A finalist in the Body, Mind, Spirit category of the prestigious 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. This book deals with alchemy's rich, multifaceted tradition from three perspectives - history, psychology, and nomothetic science - something rarely seen in other books on the same subject. Part I - Alchemy: Histories concerns the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural intercourse that occasioned the rich tapestry of alchemical tropes, themes, narratives, and pursuits, addressing the harmonious fusion of Hellenistic nature philosophy, Gnostic mythology, and Egyptian crafts and metallurgical practices in late antiquity - and much more, including the alchemy's role during the Renaissance, its influence on Jacob Boehme's theosophy, and its medieval imagery's integral role in Jung's theory of the collective unconscious. Part 2 - Alchemy: Processes of the Mind looks at the alchemical opus and its stages in the context of analytical, developmental, and clinical psychology, offering psychological interpretations of the Splendor Solis plates and integrated alchemical interpretations of personality, personal growth, and the human condition. Part 3 - Alchemy: The Noetic Science examines the empirical validity of alchemical theory and pursuit, addressing the viability of metallic transmutation, the theory of esoteric correspondences - the planet-metal connections - and how its animistic paradigm and principles of transformation might connect to more innovative, radical ideas emergent within the nomothetic disciplines. Alchemy, the alleged transmutation of base metals into precious ones, has long captured the human imagination, sometimes serving as a metaphor for other types of change. In the provocative book, Paul Kiritsis discusses the topic from several different perspectives, spanning various eras and cultures. from the chemical laboratories of ancient Greece, to the 'internal alchemy' of Eastern sages, to the psychological insights of Carl Gustav Jung, alchemy is a topic that never fails to delight and intrigue - as Dr, Kiritsis points out in this reader-friendly book, each chapter of which is an eloquently stated discussion of the topic. -- Professor Stanley Krippner, PhD., California Institute of Integral Studies Kiritsis looks upon or writes about various cults, ancient practices and curious locales with sympathy, understanding, and an open mind: yet, concomitant with this very high level of creativity and imagination comes an author and scholar's appreciation of science, credibility, and genuine research. -- Dr Paul Leon Masters, Founder/CEO of the IMM Kiritsis’ personal and quality research, active imagination, strong writing skills, as well as his specialized knowledge in metaphysical and esoteric topics make this book a rare and wonderful work of art. -- Nina Gatzoulis, Classics Lecturer, University of New Hampshire The writing and research both impress, and there are enjoyable finds herein... -- David Messineo, Editor/Publisher of Sensations Magazine A licensed medical psychologist with graduate degrees in clinical psychology, history, and English, Kiritsis expertly leads an interdisciplinary exploration of alchemy supported by a solid understanding of history, literature, and modern psychology. This analysis is backed by more than 150 scholarly footnotes that carefully balance astute commentary with an engaging writing style. The book does not overwhelm readers with academic jargon, and the text is accompanied by a wealth of visual aids, from historical drawings to full-color reproductions of art found in illustrated manuscripts. Even skeptics will find much to appreciate in this beautifully crafted work. A well-written, expertly researched analysis of the history and legacy of alchemy. -- Kirkus Reviews A thought-provoking and beautifully written work. -- Hereward Tilton, BA Hons. I, PhD, FHEA The Riddle of Alchemy is a dense and lavish text that elucidates a storied natural philosophy and protoscience, showing its creative influence on modern psychology. -- Foreword Clarion Review Paul Kiritsis, PsyD, MScMed, is a licensed medical psychologist living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has authored seven other books, including the creative compendium Confessions of a Split Mind (2017), the award-winning titles The Creative Advantages of Schizophrenia (2019) and A Critical Investigation into Precognitive Dreams (2020), and the collection of short stories Tales of a Spiritual Sun (2023). He is an avid reader of books in neuropsychology, neurology, philosophy of mind, history, esotericism, and mythology. He lives in Redwood City, CA.