The Story of Nicolas Flamel
Who was Nicolas Flamel and What was his secret?
Of the first question there is quite a lot of recorded history. Of the second, well that's what we are here to discover!
Nicolas Flamel lived during the 14th Century. He was a Parisian Book Merchant and owned a small shop on the Rue de Marivaux. During his life he wrote many manuscripts and was revered by scholars, philosophers and priests. Such greats as Isaac Newton studied his work and spent many hours copying the volumes he had written. His great interest was the study of alchemy, not just from a physical perspective of turning base metals into gold but from the more loftier aspiration of spiritual development.
One night Nicolas Flamel had a strange dream. In the dream an Angel told him that he would come into possession of a rare book. This book he would not understand at first but that one day he would see in it that which no other man would be able to see.
Flamel thought little more of the dream until one day an old man of dubious appearance walked into his shop. The old man was Jewish and in desperate need of money. At the time the Jewish people in France were being persecuted and many were leaving for Spain where the Arab settlers were less hostile. Nicolas Flamel instantly recognised the book that the old man was carrying. For that very same book was the same book he had seen in his dream. Flamel immediately paid 2 Florins for the book recognising at once its divine virtue.
On the first page of the book was reference to the author one Abraham the Jew, prince, priest, Levite, astrologer, and philosopher. This was followed by curses on those that were unworthy to read it unless they were either a priest or a scribe. Flamel was bewildered by the ancient Hebrew, curious symbols and a mysterious word Maranatha written throughout the book.
Nicolas Flamel knew at once this book contained the secrets of the Wise. The answers to the hidden secrets of the universe, indeed lifes very purpose!! He also knew in his heart that this book contained secrets that should only be revealed to the worthy. The secrets within would only do harm to those that were not ready to receive them. Jesus voiced this very sentiment when he said, "pearls must not be given as food to swine". Certain information in the wrong hands can be very dangerous!
From the very moment he received the book he made it a lifes passion to uncover the secrets within. For 21 years he struggled with the mysterious symbols and cryptic language but alas to no avail. Because the Jewish people had in the main been driven from France he could not consult with the people he needed to.
After much internal debate Flamel decided to make the treacherous Journey to spain where many of the Jews had migrated. Perhaps there he would find a wise rabbi who could help unravel the books secret. The journey he was about to undertake would be fraught with danger and Flamel decided to hide the real purpose of his mission by making a pilgrimage to Compostela. He took with him some pages he had copied from the book well aware that taking the real thing would be far too risky.
Little is known of his adventures except that when he reached Spain he could find little if anything about the Book of Abraham the Jew. Time was not on his side and back in Paris his dear wife Pernelle was waiting for him patiently. With this in mind he set a course for home with sadness in his heart with so little to show for his journey.
On his way home he passed through Leon and stopped the night in an Inn. Flamel shared a table with a merchant from Boulogne and told him of his wish to find Jewish scholar. By a strange twist of fate the merchant told Flamel of a man he knew by the name of Canches and that a meeting could be arranged if he wished. Flamel decided to give it one more chance and see if Canches knew anything of Abraham the Jew and the book he had written.
When Flamel met Canches he was astounded to know that Canches did indeed know of Abraham the Jew. What's more, he knew ancient Hebrew and could help translate the cryptic symbols on the few pages Flamel had copied. Canches told Flamel that Abraham the Jew was a great master of the wandering race, a scholar and practioner of the mysteries of Cabala. The book had apparently dissapeared from public view centuries ago but had been passed from hand to hand always seeking out those worthy to receive it. Canches had dreamed all his life of finding this priceless book and immediately set to work in translating the pages Flamel had brought with him.
Unfortunately for the two men the few pages Flamel had copied were not enough to reveal the secret. Together they decided to travel to Paris where Canches could see for himself the book that he had always dreamed about. For Canches this was a huge undertaking as his age and health were against him. He prayed that his frail body would hold out for the rest of the journey but alas it would not be so. Sadly, Canches fell ill and died on the way, the ordeal was just too much for him. Flamel would have to go on alone and use the knowledge Canches had given him to decipher the rest of the book.
When Flamel reached Paris everything was as he left it and he immediately preceded to decipher the rest of the book. Over the course of the next 3 years and with the knowledge he had acquired from Canches he was able to decode the rest of the book. It is said that from the knowledge he gained and knowing the materials required he was able to turn mercury into silver and then silver into gold. However, by far the greatest secret he uncovered was the transmutation of the Soul.
From this point on Nicolas Flamel became incredibly wealthy. However, the wealth was not used to satisfy is own ego, comfort or status but rather used for charitable purposes in helping those in need. He built hospitals and houses and restored many churches and graveyards in his neighbourhood. He knew without doubt that the secret he had discovered could not be revealed to a lesser soul for in doing so he also knew that the secret would only increase the imperfection of that soul. Nicolas Flamel knew that our journey was toward the Soul and lay not in the path of physical attainment to satisfy the ego. He knew that it was more about remembering who we are than becoming something else!
Nicolas Flamel died (or so we think) after his wife at the age of eighty. He spent the latter years of his life writing books on alchemy. It is said that he handed down his most treasured secrets to his nephew Perrier and from thereon little is known. A descendant of Flamel by the name of Dubois had somehow got hold of some of the projection powder Flamel had used to turn base metals into gold. In front of King Louis X111 Dubois supposedly used this powder to turn lead balls into Gold. A certain Cardinal Richelieu was greatly intrigued by Dubois and tried to extract the secret from him. Dubois knew nothing about Flamel's secret and Cardinal Richelieu on the pretext of previous crimes Dubois had committed had him imprisoned and condemned to death with subsequent confiscation of his property. It is believed that many of Flamel's manuscripts and possessions ended up with Cardinal Richelieu to be lost through the passage of time. The Book of Abraham the Jew has never been seen since and may still be waiting in some forgotten place awaiting the arrival of a worthy master.
Around this time other people had heard rumours about Flamel and his wealth. Grave robbers broke open Flamels coffin only to find it empty!
The mystery of Nicolas Flamel seemed to have come to an end but for a story written by a Paul Lucas entitled "Voyage dans la Turquie" published in 1719. In the book he tells of a philosopher he met at Broussa who wore Turkish clothes and spoke many languages. He could not estimate the mans age by his looks. The man told Lucas that he was one of seven philosophers who travelled throughout the world seeking wisdom and truth. According to the man a human should be able to live far longer than he or she normally does. A 1000 years was easily possible for those that had the knowledge. What intrigued Paul Lucas was that this man seemed to possess intimate knowledge of Nicolas Flamel. He even knew how Nicolas Flamel had come into possession of the book by Abraham the Jew. This knowledge up until this point was unknown. The man told Lucas that Abraham the Jew was a member of their group and was betrayed and murdered in Paris by a Rabbi who wanted his books and manuscripts. The Rabbi was convicted of Murder and put to death. Another Jew who happened upon the book did not know what it was and wanted to sell it quickly so he could get out of France. As we know he sold it to Nicolas Flamel and the story comes full circle.
This is not the end though. What really surprised Paul Lucas is when the philosopher told him that Flamel and his wife Pernelle were still alive!! Having discovered the great secret Flamel an his wife were able to continue their lifes without aging from the time they discoverd the secret.
........................................................................................................................................................................
The purpose of this Blog is not to discover how to turn base metals into gold but rather the transmutation of Soul. In any case, both are inextricably linked. When you finally rediscover the eternal self, mastery over the physical world is unavoidable. How can you not master something that you yourself created!
Now, what steps can we take to attain true freedom? How can we become healthy and wealthy? What can we do to prevent aging? These are the some of the many questions we will address as we pass through this illusion of space and time. Together we shall discover Flamels Secret!!
God bless, peace and love.
Of the first question there is quite a lot of recorded history. Of the second, well that's what we are here to discover!
Nicolas Flamel lived during the 14th Century. He was a Parisian Book Merchant and owned a small shop on the Rue de Marivaux. During his life he wrote many manuscripts and was revered by scholars, philosophers and priests. Such greats as Isaac Newton studied his work and spent many hours copying the volumes he had written. His great interest was the study of alchemy, not just from a physical perspective of turning base metals into gold but from the more loftier aspiration of spiritual development.
One night Nicolas Flamel had a strange dream. In the dream an Angel told him that he would come into possession of a rare book. This book he would not understand at first but that one day he would see in it that which no other man would be able to see.
Flamel thought little more of the dream until one day an old man of dubious appearance walked into his shop. The old man was Jewish and in desperate need of money. At the time the Jewish people in France were being persecuted and many were leaving for Spain where the Arab settlers were less hostile. Nicolas Flamel instantly recognised the book that the old man was carrying. For that very same book was the same book he had seen in his dream. Flamel immediately paid 2 Florins for the book recognising at once its divine virtue.
On the first page of the book was reference to the author one Abraham the Jew, prince, priest, Levite, astrologer, and philosopher. This was followed by curses on those that were unworthy to read it unless they were either a priest or a scribe. Flamel was bewildered by the ancient Hebrew, curious symbols and a mysterious word Maranatha written throughout the book.
Nicolas Flamel knew at once this book contained the secrets of the Wise. The answers to the hidden secrets of the universe, indeed lifes very purpose!! He also knew in his heart that this book contained secrets that should only be revealed to the worthy. The secrets within would only do harm to those that were not ready to receive them. Jesus voiced this very sentiment when he said, "pearls must not be given as food to swine". Certain information in the wrong hands can be very dangerous!
From the very moment he received the book he made it a lifes passion to uncover the secrets within. For 21 years he struggled with the mysterious symbols and cryptic language but alas to no avail. Because the Jewish people had in the main been driven from France he could not consult with the people he needed to.
After much internal debate Flamel decided to make the treacherous Journey to spain where many of the Jews had migrated. Perhaps there he would find a wise rabbi who could help unravel the books secret. The journey he was about to undertake would be fraught with danger and Flamel decided to hide the real purpose of his mission by making a pilgrimage to Compostela. He took with him some pages he had copied from the book well aware that taking the real thing would be far too risky.
Little is known of his adventures except that when he reached Spain he could find little if anything about the Book of Abraham the Jew. Time was not on his side and back in Paris his dear wife Pernelle was waiting for him patiently. With this in mind he set a course for home with sadness in his heart with so little to show for his journey.
On his way home he passed through Leon and stopped the night in an Inn. Flamel shared a table with a merchant from Boulogne and told him of his wish to find Jewish scholar. By a strange twist of fate the merchant told Flamel of a man he knew by the name of Canches and that a meeting could be arranged if he wished. Flamel decided to give it one more chance and see if Canches knew anything of Abraham the Jew and the book he had written.
When Flamel met Canches he was astounded to know that Canches did indeed know of Abraham the Jew. What's more, he knew ancient Hebrew and could help translate the cryptic symbols on the few pages Flamel had copied. Canches told Flamel that Abraham the Jew was a great master of the wandering race, a scholar and practioner of the mysteries of Cabala. The book had apparently dissapeared from public view centuries ago but had been passed from hand to hand always seeking out those worthy to receive it. Canches had dreamed all his life of finding this priceless book and immediately set to work in translating the pages Flamel had brought with him.
Unfortunately for the two men the few pages Flamel had copied were not enough to reveal the secret. Together they decided to travel to Paris where Canches could see for himself the book that he had always dreamed about. For Canches this was a huge undertaking as his age and health were against him. He prayed that his frail body would hold out for the rest of the journey but alas it would not be so. Sadly, Canches fell ill and died on the way, the ordeal was just too much for him. Flamel would have to go on alone and use the knowledge Canches had given him to decipher the rest of the book.
When Flamel reached Paris everything was as he left it and he immediately preceded to decipher the rest of the book. Over the course of the next 3 years and with the knowledge he had acquired from Canches he was able to decode the rest of the book. It is said that from the knowledge he gained and knowing the materials required he was able to turn mercury into silver and then silver into gold. However, by far the greatest secret he uncovered was the transmutation of the Soul.
From this point on Nicolas Flamel became incredibly wealthy. However, the wealth was not used to satisfy is own ego, comfort or status but rather used for charitable purposes in helping those in need. He built hospitals and houses and restored many churches and graveyards in his neighbourhood. He knew without doubt that the secret he had discovered could not be revealed to a lesser soul for in doing so he also knew that the secret would only increase the imperfection of that soul. Nicolas Flamel knew that our journey was toward the Soul and lay not in the path of physical attainment to satisfy the ego. He knew that it was more about remembering who we are than becoming something else!
Nicolas Flamel died (or so we think) after his wife at the age of eighty. He spent the latter years of his life writing books on alchemy. It is said that he handed down his most treasured secrets to his nephew Perrier and from thereon little is known. A descendant of Flamel by the name of Dubois had somehow got hold of some of the projection powder Flamel had used to turn base metals into gold. In front of King Louis X111 Dubois supposedly used this powder to turn lead balls into Gold. A certain Cardinal Richelieu was greatly intrigued by Dubois and tried to extract the secret from him. Dubois knew nothing about Flamel's secret and Cardinal Richelieu on the pretext of previous crimes Dubois had committed had him imprisoned and condemned to death with subsequent confiscation of his property. It is believed that many of Flamel's manuscripts and possessions ended up with Cardinal Richelieu to be lost through the passage of time. The Book of Abraham the Jew has never been seen since and may still be waiting in some forgotten place awaiting the arrival of a worthy master.
Around this time other people had heard rumours about Flamel and his wealth. Grave robbers broke open Flamels coffin only to find it empty!
The mystery of Nicolas Flamel seemed to have come to an end but for a story written by a Paul Lucas entitled "Voyage dans la Turquie" published in 1719. In the book he tells of a philosopher he met at Broussa who wore Turkish clothes and spoke many languages. He could not estimate the mans age by his looks. The man told Lucas that he was one of seven philosophers who travelled throughout the world seeking wisdom and truth. According to the man a human should be able to live far longer than he or she normally does. A 1000 years was easily possible for those that had the knowledge. What intrigued Paul Lucas was that this man seemed to possess intimate knowledge of Nicolas Flamel. He even knew how Nicolas Flamel had come into possession of the book by Abraham the Jew. This knowledge up until this point was unknown. The man told Lucas that Abraham the Jew was a member of their group and was betrayed and murdered in Paris by a Rabbi who wanted his books and manuscripts. The Rabbi was convicted of Murder and put to death. Another Jew who happened upon the book did not know what it was and wanted to sell it quickly so he could get out of France. As we know he sold it to Nicolas Flamel and the story comes full circle.
This is not the end though. What really surprised Paul Lucas is when the philosopher told him that Flamel and his wife Pernelle were still alive!! Having discovered the great secret Flamel an his wife were able to continue their lifes without aging from the time they discoverd the secret.
........................................................................................................................................................................
The purpose of this Blog is not to discover how to turn base metals into gold but rather the transmutation of Soul. In any case, both are inextricably linked. When you finally rediscover the eternal self, mastery over the physical world is unavoidable. How can you not master something that you yourself created!
Now, what steps can we take to attain true freedom? How can we become healthy and wealthy? What can we do to prevent aging? These are the some of the many questions we will address as we pass through this illusion of space and time. Together we shall discover Flamels Secret!!
God bless, peace and love.
posted by alchemist | 1:19 PM
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