Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Boston : Trumpeter, 2008.
Description
" Many regard alchemy as a metaphor for inner transformation. But this is only half the story. According to Catherine MacCoun, alchemy is no mere metaphor. It's real magic. Transforming the inner world is, for the alchemist, a way to transform the outer world. Through studying the principles of alchemy, we can achieve extraordinary effects from ordinary actions by understanding how the world really works. We can perceive the hidden connections between the spiritual and the material worlds. Knowledge of these connections enables us to influence external phenomena through the powers of heart and mind alone. Yet alchemy is not, like some forms of magic, the exercise of mind over matter. It is the art of taking what already exists--whatever presents itself--and transmuting the harmful into the helpful, the useless into the valuable. On Becoming an Alchemistinitiates us into these secrets, showing us how to think, perceive, and operate as an alchemist. It offers practical advice and exercises that will help the modern magician to- χ… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member readaholic12
Clearly I am not the demographic intended by this author. I scrutinized my library to understand why the mighty Library Thing algorithm chose me for this book. Was it my self-help books, the enneagram, the Zen collection or the ghost stories that caused this book to come my way? In any case,
On Becoming An Alchemist: A Guide for the Modern Magician begins with a parable, then is broken into two parts, Principles and Procedures, in whch the reader, or magician, learns how alchemical transmutations allow you to embrace what is bad and work with it until it is transformed into good, by abetting the magical tendencies of nature itself. Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction, Fermentation, Sublimation and Radiation are the seven steps outlined in part 2. Many examples, illustrations, Biblical and poetry quotes are used to illustrate the author's points, most merely confused me further. Now, if I were a person who believed strongly in the spiritual world, angels, ghosts, magic or mysticism, this book may have made more sense to me. Frequently, I longed for evidence to support some of her claims, particularly when she dicusses the natural world. Sadly, our conflicting paradigms of reality and spirituality are insurmountable, so I could not connect with this book.
I would not be inclined to recommend this book to readers in the intended demographic for several reasons. I found the conversational tone a detriment to the scientific approach the author was trying to achieve, and I felt the author dove too quickly and deeply into too many topics, referencing literature and pop culture examples at every turn. A good editor might have tightened the presentation, helping the reader grasp the author's concepts. An editor might suggest an introduction, providing background and context for the author's message. Sometimes writers are so far down the rabbit hole, they forget that the readers are not there with them, that they need a little clarification to take the same trip. An editor might have steered the author away from questionable prose like "Perhaps in Spain he would find a Jewish priest who would clue him in on the Cabballa." or "St. Francis has become a rather hippy-dippy figure.." Call me picky, but I loathe colloquial writing in a reference or informational book.
Lastly, as I reread the book jacket, I was left feeling cheated somehow. I still wished for some insight into "the power of our creativity and our relationship to the laws of the universe."
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hermeticism confounds my curious, pragmatic, slightly cynical scientific mind, but I tried to reserve judgement as I made my way through this book. Tried and failed. I apologize for the negative energy that ensues. According to the author, this negativity is about me, not her. Perhaps so. On Becoming An Alchemist: A Guide for the Modern Magician begins with a parable, then is broken into two parts, Principles and Procedures, in whch the reader, or magician, learns how alchemical transmutations allow you to embrace what is bad and work with it until it is transformed into good, by abetting the magical tendencies of nature itself. Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction, Fermentation, Sublimation and Radiation are the seven steps outlined in part 2. Many examples, illustrations, Biblical and poetry quotes are used to illustrate the author's points, most merely confused me further. Now, if I were a person who believed strongly in the spiritual world, angels, ghosts, magic or mysticism, this book may have made more sense to me. Frequently, I longed for evidence to support some of her claims, particularly when she dicusses the natural world. Sadly, our conflicting paradigms of reality and spirituality are insurmountable, so I could not connect with this book.
I would not be inclined to recommend this book to readers in the intended demographic for several reasons. I found the conversational tone a detriment to the scientific approach the author was trying to achieve, and I felt the author dove too quickly and deeply into too many topics, referencing literature and pop culture examples at every turn. A good editor might have tightened the presentation, helping the reader grasp the author's concepts. An editor might suggest an introduction, providing background and context for the author's message. Sometimes writers are so far down the rabbit hole, they forget that the readers are not there with them, that they need a little clarification to take the same trip. An editor might have steered the author away from questionable prose like "Perhaps in Spain he would find a Jewish priest who would clue him in on the Cabballa." or "St. Francis has become a rather hippy-dippy figure.." Call me picky, but I loathe colloquial writing in a reference or informational book.
Lastly, as I reread the book jacket, I was left feeling cheated somehow. I still wished for some insight into "the power of our creativity and our relationship to the laws of the universe."
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LibraryThing member yawetag
When I received the book and looked at the title, I expected a novel on using ancient techniques for modern medicine. However, the book was focused on using those techniques to get what you want out of life. The overall tone of the book was more of a self-help, but it was lighthearted. MacCoun used
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good examples to make her points, which made the book even easier to read. I can say that a lot of what MacCoun said was helpful; some of it, however, was common sense ideas rewritten in a different theme. Show Less
LibraryThing member gwoodrow
Well, I already reviewed this book previously since I'd received it through the early reviewers program. But then when I got rid of the book and thus removed it from my LibraryThing, it also removed my review. So I re-added it so as to re-add a review, seeing as how the site annoyingly prevents me
In any case, please disregard my apparent grumpiness. A lot of that could be attributed to this book. I don't even have the energy to re-write my full previous review. On Becoming an Alchemist is just plain bad. It rehashes ideas that have already been rehashed enough. True, you could argue that "there's nothing new under the sun" and whatnot, but really -- in this day and age you could still write a new-agey self-help book that doesn't sound like it was just culled from metaphysical websites written by people with pen names like "Moon Dancer." New under the sun or no, you could at least repeat the old in a new way. There's nothing at all original about this book in my opinion. It didn't teach me anything or convince me of anything except to put it down.
I'm as crunchy granola as the next guy, but trust me when I say don't waste your time on this. Forgive me for not having more specifics in this description -- the book was muddled, vague, and awkward so I figured my review of it should be, too.
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from leaving a review unless I claim the book in my library. In any case, please disregard my apparent grumpiness. A lot of that could be attributed to this book. I don't even have the energy to re-write my full previous review. On Becoming an Alchemist is just plain bad. It rehashes ideas that have already been rehashed enough. True, you could argue that "there's nothing new under the sun" and whatnot, but really -- in this day and age you could still write a new-agey self-help book that doesn't sound like it was just culled from metaphysical websites written by people with pen names like "Moon Dancer." New under the sun or no, you could at least repeat the old in a new way. There's nothing at all original about this book in my opinion. It didn't teach me anything or convince me of anything except to put it down.
I'm as crunchy granola as the next guy, but trust me when I say don't waste your time on this. Forgive me for not having more specifics in this description -- the book was muddled, vague, and awkward so I figured my review of it should be, too.
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LibraryThing member rbott
First I must say that I was delighted with this book, it was everything I had hoped it would be when I selected it. Ms. MacCoun has presented us with her version of Alchemy, not transmutation, lead into gold, but a way to lift yourself to a higher plain by getting to know your inner being. The
I plan on reading this book again when time permits.
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author tells us how to identify our moods and feelings and gives us methods to control these feelings. The book is presented in a conversational way which is understandable and easy to read, not like many of the stuffy texts I have read in the past which tended to put me to sleep. I have no doubt that if one were to practice Ms. MacCoun’s teachings as presented in this book it would allow us to face life’s trials with understanding and tranquility. I can highly recommend this self help book to anyone who wishes to learn more about themselves.I plan on reading this book again when time permits.
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LibraryThing member kitchicken
For those interested in alchemy but with very little knowledge about it, ON BECOMING AN ALCHEMIST, takes the reader on a journey through the basics with good-natured humor and insightful information. Sure, this isn't the end-all be-all book on alchemy. If you're someone with a little knowledge or
I found the author's style engaging, though her constant talk about "I will leave things out" and on not giving the reader the complete story seemed a bit tiresome and served to undermine her authority. If this is alchemy, speaking in riddles and forcing the person to figure out things for themselves, it seems little different from life itself. The author's warnings, however, did serve to make the reader constnatly think about the book. This isn't a beach read. It's going to require reader participation and thought to complete, but once completed, the reader may find tools to help him or her find spiritual growth.
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background on the subject the book might seem a bit, beginner-ish. However, if you're looking for good solid information complete with tools that will help you transform your life, this book deserves a place on your keeper shelf.I found the author's style engaging, though her constant talk about "I will leave things out" and on not giving the reader the complete story seemed a bit tiresome and served to undermine her authority. If this is alchemy, speaking in riddles and forcing the person to figure out things for themselves, it seems little different from life itself. The author's warnings, however, did serve to make the reader constnatly think about the book. This isn't a beach read. It's going to require reader participation and thought to complete, but once completed, the reader may find tools to help him or her find spiritual growth.
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LibraryThing member amybryant
I received this book from LibraryThing as an Early Profiler. I hate to review this book, because self-help is not the type of book normally read at all. I think LT must have matched it to me based all the books I have tagged "magic", but those books are primarily fiction. I tried to read it anyway,
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but I found it very rambling and boring. Show Less
LibraryThing member the_blue_danube
This book changed my life and opened up for me ways of seeing differently. It helped me along some paths I had already started down, opened up some new paths, and showed me some paths better avoided. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to improve and grow.
LibraryThing member CherylsPearls
I didn't find this book all that interesting. It really just seems like a re-hash of many other books of it's ilk. If you haven't read endless books on the subject, you may really enjoy it. I would recommend it to those who just want to know more about the subject.
LibraryThing member laurion
*sigh*
I'd posted a review of this when I first received it, but then I gave the book away and removed it from my library, as this was prior to the 'Collections' capability.
Of course, my review went away, and now LT wants a review from me because I received this as an Early Review copy. I can't
This book has nothing to do with alchemy. It has nothing to do with the evolution of science. This has nothing to do with modern practices. It has nothing to do with changing any material into any other material. The title is a lie. This is a poorly written self help book, which only embraces the work alchemy as an allusion to transformation. The book itself is filed with platitudes and poorly conceived pop culture references. In some ways this is like a web page that drops hundreds of terms at the bottom of the page in an attempt to get more search engine hits. I read this book because I promised to read it and review it, and then I gave it away to the first person who expressed any interest at all, and the shipping was on me.
I'd posted a review of this when I first received it, but then I gave the book away and removed it from my library, as this was prior to the 'Collections' capability.
Of course, my review went away, and now LT wants a review from me because I received this as an Early Review copy. I can't
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recall what I wrote in my first review, but I can recall enough to post the following review:This book has nothing to do with alchemy. It has nothing to do with the evolution of science. This has nothing to do with modern practices. It has nothing to do with changing any material into any other material. The title is a lie. This is a poorly written self help book, which only embraces the work alchemy as an allusion to transformation. The book itself is filed with platitudes and poorly conceived pop culture references. In some ways this is like a web page that drops hundreds of terms at the bottom of the page in an attempt to get more search engine hits. I read this book because I promised to read it and review it, and then I gave it away to the first person who expressed any interest at all, and the shipping was on me.
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LibraryThing member smichaelwilson
Having read several self-help and personal-improvement books over the past few years, the recent trends are hard to ignore. Most of the books on the market covering these themes tend to simplify life changes and introspective reevaluation to the point of claiming it is as easy as saying ‘Yes I
So reading Catherine MacCoun’s book, On Becoming an Alchemist: A Guide for the Modern Magician, is a much needed breath of fresh air in what has always seemed a cliché and uninspired genre.
MacCoun’s title and subject matter may at first put some readers off with its references to arcane alchemical arts and magical properties. But what she has actually managed is to offer a fresh perspective into how people make choices, perceive the world around them, and live their lives. She does so by introducing us to an innovative blend of spiritualism and psychology, in much the same way that Alchemy itself blends scientific observation with objective mysticism.
Granted, chapters like the one that uses scenes and terminology from Harry Potter to illustrate a point may take the magician aspect of the book a tad too far for some people. But the message within is much more grounded in reality than some of the ‘guided imagery’ feel-good books cluttering the bookstore shelves these days.
The true test of any book of this nature is the ability of the reader to glean something constructive and useful from its pages, even if they do not buy into the author’s overall message. Readers of MacCoun’s latest will undoubtedly have no trouble walking away wiser and more aware, no matter their take on becoming a Modern Magician. And that, as they say, is magic.
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Can’. With the popularity of The Secret and guided imagery, even talking to yourself is taken out of the equation, and simply wishing or imagining personal improvements is supposed to be enough to bring about radical change.So reading Catherine MacCoun’s book, On Becoming an Alchemist: A Guide for the Modern Magician, is a much needed breath of fresh air in what has always seemed a cliché and uninspired genre.
MacCoun’s title and subject matter may at first put some readers off with its references to arcane alchemical arts and magical properties. But what she has actually managed is to offer a fresh perspective into how people make choices, perceive the world around them, and live their lives. She does so by introducing us to an innovative blend of spiritualism and psychology, in much the same way that Alchemy itself blends scientific observation with objective mysticism.
Granted, chapters like the one that uses scenes and terminology from Harry Potter to illustrate a point may take the magician aspect of the book a tad too far for some people. But the message within is much more grounded in reality than some of the ‘guided imagery’ feel-good books cluttering the bookstore shelves these days.
The true test of any book of this nature is the ability of the reader to glean something constructive and useful from its pages, even if they do not buy into the author’s overall message. Readers of MacCoun’s latest will undoubtedly have no trouble walking away wiser and more aware, no matter their take on becoming a Modern Magician. And that, as they say, is magic.
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Language
Physical description
vi, 265 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
9781590303696
Local notes
MAG
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