Our knowledge of the real is quite limited. Through the centuries, laws have been dictated that show that we live in a certain type of reality. With the arrival of positivism and scientific thought from enlightenment, the idea of magic and even religion began to falter.
However, science itself has warned us that not everything we see is what exists. We see and live in three dimensions, but there may be more, imperceptible to us but not nonexistent. The following people are those who seemed to know something that others did not. They played with the physical, chemical and spiritual structure of our reality to show us that there is more than we imagine.
Isaac Newton (1643 – 1727)
One of the most important people in the history of mankind had an extreme approach to alchemy. Despite the fact that logical and rational thought had already surpassed magic in his time, the philosopher, theologian and inventor also spent more than 30 years studying different ancient texts that spoke of the philosopher’s stone. However, he was not looking for a stone capable of turning everything into gold, but an agent capable of eradicating any disease.
Michael Scotus (12th century)
Philosopher, doctor, and astrologer, he advanced prodigiously through all the branches he studied. However, he is also believed to have fought demons and witches thanks to his study of the occult. He is even considered a teacher or companion of Fibonacci, and that without him, the mathematician would never have been able to determine the numerical sequence of equilibrium.
Nicholas Flamel (1340 – 1418)
In his time he was known as a great rabbi and notary public, but this French rabbi went down in history as an alchemist capable of executing the necessary procedures to transform metals into gold and give the elixir of eternal life. Of course, the philosopher’s stone became a myth, because although he did die, his tomb was looted, so there are those who believe that the stone is still lost in some corner of the world.
Judah Loew ben Bezalel (1520 – 1609)
Just as Flamel is known today for the “Harry Potter” saga, Judah became a personality at the beginning of the 20th century for the film by Carl Boese and Paul Wegener entitled “The Golem” in which it is narrated how this rabbi created a clay golem that defended the people of Prague from anti-Semitism.
Roger Bacon (1214 – 1292)
He was one of the most brilliant minds of his time. He helped make the ingredients for gunpowder and also contributed research for the creation of the first optical lenses. Like da Vinci, he was a visionary who predicted the invention of automobiles, airplanes, and submarines. However, it was thanks to the fact that he managed to fit Aristotelian and scientific philosophy into Christian dogma that his studies in alchemy were successful.
Aleister Crowley (1875 – 1947)
Best known as the last great wizard, Crowley was the one who introduced the complex system of magic known as “Thelma” that allowed him to summon demons, consecrate places, astral travel, see the future, and more. Despite living less than a century ago, his successor is not expected to appear soon, it seems that what died with him is gone forever.
The list of alchemists is endless. These are men who, still believing in the occult and magic, contributed a lot to the scientific progress of their time. Maybe we need to go back to believing in magic again.