The True History
Of Dicyanin
The discovery of Dicyanin dye, facts & fallacies about
the chemical, its importance in viewing the aura, and it's forgotten role in scientific research.
What is Dicyanin?
Dicyanin (German Dizyanin) was a synthetic coal tar dye developed by the Höchst dye works near Frankfurt by the company Farbwerke vorm. Meister Lucius & Brüning in the late 1800's.
Its earliest discovery was described by chemist Carl Beyer in his
1886 article “Ueber α-γ-Dimethylchinolin und die Synthese des Cincholepidins und des γ-Phenylchinaldins” in the Journal Für Praktische Chemie (1886).
Dicyanin was originally noted as a possibility for use in textile manufacturing when it was found that it could dye silk and wool indigo thus potentially replacing costly natural sources. Despite this, it quickly found value in the scientific world because it could sensitize photographic plates toward the red and near-infrared region. It's use in photography began as early as 1905.
The dye was always difficult and costly to manufacture but found a following in niche scientific circles for experiments in optics such as the aura viewing experiments undertaken by Dr. Walter J. Kilner. This is the form of commercial German Dicyanin most likely used by Dr. Kilner in his Kilner screens rather than the later ethoxy substituted Dicyanin A.
On This Page
( Click The Links Above To Skip To Section )
Is Dicyanin "Banned"?
No, Dicyanin is not "banned". It is a fact that there are no laws, statues, rules, or controlled substance style prohibitions anywhere in US or International law targetingthe original Höchst Dicyanin or Dicyanin A.
The "Dicyanin is banned" story is creepypasta and social media folklore.
This logical fallacy appeared a few years ago when Dicyanin based
conspiracy stories started to gain popularity on the internet via outlets
such as Reddit and 4Chan.
These baseless claims always come with a logical fallacy called "shifting the burden of proof" that happens when someone makes a claim without evidence, then demands that you disprove it instead of them proving it. So, the next time you hear someone make a claim about dicyanin being illegal, ask them to prove it by providing a law, rule, statute, etc. that shows it. Then you will see them tap dance around the issue because they can't - no such law exists.
Dicyanin is difficult but not impossible to obtain with the correct business relationship. Like buying parts for a Model T Ford, it's an old, outdated niche product, expensive, hard to manufacture, and superseded by better photographic sensitizers. Most chemical manufacturing companies simply won't produce it because it's not worth it for them in a business sense.
Like any chemical it is subject to ordinary chemical supplier restrictions, research or manufacturing use only sale, shipping documentation requirements, SDS requirements, import controls, etc. but that's just the nature of doing business, not a mysterious ban by "the powers that be".
As a manufacturer, Museum of Tarot has an established business
relationship with our suppliers which negates any supply issues
Is Dicyanin Dangerous?
Again, No. Not particularly.
That is more urban legend. People who speculate about imaginary bans also fill in imaginary reasons for those bans with no actual research or proof.
Published Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the original Höchst Dicyanin and the later Dicyanin A show that they are both relatively safe and not considered hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard of 2024.
But to Höchst Dicyanin in its original chemical or liquid state is still a laboratory chemical and as a general rule should be treated as "potentially hazardous" and not used for food, drug, or cosmetic use but that is not something anyone reading this will ever need to deal with. We are not chemical retailers and do not and will not offer any chemicals for sale.
Our Museum of Tarot Dicyanin Aura Goggles™ are 100% safe with regular handling and experimental use.
What Color Is Dicyanin?
Violet.
Along with the various Dicyanin narratives in the conspiracy world there is always mention of red or blue "Dicyanin" lenses. These are more urban legends. They never existed.
Dr. Kilner's Höchst Dicyanin used for aura viewing is violet, as stated by it's discoverer Carl Beyer in 1886, Dicyanin is:
"...eine feste dunkelmetallglänzende Masse, die sich in Alkohol mit prächtig violett Farbe löst. Diese Lösung färbt Seide und Wolle intensiv violett"
"...a solid mass with a dark metallic luster that dissolves in alcohol to produce a magnificent violet color; this solution dyes silk and wool an intense violet."
Due to the difficulty in obtaining Dicyanin even in Dr. Kilner's time he and others interested in aura viewing experimented with other more readily available substances such as pinacyanol, blue and green glass, red carmine, etc. yet none of those experiments worked.
The unique spectral properties of violet Dicyanin make it the most
effective aura viewing agent that has been found to date.
The Two Dicyanins?
In the conspiracy world people have often speculated about Dr. Kilner's use of two different "Dicyanins" - the original German "Höchst Dicyanin" from 1886 and the later "Dicyanin A".
We will put that speculation to rest stating simply that "Dicyanin A" was created due to the difficulty in finding the original Höchst Dicyanin due to World War 1 and there is no reference of is existence before 1920.
Dr. Kilner published his book in 1911 and began his work on aura viewing as early as 1907. Dr. Kilner died in 1920. Therefore, he was not using Dicyanin A during his original work, and there is no indication he ever used it before he passed away.
Also, there are some technical issues. The core difference is chemical substitution. Dicyanin A is the 6,6′-diethoxy derivative of Dicyanin, and that change alters the dye’s absorption and photographic sensitizing behavior. In historical photographic use, Dicyanin A was treated as a newer, distinct sensitizer rather than simply another name for Dicyanin. Dicyanin A is still being used on a limited basis in photography, but it is a completely different product than the original Höchst Dicyanin.
At first glance Höchst Dicyanin and Dicyanin A may look and sound like similar dyes (the former being violet and the latter blue green) but they differ greatly in their ability to block and transmit light (spectral filtering). Dicyanin A does not sensitize the eyes like the original violet Höchst Dicyanin used by Dr. Kilner.
Simply put, blue or blue-green lenses made of any substance including Dicyanin A are useless for aura viewing.
shop Our Dicyanin Aura GoggleS™
Product Line now
Articles About
Dicyanin aura goggles
