Chemistry Week 7

Silicon, SI has the atomic number 14.  Over 90% of the earths crust is made of silicate materials.  It is used in ceramics, cement and stucco, as well as, steel refining and aluminum casting.  It also makes up the basis of most computers, hence the name Silicon Valley.  Silicon is solid at room temp w a high boiling point and has more density in a liquid state than a solid one.  It makes up the skeleton in sea sponges and is essential in the human body to produce collagen and elastin.    
  



Alchemy – science, magic, art – or all three?
To me, it is all three.  It is the science of the natural world, how it magically transforms and changes shape and art is found in the reverence for this shift.   The symbolism and reverence in Alchemy can almost been seen as a spiritual path as well.  That brings up the question though, are chemistry and alchemy the same thing?  I feel that chemistry has taken the the art out of alchemy by taking it out of the natural world and into a lab.  And by substituting synthetic elements for natural ones.  I'm sure some could argue the opposite since synthetic elements are though up and made by the imagination of man.  I feel that nature has had it right all along and it is better to study and learn from her than to try and make synthetic replications.  

"Practice Non-Ado and everything will be in order"  It's that easy
It sure should be shouldn't it?  Unfortunately, our society's values have directed us so far from that.  There is little space and time put aside in the hectic pace of the western world to allow things to happen.  We live in a world of deadlines and due dates.  I spent my 20's traveling the world practicing non-ado and allowing the magic to happen however it wanted to.  Honestly, I never could have planned the things that happened better myself.  I always met the people that I was supposed to and was lead to the experiences that best served me.  I miss those times, now that I am running a business and putting myself through grad school.