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.

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

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?

~ 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.)

“Some Scholars regard the transmutation of lead into gold as a metaphor for the transformation of the self. The gold, they say, is you when you become fully realized or enlightened. But according to traditional procedure there are actually two transformations. First you make a philosopher’s stone, then you use it to transmute base metal. The first step – the forming of the stone – is the transformation of the self. The second step is the transforming of something that is not the self. The gold isn’t you. It’s something outside of you that you desire. The philosopher’s stone is a means, not an end. In fact, if you don’t want to use it for something, you won’t be able to form it. You can’t succeed with the alchemical transformation of the self unless you desire something that is not yourself. Wanting gold is vainglorious.”

There are some readers who consider that Harry goes through the alchemical process in every book, some readers who feel that each book represents a step in the process that occurs over the series, and (maybe?) some readers who consider both options to be true. If I've got that right, then I would definitely fall into the last group of readers; from my limited understanding, I can absolutely see minor transformations (or is it transmutations?) occuring in each book, as well as a major one across the septology.

...I think it's very important that though such things change form, they are still around (in ash form) for the next step. I think that Harry benefitted tremendously from growing up in the Muggle world, in a lot of ways, and from having had a bit of an awakening into his special-ness, that wizard-raised children might take for granted or never fully realize. Calcination, then, really is a way to take some things that might be generally negative, and using them for good, positive outcomes, I think.

That quoting really helps me, HealerOne. I always saw the "gold" as a kind of spiritual achievement (or enlightenment) which is unique to the hero/alchemist; but these passages actually connect back to what I had said about the hero's journey: the whole point of the journey/transformation is a selfless one. In the novel we see this made manifest when Harry stands before the Mirror and recieves the Stone despite his lack of desire to possess it.

I think I'm with you, StepInTime; each novel is like a microcosm of the alchemy theme which spans the whole series. Harry's developments in each book are all part of the ultimate transformation which makes him ready for the final challenge with Voldemort.

Out of the ashes, something new is born (to draw on phoenix imagery). Out of pain comes some peace, or reconciliation, or understanding. Another possible aspect of calcination in PS/SS seems to be Harry's learning the truth about his parents: although he never knew much, what he thought he knew has been "burnt away," preparing him to reconnect with his parents and to understand why they died. It is this which guides his choice to fight Voldemort all the way.

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?

5. Hagrid is Harry's guide, even the catalyst as the dissolution takes place.
6. Even though DD is the overall alchemist, it looks to me as though Hagrid could be seen in this role for this book only. He is the adult to whom Harry relates well and often, and Hagrid's doings propel the action.

Just to help you out to figure out separation - the third operation ... here are some of the images connected with it:
Mars, iron, 2 white birds ascending into the heaven from the black earth (signifying the ashes from both calcination and dissolution from the blackness of the primia material), the spirit rising, winds, filters, piles of sand (to filter liquids), knights wielding swords, the caduceus as a weapon, divorce, dismemberment, surgery, splitting of the Red Sea, breaking apart of Heaven and Earth, dividing, cutting or breaking down of substances.

I thought I'd come back to separation symbolism....
knights wielding swords - The duel that never came to pass seems a reflection of this alchemical image. Harry and Draco are like two knights in a medieval tale who, representing opposing forces, become locked in battle with one another. Harry and Draco really are presented as opposites, aren't they? One dark, one blond; one neglected, the other pampered; one open-hearted, the other close and cunning. Although this particular duel never gets off the ground, Harry and Draco engage in battle again and again as the series goes on.
breaking down of substances - I'm wondering if the first potion lesson fits in here. The various ingredients must break down when they meet and mingle, forming potion. Hmm...Snape attempts to "break down" the "substance" of his students in that first class, doesn't he? He implies they will prove themselves to be "dunderheads." He does specifically go for Harry, attempting to prove this "celebrity" is dissappointingly mediocre. Fortunately Harry is made of tougher stuff; although he is not completely impervious to Snapesnark, he's got enough spunk to not buy into it.

6. The one thing which I always had trouble with (before DH) was how Dumbledore stood outside the action and watched Harry get into terrible trouble and didn't interfere. That made me crazy to think a teacher and a responsible adult like this great wizard would be putting this child in danger, on purpose! Even though Hagrid is more readily seen in this book, it's clear to me that Dumbledore was calling the shots, as to how much Harry was exposed to, in order for him to be ready if Voldemort should show up to mess with him. Hagrid actually interacts in this process, while Dumbledore just sets the 'experiment up' and observes Harry's reaction to the experiment. He only intercedes when Harry is in mortal danger. I do consider Dumbledore the Alchemist and Harry the Primia Material, but because what Dumbleore is experimenting with is a person, I am beginning to believe that Harry becomes the apprentice of Dumbledore as the process continues. Anyone else want to weigh in on that?

It's been a short while since I took chemistry, and I remember that there's something about how before a reaction can take place a certain temperature (level of energy) has to be reached. And that much less energy is needed when there's a catalyst to help the reaction. Couldn't the troll be the catalyst in this little reaction? I mean, it's not like that hit on the head is going to change it in any way, is it? And didn't Jo also say that the Trio needed something happening to them, so that they could become friends? It's like they themselves couldn't reach the "temperature" they needed so that they could combine the Trio.

So, our three chemicals interact with the catalyst to form one compound. They boys fight the troll and Hermione gets them out of trouble with McGonagall - they all work towards one goal (e.i. to form one compound).

I really like the idea of the Troll being the catalyst. In a chemical reaction the catalyst is not changed, so I'm not sure we can really say that the Troll is a catalyst as he is changed from being animated to being unconscious!

The highest fire is Celestial Fire. It's brilliantly white and comes from the creator - it represents the power of divine will. It's very pure and simple. It shines without burning and is without color and odor.

Harry plays well on a team. He has never been one to seek attention. He cares about the whole.

Well, yes, the troll does, well, change. What I meant is that hit on the head (the reaction) won't have any lasting effects on it - like, once he wakes (I don't suppose they're going to kill him... are they?), nothing in him will have changed and he'll be able, well, wander around again, attacking at random. Because, well, in chemical reactions catalysts usually do change their form while the reaction is taking place, so that they're able to bind to the reactants and "glue" them together, but once the reaction is over, the catalyst releases the newly formed compound and changes back into the pre-reaction form. Do you know what I mean?

All right, this just might be me, but when I read the above I immediately thought about... Dumbledore In Chapter The Sorting Hat, his silver hair is described as the only thing that shone as brightly as the ghosts. med.

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?

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.)

The light of Mercury that appears to us as Lucifer, because of the distortion caused by the impurities, gives the impression of what the alchemists called ‘red sulfur’. The red sulfur of Lucifer, as traditional devil, is actually an illusion. It does not exist by itself because it is only an image, a distorted image of Mercury. We ourselves caused the impurities, the blackness that veils our true light being.

Red sulfur is the same as what is called Maya in eastern philosophies. Maya is the world of illusions, or the veil that prevents us from seeing and experiencing true reality, where the eternal light is. By the impurities of Maya, man has become ignorant. He has forgotten his origin and thinks he is in a world which in actuality is an illusion.

I am wondering if chapter 12 brings us into fermentation.

Okay, to chapter 12 of PS/SS, then. Here's why I think it might be fermentation. Harry finds his family in the Mirror, but this is not a good thing. He's utterly compelled to go back night after night, replacing real life with the illusion of a family which no longer lives. This is such a dark moment, and potentially quite dangerous, since he's on the verge of sacrificing real life in order to connect with the past. I think he needed to go through that, though; there's been talk in the chapter 12 thread about how this scene helps prepare Harry for later experiences in DH - here I'm specifically thinking of Harry's reunion with his parents and Remus and Sirius: then, Harry chooses not to stay with them, resolutely dropping the Resurrection Stone in the forest. In both books, Harry chooses life, and in so doing becomes more powerful as a person and as a wizard because loving often involves going through pain and loss. In PS/SS, he's not mature or aware enough to do it on his own; it's Dumbledore who helps him through. But that lesson lives all the way through to the final book.

Here's my take - I think we are still solidly in the conjunction operation as we talk about chapters 12 -The Mirror of Erised and Chapter 13 - Nicolas Flamel . One of the symbols in this operation is the double-faced person. I see the Mirror of Erised as showing Harry both in his reality and as his heart's desire. As someone pointed out in one of the threads - the one thing that all the people that looked in the Mirror saw was themselves in two different forms.

True, conjunction started when the Trio became friends, but as I said when I first talked about Conjunction, this is the most important operation of the Great work, if things fail or are unstable the whole experiment is thrown out. Let's look at the friendship, they begin to rely on each other, but Ron and Harry complain and don't take Hermione perhaps as seriously as she would like! Once the Holidays start, it's back to Ron and Harry again. They basically forget about the task that Hermione had left for them. Once Harry is given the Invisibility Cloak, he decides to pursue the task alone. That's when he confronts his heart in the mirror. He sees his two faces. He invites Ron, but Ron only sees his two faces and his heart. Dumbledore too, tells Harry of what he sees reflected in the mirror. We move on to Chapter 13, the Trio start the search again... each going their own way ... there is no harmony or stability in their pursuit of the truth. Only when Harry is willing to sacrifice to Neville one of the things that had been comforting to him- a gift from Hermione, the Chocolate Frog - does the Trio come together and work in harmony. Now they have discovered a truth! That Flamel is an alchemist and that the Stone is what is being guarded by Fluffy. They now have created a new way of thinking, they see reality in a new light. It's a pivotal moment, but this new insight that they have has to be nurtured and even grow into something far better and that takes the two-step operation of Fermentation!

This could arise through the formation of a layer of oil on the surface of the watery mass (in the wet way) or some oxidation-reduction reactions, say on the surface of liquid metal (in the dry way). It was a fleeting show of colour changes, that pointed to the fact that one was on the right path, and reabsorbed the energies released in initial emergence of the polarities. It was a midway point of the process, which could be seen as a false conclusion. Many people who have this experience in their inner life often falsely assume they have reached the end of the work, and attained inner transformation and enlightenment. The inner vision of the Peacock's Tail, beautiful though it may be, is merely a digestion of the polarities of the black and white stage. These must be transformed further into spiritual tinctures, if we hope to have any permanent transformation within the soul.

However, the most disgusting thing to me is is Ron's hand bitten by Norbert, which seems like really rotting flesh - swollen twice its usual size and nasty shade of green (ew!). I find it interesting though that it's not Harry who gets, well, bitten. I wonder, what that could possibly mean I think, it makes sense though, because it's the Trio who gets *sick* and it's Ron who's just been boasting to Hagrid about how much they've done and know. It's almost telling him - you were wrong, you're still far from reaching, well, perfection or whatever it takes to complete the Alchemical work.

When we get to chapter 15, I think, Putrefaction is still continuing. It's probably not nasty as in rotting-flesh-kind-of-nasty, but Harry, Hermione, Neville are really suffering because of the points they lost.

When as they're coming into the Forest, I think, there might be that Peacock's Tale thing appearing again - in the form of red and green sparks which Hagrid tells the kids to try before they get in.

I think, Putrefaction ends and the second part of Fermentation begins at some point in the forest. There's that silvery, white stuff appearing - the unicorn's blood (which could almost be a sign that we'll be entering the White Stage soon). And we get to see, well, someone who was apparently dead coming to life - I mean the Quirrelmort drinking unicorn blood.

I guess, Fermentation extends to chapter 16 as well - because, in the beginning of it, the Trio isn't doing anything about the whole Stone business, they're just having exams and such.

Man, this is difficult. OK, I'll try...

And the sun and moon beaming down on a child to me would kinda look like when Harry wakes up in the hospital and first he sees something glinting and thinks it's a Snitch and then it appears that it's just Dumbledore's glasses and Dumbledore himself.

~ How has Harry changed during this journey? What change in his character has occurred in this book?

Did you see the Peacock's Tail? JKR hid it very well in this book. It took some studying but did you notice that as they flew around the Charmed Keys room, the flock of keys were described with "a whirl of rainbow colors" (pg 202) flying about the room. After they accomplished that task, they went into a room "flooded with light" and across the room were the White pieces of the chess set. Eventually the White Queen takes off her crown and gives it to Harry. So there is the transition into the White phase.

I believe the transition into the Red phase comes when Harry first sets his eyes on the "blood-red stone". His thinking becomes clearer at that point and he has a great deal of confidence in himself. He very clearly retorts to Voldemort that he will Never go over to the Dark side - indicating that he has been enlightened as to the world Above and can never let go of that Universal Consciousness now that he has experienced it.

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.

Granjo Granger, this book (as I understand it) represents the First operation of Calcination, but within this book ... Harry goes through all 7 operations of Alchemy. So the Coagulation that occurs in this book is certainly not at the same level that Harry experiences in the 7th book. Remember that the Alchemical Journey is repeated until the person is able to totally become the Philosopher's Stone.

Maybe it will help to review this early post:



I hope this is helpful in clarifying ... Did I answer your question?

Ok so let's see if we learned anything from this book .....

So considering that we think Chamber of Secrets is the Dissolution operation of Alchemy, what kinds of imagery and symbolism would you expect to see in CoS?

Vitriol was widely considered the most important alchemical substance, intended to be used as a philosopher's stone. Highly purified vitriol was used as a medium for reacting other substances. This was largely because the acid does not react with gold, production of which was often the final goal of alchemical processes. The importance of vitriol to alchemy is highlighted in the alchemical motto, Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem which is a backronym meaning ('Visit the interior of the earth and rectifying (i.e. purifying) you will find the hidden/secret stone'), found in L'Azoth des Philosophes by the 15th Century alchemist Basilius Valentinus.

Mmmmmm, I like your ideas of the Green Lion. In CoS I am leaning towards Dobby (?) with his huge Green eyes.
[...]
Even if your room doesn't have an Alchemy thread - you will be able to see these symbols because you now have a working idea of what Alchemy is all about! A little Googling and you will have some interesting ideas to bring to your room's discussion! So don't fret if you don't have a special thread ... Good Luck to all of you who have taken part and a special thank you to the Lurkers who I knew were there and for whom I wanted to serve also.

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...