is when dissolution begins to occur. Being Immersed into Hogwarts and the whole putting on of the sorting hat in a baptismal way could also be considered dissolution.
As far as the series goes Ginger I think you have a pretty good handle on it. However this is how I look at the series with the 7 operations of the Great Work: Calcination - PS/SS Where Harry's 'Muggleness' is burned away and he discovers who he is. The 'lump' that is Harry, as we see in the first few chapters, is transformed over the course of the first book. After the burning trials he undergoes in the book, his inner 'star' is released so that DD and the rest of his mates see the potential this untrained wizard has. This continues into the first part of CoS, but by the 6th chapter .... Dissolution - The days get grayer at Hogwarts and by the 8th chapter the rains begin...along with puddles of water and Moaning Mrytle's overflowing toilets .... even the CoS is accessed through the washbasins in a toilet! Harry is further transformed over that year to a creative force (which is fluid in nature) from the potential that he uncovered the year before. Separation This has to have occurred in PoA as Harry is separated from his beloved Nimbus 2000 and from his newly found Godfather. Conjunction This occurring in GoF with Harry's transformation of being very vulnerable person to becoming a truly compassionate person. Harry's journey that year takes him far into the reaches of House-elves and people different than himself, so he begins to look at the world with new eyes. Fermentation has to be OotP as here Harry stews and fumes and .. well ... putrefies until he reaches a whole new understanding of himself and what his destiny is all about. He is given a whole new sense of will to do what he can to eradicate the evil that is Voldemort. Sublimation In HBP Harry is transformed from relying on his mentors to taking on the task by himself. He learns to focus his energy and in doing so, his magic becomes very strong. The Philospher's Stone is polished and is whitened. Harry is very polished by DD's influence this year. Coagulation This operation is sometimes called Radiation. The Stone is now tinted with red (blood) so as to make the stone shine from within. This allows the fire that is within to radiate to all things with which it comes into contact. Anyway that's my take on it!  -------------------- Sorting begins soon for HBP! Follow the Lily and Stag on twitter, too! Thanks twiddlethosedials for the Siggy! |
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May 21 2008, 11:44 PM
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Monster Book Stacker Posts: 360 Joined: 3:54pm January 28, 2005 Location: Chamber 934 at the Lily & Stag Inn |
Thanks Healer, your breakdown is what I had thought I had understood to be the generally accepted one-stage-for-one book theory, which makes more symmetrical sense. At least it is more elegant! This subject is all so very fluid and fascinating. I wish I had more time to devote to its study.
I am more confused on the Conjunction stage right now. If you get any time I would like to hear some further explanation the mechanics of that stage and how that fits GOF. -------------------- "Jiggery pokery! Hocus pocus -- squiggly wiggly!"
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