I want to be an alchemist!

I've always thought it beautiful. The art of alchemy. I should probably categorize it as a "science" - given that it is the precursor to modern chemistry. But its the "idea" of the alchemist that interests me. He is an artist. Striving to better humanity by finding the Elixir of Life or the Philosopher's Stone sounds like a quest for Harry Potter but really, actually, men lived who slaved and passed days and years trying to get that proper concoction which would bring eternal life or turn all things tarnished into gold.

Now...chemists have developed a way of "creating" gold. Of course, it turns out that the means for creating such synthetic gold is far more costly than having the world go about its processes, churning its insides and spewing gold in its bowels. But! The idea of the alchemist and what he strives for is what makes me swoon over him. A lifetime devotion to something which is impossible to achieve, which cannot be had - eternal life and that substance that will turn all into gold do not exist, they never have. Faith or a marketable idea might be an answer to these things. But the alchemists I am thinking of hid their ideas in fear that the church or some other "leader" might crucify them for dabbling in these black arts which really strove to help mankind.

They created codes to hide their secrets. Some to hide their possible formula for wealth but others, mostly to protect themselves from the Big Brother of their time.

I think the alchemists of today are very much the writers and artists who strive to create something "golden". Sometimes doing so means stepping on the toes of others but usually these others are giant corporations or governments whose feet are too big to begin with. Who trample upon the lives of others without so much as a glance down to see what devestation is caused by their business. Artists, like the alchemists, take the dreary, the mundane, and the ugly and wield their skills to create something much more beautiful. They take the things of life and offer up their views in code which some can decipher and others cannot.