The idea behind this image was purely nonconceptual. This of course did not last long.

Early into the creation of this etching, the Saul Williams line “the heart is the philosophers stone” kept repeating in my head. This seemed like a good enough reason to title the piece.

The philosophers stone is a mythical idea which derives from ancient alchemy. In alchemy, one was able to take common material and turn it into gold with the help of a single ingredient, the philosophers stone. The alchemist is to transform all material into gold, which was considered to be the highest form of the mineral family. This is equal to that of how Jesus was to transform all individuals into their highest state of being. Both of which were taken literally and resulted in misinterpretation and death.

The heart is symbolic of the center. You often hear the phrase “at the heart of it all.” Above the heart you have mind/intellect while below you have hunger/desire. The heart is a center through balance and moderation.

This also symbolizes the axis mundi, the unmovable spot. Buddha gained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree which was symbolic of axis mundi. The tree symbol itself symbolizes this through most all religions through the World Tree. In Christianity it mythologically takes the form of two trees in the Tree of Knowledge (enlightenment) and/or the Tree of Life (immortality).

In esoteric Christianity the symbol of the cross is the axis mundi, which is the center/separator of dualities. With the cross the horizontal bar raised higher so that when lined up with the body the center is found in the heart region.

In Kundalini yoga, the fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra. This is the center of compassion. The symbol for this is the combination of two vertical arrows forming a shape identical to that of the Star of David. Reason for this shape is to symbolize balance and moderation. The Heart Chakra is located identical with the Sacret Heart on Jesus, another symbol of compassion.

In Kabbalah, the Tiphareth is the heart center on the Sephiroth (Tree of Life).  It represents balance and harmony and in considered the center of being.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the om mani padme hum calls upon Chenrezig, the Embodiment of Compassion. A very loose translation of the mantra can be “Behold the Jewel of the Lotus.” This basically states that enlightenment is here and now. It is within, not external.

Returning back to Alchemy, the heart is symbolic of the sun. The sun is symbolic of gold. So by simple reasoning, the heart is equal to gold. It is not an external factor. Philosophy (love of wisdom) is the process of discovering gold.

Enlightenment is here and now. Just as Aristotle spoke of moderation and Taoists speak of balance, the center where dualities are no longer present is where it takes place. Salvation lies within, and by living with harmonic balance one is capable of reaching this state.

The heart is gold. The heart is the philosophers stone.