The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy - by Marlene Seven Bremner Hardcover

About the Book

"An initiatory and practical guide to creative alchemy. Shares hermetic and alchemical techniques for liberating creative expression and looks at the zodiacal and planetary timing of creative operations. Explains how to work with and transmute alchemical energies for increased levels of insight, intuition, and imaginative expression. Explores the connections between Surrealism and alchemy, as well as the rich and complicated symbolism of alchemical art"--

Book Synopsis

An initiatory and practical guide to creative alchemy

- Shares hermetic and alchemical techniques for liberating creative expression and looks at the zodiacal and planetary timing of creative operations

- Explains how to work with and transmute alchemical energies for increased levels of insight, intuition, and imaginative expression

- Explores the connections between Surrealism and alchemy, as well as the rich and complicated symbolism of alchemical art

In this initiatory guide to the Hermetic art of alchemy, artist Marlene Seven Bremner reveals how the alchemical opus, the Great Work, offers a practical means for liberating the authentic creator within and attaining gnosis, or true self-knowledge.

Exploring the connections between Surrealism and alchemy, as well as the rich and complicated symbolism of alchemical art, Bremner elucidates how both Surrealism and alchemy seek to unfetter the imagination and dissolve the boundaries between dream and reality, thus reconciling the conscious and unconscious minds. She details how the three principles (salt, sulfur, and mercury), the four elements, and the seven planets interact together and within the self in creative alchemy, and she explains how to work with and transmute these energies for increased levels of insight, intuition, and imaginative expression. The author shares practical Hermetic and alchemical techniques for liberating creative expression and clearing energetic obstructions that prevent us from reaching our higher potential. She also looks at the zodiacal and planetary timing of creative operations.

Revealing how the stages of alchemical transmutation are relevant to the creative process, the author shows how the initiate comes to experience for themselves the relationship between consciousness and matter, which is the essence of alchemical teachings. By creating, one transmutes spiritual energies through matter for greater self-knowledge and awakening.

Allowing you to truly realize your own creative power, this in-depth guide to creative alchemy shows how the alchemical path attunes the Self to the rhythms of the spheres so that one is naturally creating in time with the seasons and zodiac signs and in harmony with elemental forces and planetary influences

Review Quotes

"The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy is an unprecedented work in decoding the opacity of alchemical allegory and charting the pervasive cultural influence of esotericism. Its rich imagery discloses the intimate mechanisms of modernism within a panoramic assimilation of occult philosophy. Bremner evokes a textured interpretation of ancient arcana through informed and embodied knowledge of their processes, imparting effectual praxis for sacred operations that impel the reader toward spiritual and creative actualization."-- "Micki Pellerano, artist, astrologer, and host of Time Lord TV"

"What a thought provoking and exciting new work! If taken to heart, this book will awaken one's creative fire and spark the limitless potential of imagination and divine wonder within--for a life well lived!!"-- "Philip M. Berk, author of A Single Flower: Meditations and Poems"

"For those looking to explore more layers of their creative processes, undertaking the arduous process of transforming lead into gold, The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy is a wonderful resource. This book is rich with insights about how consciousness and matter can merge to usher in new levels of self-awareness and personal insights, along with uniting readers with spiritual energies to reach their highest potential. By following the path that's been carved by artists of centuries past, Bremner assists readers in undertaking their own creative alchemy."-- "Alanna Kali, Musing Mystical"

Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION
Imaginatio Vera

PART I
Alchemy and Imagination
1 Romanticism: Irrational Freedom
2 Symbolism: Dark Dreams and Ideals of the Other World
3 Dada: Cutting to the Chance
4 Surrealism: The Automatic Solution

PART II
The Magnum Opus
5 Creative Alchemy: Essentials of the Great Work
6 Nigredo: Putrefaction and the Generation of the Idea
7 Albedo: Purification and the Lunar Stone
8 Citrinitas: Solar Inspiration and Integration
9 Rubedo: The Royal Marriage and the Philosopher's Stone

CONCLUSION
Creatio Continua

APPENDIX A
Chakra Correspondence Charts

APPENDIX B
Planetary Correspondences

APPENDIX C
Elemental Meditation

Notes

Bibliography

Index

"A book rich in colorful illustrations, poignant imagery, and penetrating analysis. Written in a clear and easy-to-understand language that will appeal both to the specialist and the curious alike. This scholarly work is certain to please connoisseurs of the Royal Art with a useful aid to reference, time and again, on decoding the mysteries of life."-- "DAVID PANTANO, translator of The Hermetic Physician"

"A remarkable work in scope and depth that explores art as alchemy, Bremner provides the ground for a much-needed discussion on the esoteric currents that have surfaced throughout various art movements such as Symbolism, Dada, and Surrealism. And in doing so, she articulates the basic premise of alchemy--that all creations arise from the same principles. Then, using these alchemical principles and processes, Bremner shows how to incorporate them into your work with clear, insightful descriptions of exercises for the artist/alchemist. The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy is a 'must-have' for anyone seriously working in or investigating the intersection of art and alchemy."-- "Brian Cotnoir, author of Practical Alchemy, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter, and On Alchemy"

"Bremner envisions the integration of the modern-day practice of creative alchemy with a deep understanding of its representations in the visual and poetic arts. By locating imagination at the center, Bremner makes evident the hidden connections between alchemy and artists whose gaze initiates psychological change and spiritual evolution. This book is both an esoteric meditation and a feminist call to reclaim personal authority over consciousness and reject hierarchical ideologies in favor of personal exploration. This book is a must-read for historians of ideas, the arts, and practitioners of the esoteric."-- "Leslie Korn, Ph.D., M.P.H., author of Rhythms of Recovery"

"Capably researched, vividly illustrated, and trenchantly argued, this is a treat for those who know their way around the realm of the magical imagination and a revelation for those who are just setting foot on that potent and life-affirming path."-- "JOHN MICHAEL GREER, author of The Twilight of Pluto"

"Marlene Bremner's The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating intersection of art and the occult. Marlene's knowledge and passion will captivate any reader, making this book an indispensable companion for those seeking to unlock the mysteries of the unseen."-- "JASON LOUV, author of John Dee and the Empire of Angels and teacher at Magick.me"

"This new volume makes me all excited again! I would not call it a sequel but a way of going deeper into that magical realm, where alchemical thinking and practice meet the art world. . . . Another gem from Marlene Seven Bremner, including the wonderful paintings that accompany the book."-- "RUDOLF BERGER, performing arts professionaland creator of the Thoth Hermes Podcast"

About the Author

Marlene Seven Bremner is a self-taught oil painter, writer, and teacher who has spent more than 20 years exploring esoteric and spiritual traditions, including Hermeticism, alchemy, surrealism, symbolism, tarot, psychology, magic, astrology, shamanism, and mythology. The author of Hermetic Philosophy and Creative Alchemy, she developed her career as an artist in the Pacific Northwest and now spends her time painting and writing in the New Mexico desert.