But who was Fulcanelli? — Frank Zappa

I did a bit of deep inquiry into transmutation of matter and other “pre-scientific” arcana. Including ancient metrology which was,I must say fascinating. Isaac Newton had thousands of pages of research and documented many experiments into these subjects. I think after seriously inquiring into it that cooking mercury without appropriate ventilation is a recipe for becoming a “mad hatter”. It’s certainly possible, as the “Freemasons” claim some pre-diluvian civilization had technology far in advance of our own, and some residues were deposited for later decoding in mythologies, as is referred to in Enochian literature, especially concerning observational astronomy regarding equinoctal precession but I don’t think the medieval Europeans were doing nuclear fusion as is sometimes asserted. So, imho alchemy is a dead end at best, and intentional misdirection at worst. Rumplestiltskin not withstanding. I’m also not too keen on John Dee’s “scrying” by gazing into crystal balls and black mirrors for contact with “angels” which allegedly instructed him to wife swap with his chief assistant. What better way to bed a credulous hottie than claim supernatural forces demand it? People are unworthy. Demons are very clever and very very deceptive.