Just a quick note. There are a ridiculous amount of Alchemical writings that are packed with nonsense. It's min-boggling. So.....I think we're duty-bound to share with each other the available and published texts that are clearly written by an initiate. The ones with proper understanding of the substance and the goal. The one's I've found to be particularly solid are Philalethes, Ripley (especially his 12 Gates), Paul Foster Case, and Basil Valentine. Lu-Yen's Secret of the Golden Flower pretty much nails it as well. This is from the perspective of one working Hermetic Internal Alchemy, and not external analogical Alchemy. Which is still awesome and still effective; just not as effective nor as powerful in the working as direct Internal Alchemy...from what I've surmised. My primary Alchemical mentor has experience with Spagery, Internal Mineral, and External Mineral alchemies, and seems to have found value in the lot. For external alchemy, I can't imagine...