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Mythological Motifs in Eastern & Western Alchemy - Paul Ferguson - 04-22-2026
The Golden Quest: A Comparative Study of Common Mythological Motifs in Oriental and Occidental Traditions of Alchemy
By Urmi Chanda
"The beginnings of alchemy mark an interesting period between mythical time and historical time. Between the primitive understanding of nature and the development of science, alchemy bridges a gap with magic and mythology. It may have had its share of brickbats in the modern times, but alchemy has allured and intrigued the minds of some of history's best men. These men tried to make sense of and replicate nature in their labs, aiming for perfection symbolized by gold. In exoteric terms, they sought to create the pure, precious metal and in esoteric terms, they sought a pure consciousness. This fascinating branch of knowledge was best explained and understood through myth and allegory. This paper attempts a comparative study of mythological motifs, tenets and tales in order to understand the common ground of all aspirants of the Golden Quest."
https://www.academia.edu/11986601/The_Golden_Quest_A_Comparative_Study_of_Common_Mythological_Motifs_in_Oriental_and_Occidental_Traditions_of_Alchemy