The Modern Alchemical Underground

Photo Cred: Logan Kennedy
"Pure Harmine Freebase is a glorious Thing to Behold"

There exists a small but, growing international community of practicing Alchemists. They do not concentrate on the "symbolic/spiritual" Alchemy of Carl Jung (however they do embrace the symbolic and hermetic principals). This community practices often dangerous "Operative" Alchemy. This Alchemy is Practiced with custom glass and modern chemistry equipment and recreates processes scribbled in esoteric ciphers and veiled in arcane symbolism throughout the ancient world. Pulling actual recipies and elixrs out of ancient manuscripts.
Photo Cred: Logan Kennedy
"Iluminati Rock Candy" "The Red Dragon: Aurum Potable"

This school of alchemy is made up of hundred of people actively pouring over old alchemical manuscripts, Indian Ayurvedic Herbalism, Ancient Doaist metallurgy and actual Medieval European Alchemy. They utilize dangerous solvents, rare plant extracts , precious metals colloidal/monoatomics and recreate ancient recipies once reserved for Kings and Emporers.

Photo Cred: Nate Drendel
"ORMUS From Maple Water"

These modern day alchemists are very secretive about their craft and I was lucky to receive the photos included in this post. They gather in private forums on various social media platforms to pick each other's brains and show their work but, they often are extremely cryptic and it is very very difficult to understand what is being shown. The variety of potions and elixrs boggles the mind.

Photo Cred: Nate Drendel
"Purple Gold Colloid in Solution"

When I asked what these products are used for I often got vauge replies filled with strange symbolism " This is the Salt of Venus" , " This is the sun in the Kings Bath". This or that is the mercury of this or that's salt. It was all very confusing but, I was intrigued.

At first I felt like Tom Cruise in "Eyes Wide Shut" stumbling into a secret party where I certainly did not belong. I still feel that way but apparently some of the Alchemists have become my friends and allowed me to view their creations.
Photo Cred: Nate Drendel
"Sol and Mercury wed with Salts of Turmeric"