Dennis W Hauck | University of Vienna (original) (raw)
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Current Papers by Dennis W Hauck
The Monad Manifesto: An Existential Survival Guide, 2022
As scientists probe deeper into the nature of reality, they are discovering that consciousness is... more As scientists probe deeper into the nature of reality, they are discovering that consciousness is at the root of everything. What we believed were the laws of physics and matter are really the archetypal laws of mind, and the condensation of consciousness that created our universe originated from a dimensionless point in the void known in physics as the “Singularity” and in mathematics and philosophy as the “Monad.
Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and chemistry but also the first att... more Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and chemistry but also the first attempt to create a cohesive science of consciousness. Those early philosophers of nature treated mental contents as objective phenomena, and they believed the universal operations used in their laboratories could transform a dark leaden mind into a shining golden one. The Hermetic philosophy behind alchemy taught that our thoughts and feelings are the thoughts and feelings of the whole universe, and that intrinsic perspective generated deep insight into the structure of mind. Alchemists viewed consciousness as a natural force that could be harnessed through a marriage of logic and intuition – a union of objective and subjective realities. Like modern seekers of a unified field theory, alchemists sought one true philosophy of universal principles that were as valid in Nature as they were in their own minds and souls, and in the One Mind of the Cosmos. The resulting cauldron of ideas on mind and matter leads to a truer understanding of the Philosopher's Stone – not as an object but a state of mind.
The meditative techniques practiced by alchemists in the Middle Ages were different from what we ... more The meditative techniques practiced by alchemists in the Middle Ages were different from what we think of as meditation today. Alchemical meditation was an active instead of a passive activity, and it focused on harnessing spiritual forces for positive transformation and specific manifestations. The alchemists sought to actually work with the transcendental powers during meditation to achieve union with the divine mind or somehow bring the transformative powers from Above directly into their practical work in the lab or their personal work in the inner laboratory of their souls. This paper reviews two actual meditations practiced by medieval and Renaissance alchemists. The first is a form of mystical contemplation popular with spiritual seekers of all kinds during this period. The other is a meditation created specifically for alchemists and kept secret from the public for over 200 years. The two meditations are intended to be practiced by those interested, and free audio recordings of the guided meditations are available online.
The alchemists believed that no transformationwhether in the laboratory, in the body, or in the s... more The alchemists believed that no transformationwhether in the laboratory, in the body, or in the soul-could succeed without the presence of a mysterious ingredient known as the Materia Prima (First Matter). Nothing was more important to alchemist's work than this energetic essence, which they believed could be extracted from any substance and actually rendered tangible and visible. This paper examines the nature and properties of the elusive First Matter. We will look at how the alchemists exposed it, accumulated it, and worked with it to accomplish the regeneration of the substance at hand. We will explore how the concept of the First Matter evolved in both the scientific and esoteric traditions to become a fundamental, although often unrecognized, tenet of both modern Hermeticism and modern physics.
Papers by Dennis W Hauck
Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and the scientific method but also t... more Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and the scientific method but also the first attempt to create a science of consciousness. Those early philosophers of nature treated mental contents as objective phenomena, and they believed the universal operations they used in their laboratories could transform a dark leaden mind into a shining golden one. Alchemists expressed mental states and levels of consciousness in terms of the basic materials of their world – elements and metals, acids and caustic solutions, compounds and gases. Although they spoke of metals, retorts, and furnaces, they were really talking about changes taking place in their own minds and bodies. The strange creatures and complex symbols pictured in the alchemists' flasks were attempts to identify the archetypal forces churning in the hermetically sealed vessel of the brain. The Hermetic philosophy behind alchemy taught that our thoughts and feelings are the thoughts and feelings of the whole universe, and that intrinsic perspective generated deep insight into the structure of mind. Alchemists viewed consciousness as a natural force that could be harnessed through a marriage of logic and intuition, a union of objective and subjective realities. Like modern seekers of a unified field theory, alchemists sought one true philosophy of universal principles that were as valid in the laboratory as they were in their own minds and souls – and in the One Mind of the cosmos. Alchemists tried to influence the outcome of their experiments by purifying their thoughts and becoming one with the quantum-like First Matter of the substance at hand. The resulting cauldron of ideas on mind and matter leads to a truer understanding of the Philosopher's Stone – not as an object but a state of mind.
This detailed tour through the Alchemy Exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, fo... more This detailed tour through the Alchemy Exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, focuses on the universal operations of alchemy as they are practiced in the lab as well as in spiritual work. The exhibit includes a reproduction of a working alchemists laboratory from the 1500s, as well as a full-size reproduction of the Ripley Scroll, and a unique enclave featuring a guided alchemical meditation practiced by alchemists for centuries. Written by curator and designer Dennis William Hauck.
The Monad Manifesto: An Existential Survival Guide, 2022
As scientists probe deeper into the nature of reality, they are discovering that consciousness is... more As scientists probe deeper into the nature of reality, they are discovering that consciousness is at the root of everything. What we believed were the laws of physics and matter are really the archetypal laws of mind, and the condensation of consciousness that created our universe originated from a dimensionless point in the void known in physics as the “Singularity” and in mathematics and philosophy as the “Monad.
Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and chemistry but also the first att... more Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and chemistry but also the first attempt to create a cohesive science of consciousness. Those early philosophers of nature treated mental contents as objective phenomena, and they believed the universal operations used in their laboratories could transform a dark leaden mind into a shining golden one. The Hermetic philosophy behind alchemy taught that our thoughts and feelings are the thoughts and feelings of the whole universe, and that intrinsic perspective generated deep insight into the structure of mind. Alchemists viewed consciousness as a natural force that could be harnessed through a marriage of logic and intuition – a union of objective and subjective realities. Like modern seekers of a unified field theory, alchemists sought one true philosophy of universal principles that were as valid in Nature as they were in their own minds and souls, and in the One Mind of the Cosmos. The resulting cauldron of ideas on mind and matter leads to a truer understanding of the Philosopher's Stone – not as an object but a state of mind.
The meditative techniques practiced by alchemists in the Middle Ages were different from what we ... more The meditative techniques practiced by alchemists in the Middle Ages were different from what we think of as meditation today. Alchemical meditation was an active instead of a passive activity, and it focused on harnessing spiritual forces for positive transformation and specific manifestations. The alchemists sought to actually work with the transcendental powers during meditation to achieve union with the divine mind or somehow bring the transformative powers from Above directly into their practical work in the lab or their personal work in the inner laboratory of their souls. This paper reviews two actual meditations practiced by medieval and Renaissance alchemists. The first is a form of mystical contemplation popular with spiritual seekers of all kinds during this period. The other is a meditation created specifically for alchemists and kept secret from the public for over 200 years. The two meditations are intended to be practiced by those interested, and free audio recordings of the guided meditations are available online.
The alchemists believed that no transformationwhether in the laboratory, in the body, or in the s... more The alchemists believed that no transformationwhether in the laboratory, in the body, or in the soul-could succeed without the presence of a mysterious ingredient known as the Materia Prima (First Matter). Nothing was more important to alchemist's work than this energetic essence, which they believed could be extracted from any substance and actually rendered tangible and visible. This paper examines the nature and properties of the elusive First Matter. We will look at how the alchemists exposed it, accumulated it, and worked with it to accomplish the regeneration of the substance at hand. We will explore how the concept of the First Matter evolved in both the scientific and esoteric traditions to become a fundamental, although often unrecognized, tenet of both modern Hermeticism and modern physics.
Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and the scientific method but also t... more Alchemy is not only the origin of systematic experimentation and the scientific method but also the first attempt to create a science of consciousness. Those early philosophers of nature treated mental contents as objective phenomena, and they believed the universal operations they used in their laboratories could transform a dark leaden mind into a shining golden one. Alchemists expressed mental states and levels of consciousness in terms of the basic materials of their world – elements and metals, acids and caustic solutions, compounds and gases. Although they spoke of metals, retorts, and furnaces, they were really talking about changes taking place in their own minds and bodies. The strange creatures and complex symbols pictured in the alchemists' flasks were attempts to identify the archetypal forces churning in the hermetically sealed vessel of the brain. The Hermetic philosophy behind alchemy taught that our thoughts and feelings are the thoughts and feelings of the whole universe, and that intrinsic perspective generated deep insight into the structure of mind. Alchemists viewed consciousness as a natural force that could be harnessed through a marriage of logic and intuition, a union of objective and subjective realities. Like modern seekers of a unified field theory, alchemists sought one true philosophy of universal principles that were as valid in the laboratory as they were in their own minds and souls – and in the One Mind of the cosmos. Alchemists tried to influence the outcome of their experiments by purifying their thoughts and becoming one with the quantum-like First Matter of the substance at hand. The resulting cauldron of ideas on mind and matter leads to a truer understanding of the Philosopher's Stone – not as an object but a state of mind.
This detailed tour through the Alchemy Exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, fo... more This detailed tour through the Alchemy Exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, focuses on the universal operations of alchemy as they are practiced in the lab as well as in spiritual work. The exhibit includes a reproduction of a working alchemists laboratory from the 1500s, as well as a full-size reproduction of the Ripley Scroll, and a unique enclave featuring a guided alchemical meditation practiced by alchemists for centuries. Written by curator and designer Dennis William Hauck.