The following article is a sub-chapter in my publication: The Seven Great Mysteries of the Mystic Brotherhoods (2020) which is available from Amazon.com.

Long before modern empirical science confirmed it, Hermetic philosophy recognized that everything in the universe vibrates; and that the difference between matter, energy, mind and spirit is simply a matter of vibratory degree. This universal truth was ideologically formulated as the Hermetic principle of vibration: “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates” (The Kybalion; 1940).

It was also understood, even from ordinary observation, that it was possible to change vibratory levels simply by raising or lowering the degree of vibration. For example, the dull grey colour of a particular metal could be changed to a dull red colour simply by applying heat; that is, by raising the vibratory level of the metal. Moreover, by continuing to increase the amount of heat energy, the dull red will become bright red, then orange, then yellow and then white.

Similarly with sound. Take a particular guitar string that produces an “A-note” when plucked. Simply by continually stretching the string, the vibrations per second (“hertz”) will increase from 440 vibrations per second (an A-note), up to 783.99 vibrations per second (a G-note).

It was also commonly known that raising and lowering the degree of vibration will also affect the various states of matter; of solid, liquid and gaseous. By lowering the temperature (vibrational degree) of liquid water, for example, it becomes a solid―that is, ice. Alternatively, by raising the temperature of liquid water, it becomes a gas―that is, water vapour.

The process of raising or lowering vibratory levels was referred to in Hermetic philosophy as “transmutation.” It was on the basis of Hermetic transmutation that later medieval and Renaissance alchemists experimented with the possibility of transmuting gold from another “base” (less valuable) metal, such as lead. While the alchemical idea of transmuting gold from another metal was always theoretically possible, the difficulty was in knowing exactly how to do that. It took until 1924 and the development of high-energy nuclear reactors for modern science to initially transmute mercury into gold. Not surprisingly, the enormous energy, technology and financial cost involved makes the nuclear transmutation of gold far too difficult and expensive to mass-produce.

Even if Rosicrucian alchemists had discovered an easier method of synthesizing gold, they would never have publically revealed so valuable a secret. The unbridled ability to manufacture gold would certainly have imperiled established trade and commerce, with the distinct possibility of inciting social upheaval and even causing widespread cultural warfare. Besides, the Rosicrucian Fraternity was strictly pledged to use their vast esoteric knowledge only to compassionately assist struggling mankind to attain closer union to God through Christ-Jesus.

The experimental preoccupation of Hermetic and Christian alchemists with the properties of minerals, metals and plants was not simply out of philosophical curiosity, but because of a deeply devotional desire to discover healing remedies for human sickness and suffering. In the succinct words of famous Christian alchemist, Paracelsus: “All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to find it.” It was the altruistic goal of health and healing, then, that inflamed the hearts of sincere alchemists to seek an elixir of immortality to defeat death, a cure-all “panacea” to dispel disease, and a universal solvent to abolish uncleanliness.

While it is well recognized that Hermetic and Christian alchemists were deeply interested in the transmutation of minerals, metals, and plants for the purposes of healing, it is lesser known that they were even more devoted to “inner alchemy”―that is, the internal transmutation of the soul and spirit. In the immortal words of The Kybalion:

Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted, from state to state; degree to degree; condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration. True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.

To change your mood or mental state―change your vibration.

The alchemical goal to transmute base metal into gold was therefore not only an external undertaking in outer Nature; it was also symbolic of the internal, psychological striving to transmute the base elements of the lower personality into the golden spirituality of the higher-self.  To this end, the experimental laboratory of the Hermetic alchemist was not a sterile and lifeless environment; but rather, a hallowed sanctuary where the living cosmos of Nature cautiously yielded up her secrets. As for the Rosicrucian alchemist, the transmuted spiritual gold of the higher-self was naturally equated with becoming more Christ-like in perfection.

The key to the inner alchemy of the soul; that is, the alchemical secret to transmuting thoughts, feelings and actions is to understand and apply the Hermetic principle of polarity:

Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled. (The Kybalion)

This Hermetic principle recognizes that every distinct vibratory level in Nature manifests within a specific range that operates between two boundaries―one high and one low. These boundaries are known as “poles” and the range between is called a “spectrum.” Visible light, for example, is a range or spectrum of colours bounded at the low end by the vibratory pole of red, and at the high end by the vibratory pole of violet.

In accordance with the Hermetic principle of polarity, any transmutation of colour must occur within the polarized spectrum of light. In other words, the vibratory degree of the colour blue cannot be attained by transmuting a musical note, or by transmuting water, or by transmuting the emotion of fear. Blue can only result from the transmutation of another colour; either by raising the vibration of a lower colour (say red), or by lowering the vibration of a higher colour (say violet).

This is the reason why the transmutation into gold must always involve another metal. Metallic gold cannot be transmuted from water, or from hydrogen gas, or from chocolate. Even with nuclear reactors and particle accelerators, the artificial synthesis (transmutation) of gold always begins with another metal: either platinum, mercury or bismuth.

In order for the inner alchemy of the soul to be effective, then, the various polarities have to be recognized and adhered to. To Hermetic philosophy, thoughts and feelings also have a vibratory nature; though in this case they are vibrations in “soul space” and not “physical space.” Therefore, the Hermetic principle of polarity applies to thoughts and feelings as well.

Take for example the feeling of courageousness. When psychologically examined, courageousness exists along a spectrum of feeling ranging from complete cowardice to total bravery. If one happens to be burdened with cowardly feelings, these negative emotions can be overcome by employing the transmutation techniques of inner alchemy. For this to be effective, it’s first necessary to determine along which spectrum of emotion cowardice is situated. Once the correct emotional spectrum has been identified, then it is a matter of concentrating the will on the corresponding positive emotion; in this case, courageousness or bravery. Through repeated and concentrated will-power, the lesser, negative emotion will in time be transmuted into the higher, positive emotion.

Once again, as a crucial reminder, for the inner alchemy of soul transmutation to be effective the correct spectral polarity of emotion must be utilized. In this case, cowardice will not be transmuted by concentrating on feelings of joy, or peacefulness, or affection, or contentment. Figure 1 below is a brief list of some other familiar emotional polarities:

Figure 1:  Table of Some Familiar Emotional Polarities

Transmuting negative thinking and unhealthy mental states employs exactly the same procedure as that for feelings, emotions, desires, passions and moods. Once again, the key to mental alchemy is to repeatedly focus the will on the positive pole of the negative mental condition to be transmuted. Over time, the positive cognitive condition will gradually replace the negative, unhealthy one.

By diligently applying the esoteric science of physical and psychological alchemy, the sincere practitioner will gradually gain a healthy mastery over the body and soul; thereby unfolding latent spiritual powers and abilities. The primary goal of the Rosicrucian alchemist was always to continually follow in the footsteps of the Great Alchemist―Christ-Jesus. All of the many so-called miracles that were performed by Our Saviour were the result of vibrational transmutation. By raising the vibrational level of his physical body, he was able to levitate above the water. By raising the vibrational level of two fish and five loaves of bread, he was able to feed a multitude of five thousand. By raising the vibrational level of water, he was able to transmute it into wine. As described by Levi H. Dowling (1844―1911) in The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (1980):

As Jesus stood apart in silent thought his mother came and said to him, “The wine has failed; what shall we do?” And Jesus said, “Pray, what is wine? It is but water with the flavouring of grapes. And what are grapes? They are but certain kinds of thought made manifest, and I can manifest that thought, and water will be wine” … The servants brought the water pots, and filled them to their brims. And Jesus with a mighty thought stirred up the ethers till they reached the manifest, and lo, the water blushed, and turned to wine.