ALCHEMICAL SOPHIA: Goddess of the Great Art with Eliza Swann

Live at The Hypnotist
Brooklyn, NY
*address provided after sign-up

In medieval Europe, alchemists referred to their work—encompassing science, mysticism, and creativity—as “The Great Art,” and for good reason. In alchemy, the spiritual and material worlds are deeply interconnected, which allowed alchemists to think innovatively across disciplines. This holistic approach led to some of the most significant technological and creative breakthroughs of their time. Alchemists also called themselves the Philosophers of Fire, with “philosopher” meaning “lover of wisdom” (from the Greek philosophia). They also referred to themselves as the Children of Sophia, drawing upon the Goddess of Wisdom, Sophia, as the source of their knowledge and the foundation of the Great Art. This lecture will provide an overview of alchemy and explore the evolution of Sophia within the alchemical tradition, from her roots in the Hellenistic world to her role in the Renaissance as the embodiment of wisdom, the World Soul, and the Holy Spirit. The talk is open to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with alchemy. Please stay after to chat and share tea with fellow magicians and artists.

Eliza Swann (aka Emerald) is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in New York. They are the author of The Anatomy of the Aura (St Martin’s Press, 2020), Green Mary (Cosmic Dog House, 2024), and The Alchemical Imagination (Weiser, 2026). Their work has been published in BOMB, Arthur, Contemporary Art Review LA, and other outlets, with essay contributions to books like Witchcraft (Taschen) and Modern Witches (Weiser). Eliza holds a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Central St. Martins, London. They are faculty at Pratt Institute, where they teach literature and alchemy. Eliza is also the founder of the Golden Dome, a foundation dedicated to the relationship between art and mysticism. They recently established the Emerald School of Alchemical Arts dedicated to contemporary studies of alchemy.