Terence McKenna The Alchemical Dream (2008)

Terence McKenna The Alchemical Dream (2008)

Full: Terence McKenna The Alchemical Dream, Rebirth of the Great Work, 2008

Mystic Fire Productions, Sacred Mysteries Distribution

In the mid-1990's Terence McKenna and Mystic Fire's Sheldon Rocklin teamed up to make this rich and exciting film. Little did they know that this would be their last film. Filmed in Prague with Terence portraying his usual erudite rendition of the Irish Bard, this filmed classic takes us on a journey into the alchemical renaissance of King Frederick V and his wife Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia. Playing the role of John Dee, court magician for Queen Elizabeth of England, Terence McKenna shows us how the promise of a return to the tradition of alchemy was almost instituted in Europe. He also shows us that this early attempt at the creation of an alchemical kingdom actually lead to the European Renaissance and the institution of Cartesian science and the beginnings of rationalism within the western mindset. This incredible film is not only beautifully filmed but is Terence McKenna s finest performance and a worthy eulogy to his genius.

Review:

Terence McKenna's Great Work lives on

Alchemy. What is it? Terence McKenna, known mostly as a shaman and psychonaut, reveals to the world his knowledge of alchemy, its history, and why it is so important today. McKenna studied occultism in his teens; he was influenced by such great thinkers and Frances Yates and H.P. Blavatsky. Although he spoke rarely on the subject, we now have a beautifully produced film that reveals the depth of his knowledge. Those who want to read more of Terence's ideas on alchemy should be able to find a transcript of his "Lectures on Alchemy" by doing a Google search.

Filmed in Prague in the mid 1990's, Terence not only narrates both on and off screen, showing his bardic storyteller genius, but also portrays the leading figure in the story, that of Dr. John Dee. The film is as fresh as it could be however, because all of the ideas presented are found virtually nowhere else (other than the one mentioned above) in the vast library of McKenna lectures, while his books give but scant attention to the subject.

With the explosive resurgence of esoteric and occult ideas in the past few years, the film speaks to our time. Had it been released when it was made, it probably would have fallen into the void. It is as if the spirit of alchemy is alive in the film, waiting for the moment when the world is ready.

The story is based on Frances Yates' scholarship, most notably the Rosicrucian Enlightenment and the story of the Winter King and Queen. We learn of John Dee and Edward Kelly's journeys into the Enochian angelic realms, and how this inspired them to create an alchemical revolution with the aim of the transmutation of society. This is the alchemical dream referred to in the title. Dee and Kelly could not make this happen, however the dream was taken up later in Bohemia by Fredrick the Elector Palatine.

Highly recommended to all fans of McKenna, this will introduce them to a whole new world of Renaissance, Hermetic, Rosicrucian and Alchemical thinking. Likewise, anyone with an interest in these subjects will be fascinated by McKenna's interpretation of what this means for our time. Truly a remarkable film, it is a living eulogy to his genius. One can hardly wonder whether McKenna was actually the ghost of John Dee, and that the ideas in this film are his most recent push toward the alchemical transmutation of society.

video-specs: 720 x 480, 55 min 25 sec

audio: Hermeticism & Alchemy (Terence McKenna).mp3, run time: 4 hrs 38 min

ebooks: Terence McKenna - Lectures on Alchemy.pdf

tags: alchemy, history, revolution, transformation, transmutation, Rosicrucian, reformation, society