The Norse creation myth describes how the primordial Fire of Muspelheim and the Water of Niflheim interact in the Emptiness of Ginnungagap, giving birth to the middle world of Midgard.

Historically Norse tradition is closely connected to shamanism, being heavily influenced by Sami culture.

The idea of the World Tree connecting the upper, middle, and lower worlds is directly matched by Yggdrasil, which connects various places and realms. The most popular version suggests there are nine "worlds", but different sources give different versions. It's also not always clear if all the places mentioned in the sources are equally "big" to be considered actual separate worlds or if there are some lesser locations or regions.

But what we definitely see, according to Gylfaginning, is that before and during the creation of Midgard ("Middle yard", hence middle word) there were only three major places, similar to what we see in the shamanic worldview.

Muspelheim, the hot and glowing realm of Fire, is described to be to the south of middle Emptiness Ginnungagap. It's easy to draw parallels with the underworld full of lava which sometimes erupts from beneath the Earth.

Niflheim, the realm of mist and ice, is described to be to the north and the source of all rivers, spring Hvergelmir is located there. If matching to the vertical shamanic model, we have no other choice but to put it to the upper world, which is again quite logical, if we remember high snowy mountain peaks where lots of rivers begin.

Such a layout is quite common across cultures and religions. Take the lower world of Asuras full of fire and river Ganga which begins in the upper world and falls to the Shiva's hair, who spends most of the time in the snows of Kailas mountain.

Even in the Christian model, we can find "waters above" and underground hell sometimes described as full of fire.

So this is what we accept as a working model in the Runic Alchemy - the primordial trinity of Water / Emptiness / Fire which is described to be aligned with a North/South axis we translate into the shamanic vertical axis of the world tree and place Water above and Fire below.

The true source of this view of the universe as a vertical structure of three major worlds is a revelation, which I received back at the beginning of the Runic Alchemy journey and this discovery became a foundation for understanding runes not only as letters or symbols. We can find deep meaning in their graphical structure as part of such a vertical system of coordinates.

All the runes are built from only three basic types of graphic elements: descending diagonal bar, ascending diagonal bar, and vertical axis.

We place each rune on the grid of five horizontal levels, each representing from top to bottom levels of Water, Air, Emptiness, Earth, and Fire.

• The very top level represents the upper world of Water. The bottom level represents the lower world of Fire
• And three inner levels of Air, Emptiness, and Earth represent Midgard with Sky and Earth separated by an elusive line of horizon in the center.

For example here is an Eihwaz rune:

By reading it from left to right we can see how the lower diagonal bar starts at the level of Earth and descends to the level of Fire. The vertical axis connects all the five levels simultaneously. And finally, the upper diagonal bar descends from the level of Water to the level of Air.

As a core of Runic Alchemy, the "Philosopher's Stone" recipe was discovered - a symmetrical bindrune that includes almost all the Elder Futhark:

This symbol serves as a blueprint describing the creation of the universe. We, as alchemists, follow the instructions encoded in the Philosopher's Stone and try to reproduce Creation locally. By doing so, we are getting closer to the original creator force.

The stone contains, as its building blocks, all the runes except Ansuz, Fehu, and Jera. Each rune has its specific place within Stone and this specific place plays a crucial role in the rune's meaning and effect.

In turn, by discovering the true position and meaning of each rune we unfold the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone and creation.

About Runic Alchemy

The foundation of Runic Alchemy was obtained from practice and experiments, rune divinations, meditations, magical dreams, and the guidance of Gods. In Runic Alchemy we are staying as close as possible to the available historical sources, but are not limited by them. Be aware that this modern Norse-based mystic research started around 2006 / 2007. There is no evidence that something like this existed in the Viking period or earlier and we do not claim to have secret/lost knowledge of the past. After almost two decades of research and practice, the time has come to share this knowledge with more people and see what will happen.

This book covers deep topics so it will be interesting for advanced seekers. At the same time, it starts from the very basics to make sure it's accessible for beginners as well. From the author's perspective, the primary goal of this book is to connect with the right people who may share similar experiences, values, goals, and interests.

In this book, we will explore:

• How to extend your perception beyond yourself and manipulate energies with your hands.
• How to move your focus far from yourself to travel upwards and downwards, accessing the sources of primordial Fire and Water.
• How to channel and sustain these energy streams and balance your dual nature through the experience of simultaneity.
• How to direct these streams to interact with each other and start your Creation.
• How other runes work, whether part of the stone or not.
• How this abstract system applies to our real world and what practical results we can achieve through spiritual practice.

When reading this book and practicing the suggested exercises, listen to yourself as the primary source of spiritual knowledge and the sole gateway to the realms where everything described here occurs.

Runic Alchemy is an ongoing live project. There is a slowly growing online community where you are welcome to join to ask any questions, exchange ideas, share experiences, and get to know recent updates and current research progress.

Alchemy Process

Here is a brief overview of the entire alchemical process encoded in the "Philosopher's Stone" rune:

• Water and Fire are separated by Emptiness, so the Water is above the Fire is below and the Emptiness is in the middle, and this is how Emptiness becomes the source of order by introducing space and location.

• The Water is not material water, but primordial energy out of our world, still accessible. It feels rather like the cool liquid light of stars. We associate it with Niflheim and will learn how to reach it with our left hand.
• The Fire is not material fire, but primordial energy out of our world, still accessible. It feels like lava, not just flame; it's dense and heavy. We associate it with Muspelheim and we will learn how to reach it with our right hand.
• Emptiness is not nothing, but the force of Order, which remains in between after One divided itself into halves. It has directions and contains distances so Space is one of its aspects. In the final phase of Creation, the Time aspect of Emptiness also emerges. In the Norse myth, Emptiness is called Ginnungagap. While represented as a middle level in the grid we also associate it with a vertical axis of simultaneity and resonance. We will learn how to touch the vertical of the Emptiness by holding it between our Fire and Water hands.

• Thin layer of Emptiness stretched aside by Ingwaz rune so cavity of emptiness is formed, where Water and Fire meet again.

• The Water in contact with the Fire, by absorbing its power, is heated up until evaporates into the swirling stormy clouds of steam and smoke - the initial raw form of the Air.

• The Fire in contact with the Water cools down and solidifies, so the quality of density of the Fire is condensed into the dark hardness of the initial raw form of the Earth.

• Both Air and Earth are also out of this world, but connected closer to our experience of life.

• The Earth is raw and dark, it blocks the light of the Fire beneath. Stormy clouds of lead raw Air are threateningly swirling above. The Night begins.

• But we are not alone in the night, a Northern Star is shining in the center of the back side of our forehead, and it will guide us on the way.

• The Yew, the aspect of the world tree Yggdrasil, serves as a central axis, the backbone of the universe, and balances resource circulation within the system.

• The thunderstorm plants the hail. Ice seeds of order fall from the Air to the Earth and lightning hits the hail and projects the principle of the order down deep into the Earth to concieve a crystal.

• When the power of the Fire discharged from stormy clouds down to the Earth in the form of lightning - Air calms down. The dark and havier earthy part moves down slipping between stones to nurture the small crystal in Earth.

• Once the Crystal grows enough until its tip breaks the surface, while its root meets the Fire below - the first rays of the Light filtered by the Crystal are conducted upward to the dark Air revealing its transparent qualities. The Dawn comes.

• The Dark King breathes out the spirit of the Fire, the Light so it filters and is conducted through the Crystal Earth upward to the Air, enlightening it. It's now the new, golden light of the Sun, the power of will, contrary to the raw red force of life that comes from the Fire.

• The golden Light of Will in the Air meets the blue Water and becomes the green Light of Love.

• Birch, the tree of light, another aspect of Yggdrasil, with a green crown of Love and white trunk of Crystal is another form of the primeval cow Auðumbla.

• It feeds sleeping giant Ymir, the first ever being born and died.

• More runes explain different aspects of the process and even runes outside of the stone which combined form the "World" bindrune which is born from the stone like from the egg.

This book guides you step by step to obtain your seed of the stone and grow it big enough to become your internal source of Light on which you can rely in daily life and spiritual journey.

Philosopher's Stone already exists and there is only a single Philosopher's Stone but it's out there, out of space and time.

By recreating Philosopher's Stone on your side you open the gate between material and ideal worlds allowing bidirectional influence which is sometimes called magic.

The process of initial seeding, growing, and perfecting of the stone is gradual allowing more and more strong and prolonged connection.

We believe at some level this gate can be opened wide enough so even the alchemist himself will be able to transcend through it.