The Wisdom of Nicolas Flamel

     To those that actually know me, the realization that my interests are varied would be an understatement. Science fiction, fantasy, history, religion, politics, mythology and a myriad of other topics are a constant source of entertainment and enlightenment to me. My ‘adopted’ son, Julian, and I are constantly discussing the worlds we live in. By ‘worlds’ I mean the different places in history and mythology that have existed both literally and in the minds of mankind. Rarely do we discuss the present as that is a place that is in total chaos and is insufferable to a logical mind. When we do navigate the intricacies of today the historical aspects are always brought into play. After all, history repeats itself.

     This morning I was surfin’ the ‘net and realized that one person in history that I had not researched at all, other than to discuss his importance to the Harry Potter series, was Nicolas Flamel. Julian and I have discussed this man a few times but I never really researched his life. I found a treasure trove on one site: A Detailed Biography of Nicolas Flamel by Reginald Merton. I was amazed at the humility of a man that was supposed to be a legend. Flamel was a real historical figure in France. He was an alchemist. What his profession was is a little less interesting: a bookseller.  Wow! The man that allegedly possessed the ‘fictitious’ Philosopher’s Stone was a bookseller.

     According to Merton, Flamel was obsessed with immortality, alchemy and a book by a man known as Abraham the Jew, which he possessed through sheer chance but could not translate. He was obsessed with the desire for enlightenment and knowledge and this book contained it all if he could only understand the hieroglyphs it contained. He went to Spain to seek out a Jew that could help him (Jews had been driven out of France at this time). He found a man that helped him with the few pages he had copied and they decided to return to France to finish the job with the total book.

     As I said, Jews were banished from France at this time so the man converted to Catholicism so that he could travel to Flamel’s home. Unfortunately, this poor soul did not make the trip alive, dying and being buried in Orleans. Flamel continued on and translated the rest of the book, alone, with the knowledge the old Jew had given him. He learned the science of transforming metals into gold and did so, according to Merton, only three times in his lifetime. He detested the thought of having money but used it to contribute to the homeless, the poor; he built churches and convents and still lived a simple life as a bookseller. He died somewhere around 1418 and was buried alongside his wife, Pernelle. Years later the graves were opened to find them empty and legend has it that the two were never buried, that they were still alive in India, the home of enlightenment.

     Ok, so, here I have given you a very concise history of a legend in the fantasy world; a legend that actually did live, albeit in the 14^th and 15^th century and, presumably into the 18^th century. Why have I done this? I came up with some really good quotes, that’s why.

     “For everything good and great that happens to a man is the result of the co-ordination of his own voluntary effort and a malleable fate.

     “It is possible that beautiful fantasies which are pictured with love and sincerity may become realities in the dream of death.

     “To distinguish a man's superiority, there is but a single sign: a practical and not an alleged-contempt for riches. However great may be a man's active virtues or the radiant power of his intelligence, if they are accompanied by the love of money that most eminent men possess, it is certain that they are tainted with baseness. What they create under the hypocritical pretext of good will bear within it the seeds of decay. Unselfishness and innocence alone is creative, and it alone can help to raise man.”

     These three quotes are from Reginald Merton in A Detailed Biography of Nicolas Flamel. Each has its’ own earth-shattering truth to it, which I am planning on discussing. I know, BORING. Really? I think that each has its’ own merits on what is happening today and today is what I like to dissect most often. Here goes everything.

     The first quote contains a truth that a lot of people today cannot, or will not, even consider. That truth? You have to put effort into anything to get something back. What we have in America today is a bunch of little, whiny sissy girls that think they deserve to be given everything they want. We also have a government that thinks it is the answer to everything and if we give up our rights and freedoms it will be more than happy to give us everything we need. I watched a YouTube video of a woman, whose significant other had been put in jail, complain about how she could not support her, are you ready, FIFTEEN children. She stated that “somebody needs to take responsibility for these kids.” She thought that someone, other than herself, should support those kids that she had given birth to; fifteen little lives that she brought into this world, knowing full well about birth control. Why would anyone in their right mind do that? This is America not Africa. We have the means to keep this type breeding from happening. (That, my friends, is a whole other topic.)

     What the point of this tirade is about is this: Here is a woman, maybe in her late thirties, that expects someone to give her a living because she was too stupid to take precautions. This woman is not taking responsibility for her own life and will go nowhere because of that. She will not put in any effort of any kind. Thank you American politics and King Barack Obama.

     The second quote is more cryptic, more elusive. What, exactly, does Mr. Merton mean when he says that ‘fantasies become realities in the dream of death?’ Dream of death? Is he implying that when a person dies said person is not really dead? I believe that is exactly what he is saying. There are some cultures, some religions, that believe in reincarnation. For those that don’t understand that concept it is when a person ‘dies’ they are sent back into life as another to finish what they started: the path to enlightenment and knowledge. Until a person gains all there is to gain, knows all there is to know, spiritually, they continue to return to the land of the living after they pass.

     So, what about the fantasies becoming realities in that dream of death? My interpretation is this: All fantasy, all dreams, are obtainable. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. When a person ‘dies’, all fantasy is possible in that state of transition. The worlds a person can travel to in dreams are endless and when a person falls into that sleep of death, he/she dreams. While the dead are just that to us, the living, means nothing to that person that has passed from this world to the next. To them, they are just traveling from here to there and back again. When we dream, don’t those dreams seem real? Have you not woken up from a nightmare scared out of your wits? I know I have. Dreams are reality in a different form. Dream characters, locations, props if you will, are all metaphors from your own mind trying to tell you something. Dreams are just a metaphoric interpretation of reality, and death is just a dream while we are waiting to return to life to continue our journey to enlightenment.

     The last quote is the best as far as I am concerned. In a nutshell what Mr. Merton is saying is this: The LOVE of money, and power, is the root of all evil. It doesn’t matter how you act, it is what is in your heart that really matters. The Holy Bible, which so many people today believe in, says the same exact thing. The problem with that is most people misquote it to say, “Money is the root of all evil.” Solomon was a rich man, given those riches by God. Was he evil? Nope. He was also given all the knowledge of mankind by God because he was a selfless, virtuous man.

     What is in a person’s heart, their core beliefs and values, that is what makes that person. It isn’t their acts of valor or selflessness that count, it is the REASON behind those actions. Many, many corporations and philanthropists give millions and millions of dollars away to help less fortunate people out or to promote something good. Why? Why do they do that? It isn’t out of the goodness of their heart. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives billions away so that they can lower their taxes. Corporations give because it promotes their name and makes them look good to the spending public. This is just a couple of examples and there are thousands more.

     To live a selfless life you must give with no expectation of return. That is what makes a virtuous person. Mother Theresa was a saint, rightfully canonized by the Catholic Church simply because she gave everything she had of herself to help the poor and needy without any thought of herself or gaining anything from it. That is the best example I can think of that exemplifies the last quote of Mr. Merton. Selfless acts of love for the sake of love, nothing more. That is the measure of a person.

     Julian once asked me what the measure of a man was. At the time I really didn’t know how to answer him. I do now. The measure of a man is what is in his heart, Son. If there is kindness, empathy, love and devotion, respect and loyalty then you are a great man. If there is hatred, greed, vanity, disrespect and disloyalty then that is what your measure is. You, my son, are a great man. Your selflessness and empathy to those in need; your loyalty to those you love; your respect for everyone; the love and devotion you give so freely to those around you are all what makes you great. You are, though you hate to admit it, a kind and generous man that will continue to grow and be even greater. What is the measure of a man like you? More than most will ever come close to achieving.

     Hmmmm, went from the history of Nicolas Flamel to philosophizing to a personal message to someone I love dearly. Not bad for one blog post.