Guy Ogilvy started studying practical laboratory alchemy while living in a cave in the Sierra Madre in Mexico in 1995, having abandoned a career in publishing, which followed a hopeless stab at rock stardom. He returned to Europe in 1997 to pursue his studies under the guidance of the late Manfred Junius. He has written several pseudonymous books on traditional esoteric subjects, such as angelology, faery lore and divination His two books on alchemy include The Alchemist's Kitchen, published under his own name by Wooden Books. His interests include foraging, folklore, metaphysics, ethnobotany and singing with country band The Johnsons, who regularly perform at Glastonbury Festival and were recently voted the best country band in Britain by a punter who came to one of their recent gigs. He is currently transcribing a series of 18C metaphysical manuscripts, translating a German book on alchemy and pursuing the Circulatum Minus of Baron Urbigerus. He considers himself a neophyte of the universal wisdom tradition, a prodigal son of the Sanatana Dharma and lives on Creech Hill in Somerset with his wife, children and dogs.

 

 

Guy's book is packed full of amazing information!

We will have copies available at the conference - bring your pen for a signed copy!

 

Of all the traditional sciences alchemy is the most challenging. It seeks to solve all the greatest riddles regarding the hows and whys of life and offers nothing less than the triumphant transcendence of all limitation. Those lured by the lustre and romance of the Royal Art can find themselves in a maze of incomprehensible aphorisms and impossible recipes, full of dead ends and false turns, stalked by a baffling bestiary of symbols and metaphors both beautiful and disturbing. This talk will guide the uninitiated through this labyrinth and explain the principles upon which the art is based, demystifying such terms as hylomorphism, Sulphur/Mercury and Four-Element theory, the Doctrine of Signatures and spagyrics. This latter term refers to the art of making herbal preparations according to alchemical processes and principles. It offers a simple and practical context for understanding alchemy on many different levels and is the traditional starting point for those embarking on the Great Work.