In The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, Brian Cotnoir offers a detailed, stepbystep introduction of Alchemy that explores its mysteries while illustrating its use as a modern spiritual system of attainment. He provides an overview of the history of Alchemy, from the first meldings of Egyptian technology, through the Middle Ages--the golden age of alchemyright up to contemporary techniques. He demystifies the relationship between Alchemy and chemistry, and he provides evidence to detractors that Alchemy is much more than a medieval form of psychotherapy. (The guide includes practical laboratory experiments that safely, and intelligently, lead readers to an understanding of this ancient art and spiritual practice.)From the introduction: Brian describes this book as the one he wishes he had available when he began his lifelong study of Alchemy. I challenge any reader to find a more succinct and clear guide to this science and art.The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy is replete with actual exercises of the alchemical art such as: distillation and further processes to extract aqua vitae and the 'spirit of wine'the purification of salts through calcination, crystallization, and sublimationadvanced processes for obtaining such alchemical precursors as Archaeus of Water, Oil of Tartar, and the Spirit of Wine of the Sagesherbal work for obtaining spagyric tinctures, magistries, ens, and stonesmineral work for obtaining the salts and oils of metals.The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy makes Alchemy a viable and valuable modality that can be used for understanding and working in concert with the energies of Nature for spiritual development, healing, and transformation.About the Author: Brian Cotnoir is a dedicated Alchemist who has been working in the field for over thirty years. He has contributed several articles to Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences, the alchemical laboratory bulletin of Frater Albertus. He is currently hard at work on completing his magnum opus, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter. The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy is his first fulllength book.James Wasserman is a lifelong student of esotericism. His writings include The Mystery Traditions: Secret Symbols and Sacred Art, and Aleister Crowley and the Practice of the Magical Diary. His Chronicle Books edition of The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day features the fullcolor Papyrus of Ani with integrated English translation. The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven has thus far been published in six languages. His controversial The Slaves Shall Serve: Meditations on Liberty defines political freedom as a spiritual value. His newest book is An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar. He is currently editing a series on Western occultism known as The Weiser Concise Guides. You can find him online at www.studio31.com. He lives in New York City with his wife Nancy.