Psychic Sauce

Join Eliza Swann for "Psychic Sauce: Alchemy and Distillation," a two-hour hands-on workshop that explores alchemical techniques for distilling plants to capture their essence. We will discuss the principles of alchemy, the role of distillation in this practice, the doctrine of signatures, and explore some alchemical plant communication techniques. We will distill a selection of plants from the Le Petit Versailles Garden, and everyone will leave with a bottle of floral spritz made from the garden's plants. This talk is designed to welcome everyone into a discipline that often seems inscrutable and outdated - all people with any level of interest or experience with alchemy are encouraged to join.

Eliza Swann, aka Emerald, is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in New York. They are the authors of The Anatomy of the Aura (St. Martin's, 2020), Green Mary (Cosmic Dog House Press, 2024), and The Alchemical Imagination (Weiser/Red Wheel, 2026.). Their writing has appeared in many places, including BOMB, Arthur, Contemporary Art Review LA, and Momus. Eliza is currently faculty at Pratt Institute, where they teach literature and alchemy. Eliza received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London. Eliza is also the founder of the Golden Dome and now the Emerald School of Alchemical Arts, alternative mystery schools that explore the mystical dimensions of art. Emerald School produces exhibitions, performances, classes, and publications throughout the year.

Event Venue

Le Petit Versailles Garden, 247 East 2nd Street, New York, United States