Alchemy in the Garden

from villagehealthservices: The garden has always been a source of inspiration and base material for preparing Alchemical substances, but the techniques of Alchemy are not so commonly used in cultivating the garden itself. Most folks would agree that regardless of what you might be making, the quality of the material you start with, always plays a role in the quality of the finished product. Alchemy strives to elevate and enervate plants and minerals to create medicines, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t attempt to do the same with our base materials. After all, plants are living beings, and the more life force we cultivate in them, the more they can offer for human transformation. In a sense, it pays serious dividends in our medicines, if we invest in biological capital.

There are many techniques the gardener can use to build physical and energetic capacity in our fields. Alchemic techniques are paralleled in the garden with processes like culturing native microflora(Fermentation), extracting minerals for soil building (Digestion and Fixation), and making homeopathic remedies (Calcination). Similar to Alchemy, minding the stars has always been of critical importance to farmers and gardeners, and I recommend the practice as essential for optimum success. Direct connections between Alchemy and gardening are not straight out of tradition, but do share many similar techniques and perspectives. I have collected in the following, some of the most relevant agricultural concepts to Alchemy and Spagyrics, as well as directions for various garden preparations.