Alchemical Transformation

Alchemical transformation refers to the process of changing one substance into another through a series of chemical or spiritual procedures, as practiced in the ancient protoscience of alchemy. In Hebrew, this concept is known as השתנות אלכימית (hash'tanut alkhemit). The term also translates to transmutación alquímica in Spanish, transmutation alchimique in French, and alchemistische Verwandlung in German. Central to alchemical transformation is the belief in the interconnectedness of all matter and the potential to purify and perfect substances, often symbolized by the philosopher's stone. This process was not only a physical endeavor but also a spiritual one, aiming to transform the alchemist's soul alongside the materials they worked with. Key texts such as the Rasāʾil Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ and works by European alchemists like Paracelsus and Isaac Newton provide insights into the methods and philosophies behind these transformations.