Publications

Cracking the Philosophers’ Stone – Origins, Evolution and Chemistry of Gold-Making

Collaborative work between J. Erik LaPort and Dr. Roger Gabrielsson, Ph.D. – Cracking the Philosophers’ Stone is a combination of historical commentary with reproducible chemistry that thoroughly analyses one of the most respected and mysterious chemical reactions in the history of science and technology. This book guides the reader through the origins and evolution of the archetypal recipe for the Philosophers’ Stone of early Alexandrian alchemy. LaPort and Gabrielsson also provide details for various chemical reproductions based on the authors’ interpretation and hypotheses of ancient chemistry preserved in encrypted form in alchemical texts. The book is written for both the curious layperson, historian of science and technology or as a source book for the experimental aspiring alchemist / chemist. This book will appeal to the student of ancient history, occult studies, historical chemistry, or the layperson familiar with the Philosophers’ Stone but wants to learn more. The book is a must-have for every Rosicrucian and Freemasonic library (or the like) due to its discussion of ancient systems of thought and corresponding symbolism. Because of the human stories and historical backdrop, every layperson will find something of value to expand their understanding of the ancient world. Even scientists and specifically chemists will be fascinated with the reproducible chemical experiments presented in this groundbreaking work. The book is actually three books in one: 1) an introduction to alchemy, 2) a detailed history of alchemy’s origins and evolution, and 3) a technical reference for actual reproducibility of alchemy’s most sought-after prize – the Philosophers’ Stone.

Cracking the Philosophers’ Stone is organized into three major sections. The first provides the reader with an overview of the Philosophers’ Stone in the context of a general early history of alchemy. This foundational understanding serves as a framework for introducing newcomers and general enthusiasts to alchemical history, substances and processes discussed further into the work. In this section, the reader is systematically guided through major historical bifurcations that allowed for the evolution of technique and novel recipes for the Philosophers’ Stone. This section is written in such a way that the reader follows the authors’ sense of discovery and logic in a pedagogical fashion. Section two is a record of reproducibility. It includes details of each process, complete with frank discussions in the language of chemistry, which greatly facilitate review and reproduction of the experiments and syntheses detailed in the book. It is the ‘how-to’ section, if you will. Section three explores the practical applications for the Philosophers’ Stone along with a hypothesized mechanism of action for each application. Conclusions are contextually counter-balanced by traditional alchemical texts and original interpretations. Due to be published fall 2014 (Review copies available by special request)

 

Gold Elixirs – A Cross-cultural History of Therapeutic Gold

An original work by J. Erik LaPort – Gold Elixirs is a worldwide expedition through history visiting cultures and traditions that prized tonifying and rejuvenative therapeutic gold-based elixirs. The journey begins in China approximately 2,500 BCE where mercurial alchemy began. The journey continues in India, birthplace of calcined mineral and metal elixir alchemy to explore the branch of alchemy that influenced Persian, Tibetan and Burmese traditions that still offer ancient gold-based elixirs in the modern marketplace. Next, we sojourn to Egypt and the Sinai during the time of Moses to explore possibilities of ancient gold elixirs baked into sacramental Egyptian and Jewish breads. Our exploration continues through the migration of western alchemy from Alexandria to the Islamic Empire and then into Europe. Gold technology shifted from alchemy to early modern chemistry and pharmacy where gold elixirs became integral to apothecaries and incorporated into mainstream materia medica, remaining so into the 20^th century. Our journey crosses the Atlantic to the U.S.A. where gold elixirs became an integral part of mainstream medicine, going on to evolve into gold-drug compounds, colloidal gold, and pharmacological gold nano-technologies applied in innovative cancer therapies. Gold Elixirs is a cross-cultural historical journey mapping gold-elixir technology from its origins in the earliest alchemical traditions, along an unbroken route into modern chemistry and research labs today. A work in progress – no publishing information as of yet

 

Cabala Mineralis – Template of Graphic Perfection

Collaborative work between J. Erik LaPort and Dr. Roger Gabrielsson, Ph.D. The Cabala Mineralis is a decoding of the chemical reaction and heating regimen encrypted in an anonymous 17^th century illustrated manuscript based on Morienus’ archetypal sulfur-mercury template. The manuscript is one of the most visually captivating yet succinct works in this style. This new interpretation analyzes the illustrations and accompanying Latin text, to reveal the substances and processes to confect the Philosophers’ Stone of the 3^rd Order. LaPort and Gabrielsson provide photo-documentation and time-lapse videography for each stage of the reaction, accompanied by reaction sheets, experiment protocols and full discussion of each interpretation. Due to be published late 2014 or early 2015

 

Future Projects

The following planned series of projects are designed to explore the origins, evolution and chemistry of pivotal movements in alchemical history. The first in this 10-part series, Cabala Mineralis, has been completed and is due for publication in 2014. Erik enjoys sharing his passion and workload with like-minded researchers and therefore hopes to collaborate with specialists in each field of alchemy addressed in the series below in an effort to reveal the story and reproducible chemistry of these great alchemical achievements. The common denominator that runs throughout each tradition is one of reproducible operative alchemy framed in fascinating historical context. Each book will include reproducible chemistry alongside photo-documentation of the processes addressed.

Decoding the Scorpion Formula - 3-D Template for Judeo-Egyptian Alchemical Gold

Alchemy of the Prophet - Confecting the Stone attributed to Muhammad and Caliph Ali  

The Friar’s Oil and Stone of Antimony - Bacon and Valentine's Pioneering Antimonial Work

Great and Lesser Stones of Chaos - Khunrath's Alchemical Classics

Dr. Anthony's Potable Gold - A New Look at a Celebrated Apothecary Tincture

Caro’s Priestly Path of Cinnabar - A Fresh Examination of a Modern Alchemical Enigma

Chinese 9-Returned Elixir - Reproducing China's Archetypal Elixir

Indian Gold Ash and Gold Cinnabar - The Great Work of Elixir Alchemy

Tibetan Chintamani Stone - Exploring the Mythical Stone of the Himalayas

 

Correspondence

If you would like to e-mail Erik, you can do so via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Unfortunately, it is not possible for Erik to personally read and answer every e-mail he receives due to his professional workload. E-mails sent to this address, therefore, will be sent via the site editor who will forward their sentiments to Erik and only pass on in full those that require his personal attention.

For professional researchers who feel that their operative alchemical research project could benefit by collaboration with Erik … whose project requires access to a fully equipped research facility … or would like to book a speaking engagement, lecture series or instruction – please type: Professional Query in the subject line of your e-mail message, followed by a detailed description of your project or speaking engagement.

If you are interested in acquiring or having Erik hand-reproduce one of the historical alchemical substances discussed in his book for educational purposes – please type: Product Query in the subject line of your e-mail message, followed by a detailed description of the product of your interest.