Nicholas Flamel

[deviadah]

Feel like talking about Nicholas Flamel then you have come to the right place. But before that can be done let me just post a bio and some other bits of info and links.

Intro

When I lived in Paris I went to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which is one of the most amazing libraries I've ever been to especially if one is able to get in to the research department (which I did). To get in there I had to not only pay, but convince the library that I had valid intention to be there. Anyway in there they had a several hundred year old copy of a book by Flamel (the name of this book I can't recall at the moment, but I have it written down somewhere).

Anyway in it it says that on Monday the 17th of January 1382 Flamel managed to turn lead into silver, and then on the 25th of April (at 5 p.m.) the same year he managed to transmute lead into gold. The only witness was his wife. Now I see this event as being of a spiritual nature rather than a material. The legend goes that he and his wife allegedly still roams the earth immortal from their discovery of the Elixir of Life.

His Story

In the 14th century there was a man destined for a certain book. This man was Nicholas Flamel and the book was The Book of Abraham the Jew, and the two would seldom be mentioned without the other.

Nicholas Flamel had a genuine interest in the Hermetic arts and he longed for finding books that dealt with its essential secrets. One night he had a dream of an angel that stood before him. In her hands she held an antique book and spoke words which he would never forget:

Look well at this book, Nicholas. At first you will understand nothing in it, neither you nor any other man. But one day you will see in it that which no other man will be able to see.

This dream had a great spiritual impact on him and he began to seriously dwell into the Hermetic arts and began practise alchemy in a laboratory he and his wife built in their home. His bookstores, offices and home became a place for occultists and adepts in the great art. Day and night he laboured on the pursuit of the Elixir of Life and the Philosopher’s Stone and gained a lot of knowledge, but the angel he wished to meet again did not return.

One day in the year 1357 he bought a book from a travelling scholar in need of cash for two florins. Later he would suspect the book had been stolen from the Jews or found in some hidden place of theirs, and neither the seller nor the buyer realised at the time of the books importance.

It was most unusual, old and large, made of Copper and delicate rindes of tender young trees covered with Latin texts. It contained three times seven leaves and the printing was marvellous, but cryptical with Hieroglyphs and strange signs and figures. Every seventh leaf contained no words but were instead a adorned with beautiful drawings.

Several hours later he realised that this book was the book he had dreamt of and he instantly set about to understand it, which he did not. It was not written for a student but for someone that had already achieved some success in finding the Philosopher’s Stone.

Priory of Sion

Flamel features on the list of Grand Masters of the Priory of Sion as number 161 (if you belive in that stuff). The dossier is also located in the Bibliothèque nationale de France ). See this list HERE.

Flamels tomb

On his tomb Flamel ordered that mysterious alchemical figures be carved which are explained by himself HERE. An image of the tomb is HERE.

Flamel in fiction

Flamel figures in a number of fictional tales. In the book Notre Dame de Paris (or more famously The Hunchback of Notre Dame) of Victor Hugo for example. Go HERE for a very interesting read. I quote one passage:

While in exile on the Island of Jersey, between 1853 and 1855, Victor Hugo participated in a series of seances, or 'table turnings', where he claimed to have communicated with several famous spirits. He wrote the conversations down, but some skeptics might claim the conversations were the conscious or unconscious by-product of a very creative mind -- which no one disputes Victor Hugo had. The spirit of Nicolas Flamel made one appearance - on July 26, 1854, 9:25 pm.

Hugo channelled/drew an image the night Flamel made his appearance. Go HERE to see it.

Flamel also figures in the Harry Potter books (which I myself have not read nor is interested in).

Nicolas Flamel is a fictional character in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, who is based on the real French alchemist, Nicholas Flamel. He is something of a MacGuffin; though he is the clue to the whole mystery of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he never actually makes an appearance.

According to the Harry Potter books, Flamel is the only person known to create the Philosopher's Stone and, thus, he and his wife, Perenelle, have lived on for centuries. Flamel worked with Albus Dumbledore as his partner in alchemy, though, considering the stone had already been invented, it is not clear what the pair worked on together.
Flamel's stone became the target of Lord Voldemort during his possession of Professor Quirrell, so Dumbledore consequently moved it from Gringotts Wizarding Bank to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in order to keep it safe. However, Quirrell worked out how to get past the numerous obstacles to the prize, but Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger figured out someone was after it, though they believed it to be Severus Snape, their Potions professor.

At the end of the book, Dumbledore mentioned that Flamel had enough Elixir of Life left to set his affairs in order, but noted that he would die. Nicolas Flamel has not been heard from since in the series, and author J. K. Rowling has stated on her website that Flamel is now deceased. – Wikipedia

Some Flamel sites:
Testament of Nicholas Flamel, The
Flamel College

Some beautiful Flamel images can be found HERE and HERE and finally HERE.

[sleeveless]

His house looked like this two days ago... So how did I end upp there?

I was sitting in a bookstore in Paris on a chair in the children section and just looking around and then I saw a very nice book and there was his name... and because he's a very intresting person I just wanted to go visit his house.

[deviadah]

Yeah it's a restaurant now. I never eaten there myself, although I guess I should have.

Oh well life is full of regrets...

It's not really visible on any of the pictures above but there are several images carved into the exterior wall of the house (especially on the second floor). Time has really worked hard on them and they're not that readable. I tried to film them, but it didn't show up so good. Got some computer problems, but when it is sorted I will post this film here for those interested.

[sleeveless]

Some notebook pages from Nicholas Flamel...

It is kind of many i hope it is ok...?

I like them!....

[sleeveless]

[sleeveless]

[sleeveless]

[sleeveless]

[MythMath]

Very cool...

Could be pages from my daydream jounal...

[deviadah]

Yeah those are very nice, that is why I included a link to them in my original post...

But nice work re-posting them one by one!

[sleeveless]

Yeah those are very nice, that is why I included a link to them in my original post...
But nice work re-posting them one by one!

OOoo

I just put some color on the page

[deviadah]

Yeah, it was a nice job... I should have done what you did in the first place anyway! I have always loved those images.

Here's another Flamel related image that I've found crusing the net:

[antonchanning]

Ah yes, the Auberge Nicholas Flamel. I have some rather fond memories of that place. Had the pleasure of a very romantic meal in there, followed by a ritual in the wine cellar with the land lord and lady and a tour round the upstairs floors. The ritual was above a whole that had just recently been excavated. Ariane (my partner at the time) and I were the first two other than the Land lord and lady to be invited to see it. I have some photos of the ritual space...







This would have been in November 2006

[deviadah]

Very nice!

What was in the hole?

[antonchanning]

Very nice!

What was in the hole?

Just rubble really. They'd only just uncovered it, they hadn't yet excavated whatever was down there. Its unlikely to be alchemy related to be honest, since this was the house Nicholas built AFTER Pernelle died. Since Flamel claimed to have only performed the Great Work successfully twice, and both times with the assistance of Pernelle, this must have taken place at an older house no longer intact.

[deviadah]

Yes, I agree. Add to this the fact that because Hugo made him famous to the masses (more than before) looters have been all over Paris looking for gold! So if there was anything there I am sure it is in some vault in the Vatican by now.



Great pics... I never went inside since it was closed when I was there.

[Iggy Walker]

I have some photos of the ritual space...

Wonderful images you have there!

[antonchanning]

I have some photos of the ritual space...

Wonderful images you have there!

Thankyou! It was a wonderful ritual space, and a fantastic and romantic ending to a lovely meal.

[deviadah]

To paraphrase antonchanning: let's not forget his wife!

[Salazius]

Hello,

The drawings in colors are not from the hand of Flamel but Molinier's.

And it seems, that he never had a dream with an angel in it, but I can't remember the title of the book where I reed it... sorry.

Salazius

[deviadah]

The drawings in colors are not from the hand of Flamel but Molinier's.

Good point... I have figured that they were some form of inspirational piece or such...

And it seems, that he never had a dream with an angel in it...

As with all figures of legend it is difficult, if not impossible, to really know what did and did not happen.

[Salazius]

As with all figures of legend it is difficult, if not impossible, to really know what did and did not happen.

In fact, I red that it is an author, who openly said that he invented that...
But you are totally wright. It difficult to know exactly what append whit figures of legend.

Molinier's text is very nice actually.

Regards,
Salazius

[deviadah]

Video of Flamels House

[WCH]

I just read a book called Cannabis Alchemy -- Nicholas Flamel is listed as the editor. Thought it was a nice nod of the hat in a book that doesn't really have too much of "classic" alchemy in it, more just drug chemistry. Good drug chemistry, though... it explains how to isomerize THC into higher-rotating (and more potent) forms, how to create pure THC (a transparent oil, far purer than the honey oil) and how to synthesize THC-acetate, which is supposedly 6 times as strong as normal THC. Their use of the word "alchemy" (and "alchemists" to describe people who do the operations they teach) shows a shift in the nomenclature, as there's nothing to suggest a spiritual practice connected with the work, although the people doing the operations may well in fact have one. It simply isn't discussed.

[BeautifulEvil]

Interesting post WCH, I will have to check that out if I can get a copy of it.

[Sponsored content]