{ "item_title" : "A Dialogue between Demogorgon and Geber", "item_author" : [" Adam McLean", "Anonymous "], "item_description" : "The dialogue presents Demogorgon as a devoted but frustrated reader of Geber's alchemical writings. After decades of study and travel, he comes to Geber seeking the true meaning behind texts that seem deliberately obscure. Geber explains that his writings are not unintelligible to the wise, but are veiled so that the ignorant and unworthy will not misuse the Art, waste their wealth, or blame the author for their own misunderstanding.The central issue is the relation between Nature and Art. Geber teaches that alchemy can imitate Nature only when it understands Nature's true principles. Metals, he argues, arise from common underlying principles, especially Sulphur and Mercury, but these terms must not be taken crudely. The elements of the Philosophers' Stone are not ordinary elements, nor can common vitriol, vegetable matter, animal matter, or ordinary sulphur and quicksilver simply be used as the material of the Elixir. Demogorgon repeatedly proposes literal interpretations, and Geber corrects him by distinguishing common substances from their philosophical meanings.Geber insists that the Elixir or Philosophers' Stone must be made from a metallic seed, because only what is akin to metals can unite with and perfect metals. Since all metals share one basic substance and differ mainly by accidental qualities and degrees of digestion, transmutation is possible: Art can remove impurities and complete what Nature leaves imperfect. Yet the work is not achieved by a confused mixture of many things. The philosophers' claim that the Stone is one thing means that the true material is one radical metallic substance containing within itself what is needed: Sulphur and Mercury joined in the proper way.The dialogue also explains why alchemical authors use allegory, myth, and equivocal names. References to Iron, Lead, Tin, gods, fables, waters, stones, and colours often hide technical meanings. Ancient poetic stories are treated not as mere moral tales but as coded descriptions of alchemical operations, such as blackening, whitening, coagulation, and the union of principles.Overall, the text portrays alchemy as a secret natural philosophy requiring disciplined interpretation, practical knowledge, and spiritual prudence. Its goal is the perfection of metals through the Philosophers' Stone, but its language deliberately separates true students from literal-minded experimenters.", "item_img_path" : "https://covers3.booksamillion.com/covers/bam/9/79/816/023/9798160238074_b.jpg", "price_data" : { "retail_price" : "19.00", "online_price" : "19.00", "our_price" : "19.00", "club_price" : "19.00", "savings_pct" : "0", "savings_amt" : "0.00", "club_savings_pct" : "0", "club_savings_amt" : "0.00", "discount_pct" : "10", "store_price" : "" } }

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