Alchemy texts archives - Alchemy and Shri Yantra

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997
From: Marianne

Greetings,

In the last two issues of _The Stone_ there was an brilliant article (at least to me) on
the relationahips between Alchemy and the Hindu Yantras. As I read that article, I found
it quite intriguing and decided to build a live model of the yantra using wood or some
other materials. Over the last week I have been meditating (quite unconsciously it seems)
on the yantra and alchemy, and they both seem to have hit a deeper chord than I thought
was there. I have been noticing some sort of transformations on a deeper level without me
actually willing it.

I have come there with the realization that the alchemical transformation that I am going
through is in fact an example of the inner/outer alchemy or microcosm/macrocosm idea. My
definition of magick has been always that it is "inner alchemy", and now for the first
time in this intensity I am beginning to notice it.

At any rate, from the article that I read, I have been trying to find more books on
yantras and Hindu alchemy. That search has been extremely difficult for me. Would anyone
happen to have any references that they can share with me? Books or websites perhaps?

On the other hand, the best thing about that article I read was my introduction to Andre
VandenBroeck and R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz. I am reading the two books by VandenBroeck,
_Al-Kemi_ and _Breaking Through_. I highly recommend them!

Thanks for the info.

Sincerely,

Marianne Sarkis

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997
From: mike dickman

Marianne

Look into 'Yantra: the Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity' by Madhu Khanna,
Thames and Hudson, 1979; and 'Tantra Art' and 'Tantra Asana', both by Ajit
Mookerjee, published by Ravi Kumar, 1971/2, and distributed by Random House.

More than a little to play with!

While on the subject, you might also want to have a look at 'The Mandala:
Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism' by Martin Brauen, Shambhala 1997 as well.

Have fun.

Love,
m

Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997
From: Marianne Sarkis

Jill wrote:
>I just recently picked up a book called "The Alchemical Body: Siddha
>Traditions in Medieval India" by David Gordon White. University of
>Chicago Press, 1996. The index lists quite a few sections on "yantras"
>(alchemical apparatus). Hope that helps.

Ave,
I picked up the same book last week as well. It's quite interesting,
especially some of the sections on Yantras. Also, it was quite refreshing
to me to read some quotes from their texts where symbols were not veiled,
and were discussed for what they were. That's not often the case in
Western Alchemical traditions.

Marianne Sarkis