Alchemy Notes

[mongo62aa]

No: HPFGUIDX 31667

I'm adding a few more quotations from another site,

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/lambjrny.html

'The second emblem shows a different aspect to polarities in the 
fight between the inner dragon and an armed knight (a St George 
figure) in the Forest of the Soul. In this emblem there is a sense 
that the polarities must struggle to overcome each other.'

'Next in Emblem 3 we have the beautiful picture of the meeting in a 
clearing in the forest of a magnificent Stag and a graceful Unicorn. 
The Stag as a symbol is often associated with the Sun and the Unicorn 
is usually linked with the Moon. These polarities are to be coupled 
together through the alchemist's work.'

'The fifth emblem, which completes this part of the sequence shows 
the wild Wolf and the tamed Dog fighting for supremacy. These 
polarities are further linked in the verse with the directions West 
(Dog) and East (Wolf).'

'The next emblem, number 8, the central emblem of the whole sequence, 
pictures two birds, a red and a white, fighting each other - one 
above, the other below. The verse indicates that these become 
transformed into white doves and becomes a Phoenix. Thus at this 
stage, the polarities fight, absorb each other and are reborn in a 
new form.'

'This second sequence ends in Emblem 10 with the image of an 
alchemical adept roasting a Salamander in the fire. Here the inner 
fire works upon the Salamander or spiritual remnant of the Dragon, 
purifying and elevating it, and investing it with a new spiritual 
energy, till it becomes the glowing living interior source of the 
Philosophers' Stone, or inner foundation for the solidity of the 
Soul.'

I would like to add that I have found that the Harry Potter series 
contains an enormous amount of all kinds of symbolism, from a variety 
of sources, together with many other literary devices such as 
foreshadowing and parallelism. It may be true that it is 
a 'children's series', in the sense that children can read the 
surface meaning with enjoyment, but it is in fact one of the most 
complex, multi-layered works of literature that I have read. In my 
opinion.

mongo62aa