The alchemists' concept of transmuta-

tion of base metals into gold seems at

first sight to be far removed from our

modern technological culture and our every-

day lives. After all, we have learned that

chemical reactions do not convert one ele-

ment into another. Nuclear reactions can do

so, but they occur in the cores of stars or un-

der laboratory conditions that are outside

one's usual experience.

As for transmutation in popular culture, the

movie Hudson Hawk deals with a modern re-

covery of secrets of Leonardo da Vinci, and

adventure connected with the Catholic

Church; the plot kernel involves the produc-

tion of physical gold. A humorist referred to a

modern magician who was able to convert a

glass soda bottle into fecal matter. Though

facetious, this example lends itself to some

analysis. In the course of natural events, the

soda bottle may be discarded; over time, nat-

ural processes of weathering will break up

the glass into particles. The glass granules be-

come finer under further weathering until

they become part of the mineral constitution

of the earth, from which the glass was origi-

nally refined. Plants grow in the soil. Animals

or humans eat the plants and assimilate the

needed constituents into their bodies. They

then eliminate the residue, as fecal matter.

The cycle is entirely natural; there is no mag-

ic involved. Rather, each step is so familiar to

us that we do not consider it at all special.

The process can be accelerated by humans.

Grind up the glass into fine dust. Sprinkle it

in the garden. Plant seeds. Harvest the vege-

tables and eat them.

What is the practical use of such thinking?

We have ability to do transmutation, though

we are either not aware of it or do not consid-

er it to be important. For example, we do

have some ability to change the shape of the

physical body but we cannot do it instantane-

ously by a command. Such change can be

done only through action over a period of

time; the most obvious examples being the

effect of changes in diet or physical activity.

We have more latitude in changing habit pat-

terns but again, sustained effort is required.

As for emotions, many people consider emo-

tions to be an essential aspect of human ex-

pression, and they do not attempt to achieve

change. For those of us who are not content

with our emotional landscape, it is possible,

with effort, to change one emotion into an-

other. This is not at all easy; emotions often

arise rapidly and change quickly before one

can change or redirect them. Also, patterns

of feelings and emotional responses to the en-

vironment have built up with time. Even so,

our efforts to control the direction of emotion

are worth pursuing. We are exhorted in the

Bible to make such effort.

Volume 1, Issue 3

Mystic Christianity in the Twenty-First Century Scent of the Rose Scent of the Rose

Scent of the Rose is a periodical publication of The Rosicrucian Fellowship MMX, U.A. for the edification of all friends of the teachings of Christ, and Western Wisdom philosophy. Please translate and distribute to all who

may be interested in Western Wisdom. friends@rfmmx.net

December 2016

On Transmutation

♱

For detail and additional information on the rich symbolism of Cravelli’s,

The Annunciation With Saint Emidius, known as the mother of all annunciations, visit:

http://www.arts.magic-nation.co.uk/annunciation15.htm

http://www.arts.magic-nation.co.uk/annunciation1.htm

["Thoughts Round the Halo to be continued in future issues of Scent Of The Rose."] ER

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “You must

love the LORD your God with all your heart,

all your soul, and all your mind.”

It is not easy; it is recognized that at the pre-

sent stage of our development there will be

negative emotions. At this stage, though, they

should not be allowed to persist.

Ephesians 4:26 Be angry but do not sin; do

not let the sun go down on your anger….

We are even given instruction on the substitu-

tion and transformation of emotion.

John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but per-

fect love casts out fear, because fear has pun-

ishment. He who fears is not made perfect in

love.

John 14:25-27 Peace I leave with you; my

peace I give to you; not as the world gives do

I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,

neither let them be afraid.

Thought, though very fluid, is easier to work

with than emotion or physical matter. Indeed,

we are exhorted in the Bible to do such work.

For example,

Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their

thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in

your hearts?

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever

things are true, whatsoever things [are] hon-

est, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever

things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are]

lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good re-

port; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be]

any praise, think on these things.

Ephesians 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit

of your mind ...

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imagina-

tions, and every high thing that exalteth itself

against the knowledge of God, and bringing

into captivity every thought to the obedience

of Christ

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this

world: but be ye transformed by the renewing

of your mind, that ye may prove what [is]

that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of

God.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

Thought is crucial because repeated patterns

of thinking provide a pattern for our emo-

tions, our habits; if a pattern of thinking is

carried out for long enough, it will influence

biological processes in the body, and either

promote health or cause illness. All that we

see in our physical environment, including

the physical body, originated in thought. The

causal link is most evident in objects that

have been made by humans, because we

know that such objects must first be concep-

tualized and designed, then fabricated.

The Rosicrucian teachings recognize four

bodies: the dense physical body that is evi-

dent to the senses; the etheric body which

mediates assimilation, excretion, reproduc-

tion, sense perception, and memory; the de-

sire body which mediates emotion and feel-

ing; and the mind which mediates concrete

thinking. Of these, the dense physical body is

the best organized, for it has been in the mak-

ing since the dawn of the spiritual evolution

of humanity, but it is also the most set in its

form and resistant to change. The mind (of a

subtle constitution and distinct from the phys-

ical brain) is the least organized, so much so

that in most people it is only a diffuse cloud.

The mind provides a link between the spirit

and the vehicles (bodies) which are less sub-

tle. The mind is our most recent acquisition in

our spiritual evolution. It is also the most

malleable, so it is a good place to start in our

efforts to transmute our human nature.

Thought substitution, a method provided in

the Rosicrucian teachings, is highly recom-

mended. Ordinarily people accept the ebb and

flow of thought as inevitable. The fact is that

if we are not satisfied with a thought, we can

substitute another one of better quality. With

practice, we can change the directions of pat-

terns of thinking. Thought, particularly on ha-

bitual lines, eventually can become manifest

in patterns of emotions and desires, in ac-

tions, and in the shape of our physical bodies

and in our physical environment. If we are

dissatisfied with physical conditions, we

work physically; we will also do well to work

to transmute our thinking. The Rosicrucian

teachings on the importance of inner work on

thought and emotion is thus in harmony with

the Bible teachings on the subject.

We are indeed seeking to make gold. We

begin with the base metals of the lower as-

pects of our human nature. Gold appears in

the golden wedding garment to be worn at the

mystic wedding mentioned in the Bible. This

gold was visible to some ancient artists who

depicted it as a halo around the saints. The

wedding garment is the transmuted etheric

body, transformed by service, prayer, and the

development of purity. Gold is also manifest

in the spirit of redeemed humanity; the spirit

that has been strengthened by efforts here in

the physical world.

Colossians 3:10 ... and have put on the new

self. This is the new being which God, its

Creator, is constantly renewing in his own

image, in order to bring you to a full

knowledge of himself.

The goal of our efforts in transmutation is to

accelerate our spiritual evolution, which in

the usual scheme, requires aeons of time, in

order to benefit the human race and its devel-

opment. Many blessings upon the reader in

this effort. A PROBATIONER

=============== References

http://biblesearch.americanbible.org

Rosicrucian Cosmo Conception

Rosicrucian pamphlet on power of thought

In the Japanese Nihonga style.

Late 19th to early 20th Century

Christian icon.

Infant with cruciform halo.

♱ ♱

- 2 - - 3 -

In this series of articles, Scent of the Rose takes a

divergent approach to the single idea of the halo for

a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and all

its implications.

lthough we live in a secular world, at

Christmas nearly everyone catches

sight of a Madonna and child. Most

portrayals include the halo, a sign of rever-

ence and holiness. Tinsel halos encircling the

heads of children in pageantry may be askew,

and may be a distant memory, but the posture

and attitude of prayer lingers.

Artworks throughout history give evidence

that seers perceived both the aura and the ha-

lo and they ascribed them to individuals of

high estate. Either the artist saw these phe-

nomena directly, painted what others ob-

served, or deferred to a culture’s customary

habit of identifying the holy by giving them

halos.

One might assume that only an ego of high

spiritual attainment, one who has acquired

positive clairvoyance, can recognize and de-

scribe an individual by the brilliance of the

aura, but Heindel taught that there are two

kinds of clairvoyance and correspondingly

two types of seers, the atavistically negative

seers who have no control over what they

see, and the trained, positive seers who can

see at will. The former may, by chance, see

auras, but only the positive clairvoyant can,

by choice, behold the divine in their glory.

In the desire body of the properly-trained,

voluntary clairvoyant, the desire currents

turn clockwise, glowing with exceeding

splendor, far-surpassing the brilliant lumi-

nosity of the ordinary desire body. The cen-

ters of perception in the desire body around

which these currents swirl furnish the volun-

tary clairvoyant with the means of perception

of things in the Desire World, and he sees and

investigates at will. - Max Heindel, The Rosi-

crucian Cosmo-Conception p 68, and pam-

phlet: Clairvoyance

From the foregoing Heindel quote we learn

that the voluntary, positive clairvoyant can be

counted among those with exceptionally bril-

liant auras.

Trained, positive clairvoyants; the highly

evolved; those of high estate; those who have

developed both head and heart: shine as

though illumined.

The halo derived from the magical symbolism

of the Egyptians is almost like a sun, and,

symbolically speaking, may be considered to

be the equivalent of a small and radiant sun,

streaming forth spiritual light. - Frederick

Goodman, Magical Symbols.

About the Sun, Heindel said,

This visible Sun, though it is the

place of evolution for Beings

vastly above man, is not by any

means the Father of the other

planets, as material science sup-

poses. On the contrary, it is itself

an emanation from the Central

Sun, which is the invisible source

of all that IS in our Solar System.

Our visible Sun is but the mirror

in which are reflected the rays of

energy from the Spiritual Sun.

The real Sun is as invisible as the

real Man.

Egyptian priests of Heliopolis, followers of

the sun god Re or Ra, developed the myth of

Isis. Pre-Christian pagans used halos to sig-

nify not only divine influence but also power,

majesty or prominence. The Romans depicted

emperors with halos. In the Christian Era,

even non-Christians used halos for public fig-

ures and Auras were placed around men of

genius, presumably to represent divine inspi-

ration. Finally, in 1600 AD, Pope Urban III

forbade the use of the nimbus (synonym for

halo, also cloud) for persons who were not at

least beatified.

As we consider this phenomenon we learn

that English writer and apparent clairvoyant,

Augustus Hare, wrote the maxim: The intel-

lect of the wise is like glass; it admits the

light of heaven and reflects it. – Augustus

Hare 1834-1903, from Cryptoquote

He also wrote a six-volume autobiography in

which he reported a number of encounters

with ghosts. A reviewer in the New York

Times concluded, "Mr. Hare's ghosts are ra-

ther more interesting than his lords or his

middle-class people.” – Wikipedia

The writer no sooner asked the question,

“What would his paintings have displayed if

he had painted?” when suddenly a plethora

appeared to give the answer.

Bede's Tomb, Durham Cathedral, watercolour by the English

writer Augustus Hare. "Handbook for Travelers in Northumber-

land and Durham," published in 1863, which he wrote as well

as illustrated. Courtesy of the British Museum, London.

Google: “Paintings by Augustus Hare”

In works of art, a golden glow may portray a

disembodied entity. The halo, however, sig-

nifies wisdom and is a hierarchical indication

– not necessarily of mundane determinates

but by spiritual or natural elevation: a quality

relatively permanent through lifetimes, yet

not assured; not assured by evidence of the

regeneration and degeneration of man.

We see the halo portrayed by yet another art-

ist, one exhibited in 2015 - 2016 by the Isa-

bella Stewart Gardner Museum of Boston.

The works of Carlo Crivelli (about 1435–

1495) in their words, is one of the most im-

portant and historically neglected artists of

the Italian Renaissance.

The New York Times’ art review by Roberta

Smith of November 5, 2015, reports on

Crivelli’s painting, The Annunciation with

Saint Emidius. Everything in this elaborate

composition, from London’s National Gallery,

is as lavish and detailed as possible, ………

the plunging perspective of the walkway adds

visceral drama to that of the Annunciation

itself. The gold, while restrained, has mo-

ments of undeniable flair: it defines, of

course, the Archangel’s and Virgin’s halos

and God’s impregnating ray, descending from

the sky. Less usual is that this ray enters the

room through a gold-trimmed mouse-hole

opening, and in the middle distance, a man

who shades his eyes, stares at it. He is the on-

ly one who seems to grasp what’s happening,

and every fold of his robe is outlined. http://

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/arts/design/carlo-crivelli-

an-overlooked-renaissance-master-in-boston.html?_r=0

♱ ♱

- 4 - - 5 -

Thoughts Round the Halo

and its Appearance in Art