Finding the Philosopher's Stone

What is the Philosopher's Stone, and why has its pursuit endured for millennia? Join this livestream talk to find out.

What is the Philosopher's Stone, and why has its pursuit endured for millennia? Alchemy is a hybrid field where experimentation, imagination and devotion converge – its central quest, the Philosopher's Stone, has taken many forms across history: a substance, a process, a state of consciousness, an artistic or spiritual achievement.

What to expect

This talk moves through the architecture of alchemy – its symbolic systems, material experiments and metaphysical ambitions – tracing a lineage from the Hellenistic world to contemporary practice. You will explore the many forms the Philosopher's Stone has taken, and look closely at the strange methods alchemists devised in their attempts to realise it, from body modification to the drawing of sigils and encoded diagrams, and the use of fermented substances believed to harbour latent vital forces.

This online talk includes:

• An introduction to the history and architecture of alchemy, from the Hellenistic world to contemporary practice
• Exploration of the many forms the Philosopher's Stone has taken across history
• The symbolic and material methods alchemists used in pursuit of the Stone
• Reflection on alchemy as a hybrid field of experimentation, imagination and devotion
• An invitation into the ongoing, unfinishable nature of the alchemical quest

Who is this for?

This talk is for anyone curious about the history and symbolism of alchemy, and the deeper questions it raises about transformation, creativity and the pursuit of the impossible. No prior knowledge is necessary.

Book now to be invited into an ongoing, unfinishable pursuit – one that transforms the seeker as much as the sought, and suggests that the true "great work" may lie in our capacity to pursue the impossible.

Meet your presenter, Eliza Swann

Eliza Swann, also known as Emerald, is an interdisciplinary artist, writer and alchemist whose work explores mysticism and its relationship to contemporary arts practice. In 2014, they founded Golden Dome, a nonprofit art school for mystics dedicated to experimental creative education, and they currently serve on the faculty of Pratt Institute, where they teach alchemy. Eliza is the author of The Anatomy of the Aura (St. Martin's, 2020), Green Mary (Cosmic Dog House Press, 2024), and The Alchemical Imagination (Weiser/Red Wheel, 2026), which reawakens alchemy as a living creative practice for the present moment, illuminating overlooked female figures and queer symbolism within its history. Their work has been supported by the Warhol Foundation, the LA Department of Cultural Affairs and the Foundation for Contemporary Art, among others, making them a uniquely knowledgeable and creative guide into the world of alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone.

Live online with replay

This talk will be recorded. You will find the recording link in your College Account within two working days - an email will alert you when it is ready. The recording will be available for replay for three months following the event. Please see our terms for more information.