ALCHEMY GUILD
CHURCH of the EMERALD TABLET
The Alchemy Guild church is group of people who come together to worship in the Hermetic tradition, which is based on the Emerald Tablet and dates back to ancient Egypt. The tablet is a succinct summary of the Hermetic teachings and has been the foundation of spiritual alchemy for centuries.
The spiritual alchemy that we practice is based on the operations of the divine One Mind and its unfoldment and perfection in matter as revealed in the Emerald Tablet. In our religious tradition, the One Mind is sometimes call the "AZoth," which is the singular divine presence that is the beginning and end - the Alpha and Omega (or A to Z) - of the whole universe. It is also known as the Grand Panacea, the Universal Solvent, or the Mercury of the Wise.
Members of our congregation try to serve and facilitate the
telesmatic process of the AZoth, which is the divine plan of perfection in
Nature, in all aspects of our daily lives. Our goal is to further the Great Work
of spiritual and bodily evolution by observing and disseminating the ancient
alchemical teachings of the AZoth.
Our liturgy consists of ceremonies and regular worship using methods originally developed in the Hermetic tradition over the last 5,000 years. We recognize this tradition as the true perennial philosophy at the basis of most religions. Thus our saints and avatars include not only the Egyptians Thoth and Hermes but also the Buddha and Christ and many other religious leaders who have attained union with the One Mind.
Our sacraments consist of the
Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus and other ancient texts attributed to him,
including the
Revelation of Hermes.
The Emerald Tablet contains a concise summary of
our basic religious philosophy, and we revere it as a one-page Bible. In our
rituals we make use use of planetary tinctures, elixirs, and alchemical
anointing oils.
Our Sabbath is Wednesday, the day of the AZoth. This day is associated in all calendars with the alchemical substance of Mercury, the agent of transformation. We have regular services on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Our services and evenings can be found at www.meetup.com/AlchemyGuild/.
Our code of conduct is based on respect for all life forms as part of the divine plan. We advocate a non-violent, socially responsible, and planet-friendly diet that consists of 1500-2000 calories a day. The AZoth Diet is designed to gradually decrease dependence on gross foods by relying more on transitional vegetarian foods, leading ultimately to a spiritual diet based on direct assimilation of energetic essences. Our guiding motto is Ignis et Azoth tibi sufficiunt ("Fire and Azoth are sufficient").
The structure of the church is in the form of the ancient Tree of Life, which we consider part of the Hermetic tradition. The kabbalistic Tree consists of a hierarchy of ten sephiroth or vessels. Each officer of the church is represented by a corresponding sephiroth and appointed by the Kether or crown sephiroth High Priest. Two other priests representing the energies of Binah and Chokmah also participate in ceremonies. The congregation is also represented on the tree by the lowest or base sephiroth (Malkuth). The Church of the Emerald Tablet is the guiding council that ensures the Alchemy Guild adheres to its original charter and spiritual vision.
The Alchemy Guild is a federally tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the United States tax code. All contributions, bequests, gifts, transfers, or other donation devices are fully tax deductible under section 170 of the code.
Oh, most singular and unspeakable Presence, first and last in the universe, heighten the fury of my fire and burn away the dross of my being. Cleanse my soiled soul; bathe me in your awesome light. Set me free from my history and cut me loose from my boundaries. Unite me with the One Thing hidden in my life, wherein is my only strength. Fill me with your Presence, allow me to see through your Eye, grant me entry to your Mind, let me resonate with your Will. Make me transparent to your flame, and fashion me into a lens for your light only. Transmute me into an incorruptible Stone in your eternal service, like the golden light that surrounds you.
