Alchemy is an ancient path of spiritual purification and transformation; the expansion of consciousness and the development of insight and intuition through images. Alchemy is the fundamental alteration of nature, based on the 4 main elements, earth, air, water, and fire.  All over the world, in almost every culture alchemy has been used.  Alchemy was born in ancient Egypt and began to flourish in the Hellenistic period from Alexandria, and at the same time there was a school of alchemy developing in ancient china.

Throughout history, there have been many philosophers of Alchemy.  The fundamental concept of alchemy stemmed from the Aristotelian doctrine that all things tend to reach perfection.  According to Aristotle, all chemical reactions were possible, some needed more energy than others. He also stated that the heat of the sun on the earth makes two " exhalations " ; one being a dry and hot smoke, and the other being a cool, moist vapor. One of these " exhalations " produced metals, the other produced minerals.

Democritus believed all matter consisted of one substance called prime matter. He called the smallest unit of prime matter atoms. (Democritus was one of the first philosophers to develop "atomic theory." )