Through Rose-Colored Glasses

To see the world through rose-tinted glasses is to view your surroundings with optimism. It befits the Renaissance, an era of intellectual and cultural revival that was fueled in large part by optimism.

A fervent quest for knowledge and a yearning to uncover the universe’s mysteries drove new discoveries in every field. Alchemy, with its fusion of science, spirituality, and symbolic language, fascinated scholars, philosophers, and many other wisdom seekers who sought to revive the secrets of the ancients. Through the alchemy of the Renaissance, we’ll explore the magic and meaning through rose-tinted glass and uncover the deeper meaning behind its significance.

Alchemy represented both science and art; it was a philosophical endeavor as much as a chemical one, which meant the arcane knowledge of the ancients was buried in secret symbols, hidden messages, and layers upon layers of metaphor and allegory. During the Renaissance, many texts on alchemy were uncovered, fueling a frenzied revival of two alchemical obsessions: to create an elixir of eternal life known as the philosopher’s stone, and to transmute base metals into gold. But for spiritual alchemists, those trying to literally create gold were no more than “sooty empiricks.” Spiritual alchemists believed that everything in alchemy was a metaphor for personal and spiritual growth and healing, and that physical alchemical achievements could be attained only alongside a spiritual process.

What was clear to all alchemists was that transmutation involved a transformative journey: It began with Nigredo, “the Blackening,” a phase of dissolution, putrefaction, and fermentation. Spiritually, this was when the alchemist confronted their own inner darkness—the decomposition necessary for new life to emerge. Following that was Albedo, “the Whitening,” symbolizing purification, new life, and light after darkness. Next came Citrinitas, “the Yellowing,” symbolizing the radiance of the sun and the process of spiritual and literal illumination. Finally came Rubedo, “the Reddening,” the culmination of the alchemical process and the attainment of the philosopher’s stone. (Incidentally, these were also the colors of the four humors according to medieval medical practice.)

Glass was of particular interest to alchemists because it involved the application of fire (yellow) to transform sand (white) and ash (black) into luminous glass, echoing the process outlined above. All that was missing was red. The creation of red glass would signify the success of the alchemical process and perhaps even lead the way to the mythologized philosopher’s stone, which was rumored to be luminous and red, possessing not only the powers of eternal life but also the ability to help turn lead to gold. With glass, could it really be so close at hand?

As one can probably imagine, many alchemists worked to create a ruby red glass, and while many came close, no one succeeded—no one, that is, until Elector Frederick William instructed his hired alchemist Johann Kunckel that he “should not cease, to obtain the honor that the first red glass be made here, no matter how much it may cost.” And cost it did. After much experimenting, Kunckel discovered the secret to a stable recipe for luminous, raspberry-hued red glass: a colloidal solution of gold!

In a way, this did fulfill the promise of the philosopher’s stone: The ruby glass was seen as brand-new and extremely precious, no doubt worth plenty of gold itself. Kunckel would be immortalized as the creator of gold-ruby glass, and his legacy will live on as long as glass is created or admired.

There’s another way his discovery led to turning a red solution into pure gold. Today, real gold is dissolved into a red solution called a luster that can be painted on fired ceramics. The painted pieces are then refired at a lower temperature, only to reveal that the solvents have burned away and left shimmering pure gold behind! This process has always felt alchemical to me. Surely it demonstrates a taste of alchemy’s noble goals!

The next time you sip a potion from a ruby chalice or drink tea from a goldrimmed cup, know that in your hand you are holding alchemy made manifest. Can you feel the spiritual enlightenment filling your veins

Alchemy represented both science and art; it was a philosophical endeavor as much as a chemical one, which meant the arcane knowledge of the ancients was buried in secret symbols, hidden messages, and layers upon layers of metaphor and allegory. 

THE RUBY ELIXIR

Depending on what sources you choose to believe, the philosopher’s stone was either a luminescent red stone or a rich red liquid to be imbibed from a goblet.

The path to its creation was shrouded in mystery; it required arcane knowledge and spiritual and scientific study. Are you ready to try your hand at creating an elixir with a magic of its own, inspired by this mythological stone?

Good. Before we get to mixing, it’s time for another small lesson in alchemy. This time, we’re exploring spagyrics, a branch of medicine that focuses on the extraction, purification, and recombination of the active constituents of plants. It includes many processes, from carbonization to fermentation, distillation to infusion making. Some alchemists believed that the Prima Materia (raw material) was something that could go through all seven steps of transformation in a single container in a single reaction. Others thought that it would take a long and complicated procedure involving many state changes to get there. We’ll be taking a simpler road, that of paying homage to the stages of black, white, yellow, and red.

But what of our own Prima Materia?

Hand in hand with alchemical herbal medicine was the doctrine of signatures—that is, the belief that herbs carry clues to their use. For example, the yellow flowers of the herb St. John’s wort might signify that it has a connection with the sun (and therefore spiritual illumination), especially since it often starts blooming around the summer solstice. Additionally, its yellow color might give a clue that it is beneficial to the liver and digestion. It’s true—when picked in bloom and tinctured in alcohol, St. John’s wort provides both liver and nervine support. It can even be used as a medicine in the dark days of winter when seasonal depression is rampant and everyone could use a little sunshine. Use with caution, however; because of its actions on the liver, it shouldn’t be taken with SSRIs or other medications that are metabolized through the liver. Plants can be potent medicine, and it’s always a good idea to discuss any new herbal treatments with your doctor before taking them, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing.

You want to know my favorite part of making a tincture from this incredible plant? Those bright sunshine yellow flowers bleed red. That’s right: The alcohol they’re infused in takes on a deep ruby hue. If that transformation from sunshine yellow to philosopher’s-stone red isn’t magic, I don’t know what is.

To complete this elixir, we’ll mix the two missing stages of alchemical transmutation together to create a potent winter medicine. To create the St. John’s wort tincture, gather freshly bloomed flower heads in the summer and immediately place them in a clean jar until it’s three-quarters full. Fill the jar with high-proof vodka, then seal and place in a dark cabinet for six to eight weeks, shaking every week or so and checking to make sure that all the plant material stays below the surface of the alcohol. When this infusing period is finished, strain the liquid through a mesh sieve and then through a fine filter (like a coffee filter) to remove any impurities. Feel like an alchemist yet?

Also, don’t worry if you’re reading this in the winter: You don’t have to wait a whole year to make this recipe. You can find tincture of St. John’s wort in many herbal shops or at Mountain Rose Herbs!

The Recipe

1 teaspoon sea salt
4 teaspoons dark honey
⅓ cup St. John’s wort tea
1 ⅓ cups St. John’s wort tincture

Mix the first three ingredients until the salt is dissolved and the honey combined. Add the tincture and stir to mix. Optional: Add natural red food coloring to restore the red hue of the tinctured St. John’s wort. Bottle in sterilized glass bottles.

To use: Add ½ teaspoon to your jug of water to sip throughout the darker days.

EDIBLE PHILOSOPHER’S STONES

I can’t promise that these shimmery treats made in the image of the famed philosopher’s stone will provide eternal life or turn lead into gold, but they can certainly help you see the world through glasses more rose-tinted. They also represent the last three of the seven steps of transmutation:

The Rubedo stage is actually broken down into three additional steps:

• Conjunction: The union of opposites (like sour and sweet, in this case)
• Coagulation: The solidifying or congealing of the magical substance
• Finally, Sublimato: The spiritualization and achievement of the magnum opus, or the great work of the alchemist. The finished philosopher’s stone represented not only the transmutation of matter but also the inner transformation of the alchemist himself.

Even if you have yet to achieve alchemical enlightenment, these shimmering stones are a delectable treat to share mid-winter when one is craving rich cherries and sunshine herbs.

2 cups cherry juice (sweetened to taste) 1 teaspoon agar agar powder
1 tablespoon Ruby Elixir (or substitute rose water)
½ teaspoon luster dust

• Conjunction: Sweeten the cherry juice to your personal preference by adding sugar and dissolving it thoroughly.

• Coagulation: Add the cherry juice and powdered agar agar to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently, then turn the heat down to a simmer for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool until it just barely starts to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the tincture and luster dust and pour into lightly greased silicone molds.

• Sublimato: Let the molds chill until set, then unmold on a serving platter.

Bask in your culinary enlightenment!