Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter is an alchemical book rather than a book about alchemy. It is full of practice and experiment and perhaps a puzzle or an enigma. Its intent is to inspire curiosity about another way of knowing.

Alchemy is the art and science of bringing something to its final perfection, or its completion, much as a work of art is completed or perfected. And so, at heart it is about creation, creator, and creativity.

Rooted in the Alexandrian alchemical tradition and working from a new translation of the Emerald Tablet, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter is the author’s personal exploration of the union of material and non-material alchemical practice, that is of physical alchemy and inner alchemy. Engaging the Way of the Philosopher, and through direct experimentation, several areas are investigated in light of the Emerald Tablet – Chrysopoiea, the Green Lion, the Quintessence and Aurum potabile.

Unique to the book are five new translations of the earliest extant manuscripts of the Emerald Tablet, as well as translations of John of Rupescissa’s and Arnald of Villanova’s writings on the quintessence of wine and gold.

Brian Cotnoir is an alchemist, artist, and award-winning filmmaker. A contributor to Frater Albertus’ Parachemy, he is also the author of a series of Alchemy Zines. His books include Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter, The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, Alchemical Meditations, On the Quintessence of Wine, and the Emerald Tablet, his translations of and commentary on, the earliest Arabic and Latin versions of this seminal text. 

He has presented workshops and seminars around the world on various aspects of alchemical theory and practice based on his research.

His film work has been screened at Museum of Modern Art, Sundance Film Festival, HBO, PBS and other international venues.

He was also the Alchemist-in-Residence at Morbid Anatomy Museum.

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