What is an alchemist?

An alchemist is someone who practices alchemy, which is a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that seeks to transform base metals into noble metals such as gold or silver, to develop a panacea or elixir of life that can cure any disease, and to find the philosopher's stone that grants eternal youth and wisdom. Alchemists also explore the spiritual and mystical dimensions of reality, using symbols, allegories, and rituals to seek the ultimate goal of transmuting the self into a higher level of consciousness. Alchemy originated in ancient Egypt and Greece, flourished in medieval and Renaissance Europe, and influenced many cultures around the world. Famous alchemists include Paracelsus, Isaac Newton, Michael Maier, John Dee, Gerhard Dorn, and Nicholas Flamel. Despite their quest for material and spiritual perfection, alchemists were often misunderstood, persecuted, and ridiculed by the scientific establishment and the Church, but their legacy continues to inspire and fascinate many modern thinkers and practitioners of esoteric traditions.