Alchemy is in scientific terms, is a process in which one turns base metals into gold by removing impurities. It was believed that when an impurity is transmuted the base metal returns to its pure essence, gold. This is of course never been proven and its now know as an ancient scientific practice that most believe lives solely in old text books. It is because of this that most of us have no idea what real alchemy is and how it plays a role in our everyday lives.
Like other sciences, early alchemists used scientific processes, techniques that could be replicated in a lab. But unlike other sciences, you cannot separate the scientific process of alchemy from hermetic principals and spirituality. Those principals and spiritual truths are the basis upon which alchemy stands. Most of us have never heard this side of the story due to the fact science and spirituality are now believed to be completely separate subjects.
When alchemy was first discovered this was not the case. Many of the times great scientist where great because of their quest for answers, and their openness to the many different subjects that could supply these answers. Many of them were in fact very spiritual people. They believed that alchemy could not be done unless you were enlightened, so to speak. There would be no hope of you transcending the fixed properties of the physical dimension so as to transform something like ordinary metal into gold without gaining access to the higher truths of this universe through spiritual practice and mastery.
Alchemy is much more than changing a metal into gold. The true purpose of alchemy is to liberate a physical substance from its "fixed" physical properties. To understand this you have to understand that nothing in this universe is actually fixed. Anything we perceive as a certain thing appears that way because its an agreed upon perception of that energy. The energy that makes up a cup is seen as a cup because we all agree that it is a cup. All physical laws in our universe are an agreed upon set of perceptions.
Spiritually this can be a valuable tool to anyone seeking transformation in their lives. Alchemy can be used to create a better reality and change beliefs that damage our lives. Spiritually, alchemy is a process of transforming consciousness. This is different then the process of enlightenment because, instead of transcending the self, we aim to know the self—our whole self, including what Carl Jung called the shadow. When we integrate these shadows one can grow more spiritually. Every negative imprint that has occurred in your life is there only so you can recognize its opposite.
The alchemical process of transformation has been variously described, as being a six-stage process, 12 stage, 20, 22, 50, and even 75 stage process! However, it is possible to understand the alchemical process in terms of four basic stages, this being most useful when starting out as an "alchemical beginner" and in trying to relate it to the psycho-therapeutic process.
Like other sciences, early alchemists used scientific processes, techniques that could be replicated in a lab. But unlike other sciences, you cannot separate the scientific process of alchemy from hermetic principals and spirituality. Those principals and spiritual truths are the basis upon which alchemy stands. Most of us have never heard this side of the story due to the fact science and spirituality are now believed to be completely separate subjects.
When alchemy was first discovered this was not the case. Many of the times great scientist where great because of their quest for answers, and their openness to the many different subjects that could supply these answers. Many of them were in fact very spiritual people. They believed that alchemy could not be done unless you were enlightened, so to speak. There would be no hope of you transcending the fixed properties of the physical dimension so as to transform something like ordinary metal into gold without gaining access to the higher truths of this universe through spiritual practice and mastery.
Alchemy is much more than changing a metal into gold. The true purpose of alchemy is to liberate a physical substance from its "fixed" physical properties. To understand this you have to understand that nothing in this universe is actually fixed. Anything we perceive as a certain thing appears that way because its an agreed upon perception of that energy. The energy that makes up a cup is seen as a cup because we all agree that it is a cup. All physical laws in our universe are an agreed upon set of perceptions.
Spiritually this can be a valuable tool to anyone seeking transformation in their lives. Alchemy can be used to create a better reality and change beliefs that damage our lives. Spiritually, alchemy is a process of transforming consciousness. This is different then the process of enlightenment because, instead of transcending the self, we aim to know the self—our whole self, including what Carl Jung called the shadow. When we integrate these shadows one can grow more spiritually. Every negative imprint that has occurred in your life is there only so you can recognize its opposite.
The alchemical process of transformation has been variously described, as being a six-stage process, 12 stage, 20, 22, 50, and even 75 stage process! However, it is possible to understand the alchemical process in terms of four basic stages, this being most useful when starting out as an "alchemical beginner" and in trying to relate it to the psycho-therapeutic process.
Stage One: Nigredo or "Blackening"
In the first stage the fire is "slow and mild" as of the flesh or "embryo," gradually helping to bring about the first stage of the work, culminating in the earthly nigredo or "blackening." This stage involves a purification of the earthly nature in us. From a psychological standpoint, this stage is experienced as entering a dark and chaotic unconscious inner world. St John of the Cross has referred to this as the first of two dark nights,the dark night of the mind, which is an encounter with the darker aspects of our self.
The water element symbolizes the emotions that we experience in encountering and letting go of such attachments - fear, anger, grief, etc. - emotions we need to encounter and survive, experiencing them in order to become free of them and so move on to the next stage. Thus it is that when the unconscious earth nature in us is first awakened we initially experience negative thoughts and feelings. Once we have overcome the unconscious identifications, the thoughts and feelings become positive, i.e. the world no longer threatens our real self because we are free of it and we can choose when and how we integrate the world into out self (rather than our self becoming absorbed and lost in the world). When we enter the unconscious we often experience these emotions in terms of water images such as the sea, or a lake or a river. This is also a sign that we are beginning to "flow along" with our inner process, i.e. we have let go of our attachment to the solid outer world (earth element) and are following our feelings.
In the first stage the fire is "slow and mild" as of the flesh or "embryo," gradually helping to bring about the first stage of the work, culminating in the earthly nigredo or "blackening." This stage involves a purification of the earthly nature in us. From a psychological standpoint, this stage is experienced as entering a dark and chaotic unconscious inner world. St John of the Cross has referred to this as the first of two dark nights,the dark night of the mind, which is an encounter with the darker aspects of our self.
The water element symbolizes the emotions that we experience in encountering and letting go of such attachments - fear, anger, grief, etc. - emotions we need to encounter and survive, experiencing them in order to become free of them and so move on to the next stage. Thus it is that when the unconscious earth nature in us is first awakened we initially experience negative thoughts and feelings. Once we have overcome the unconscious identifications, the thoughts and feelings become positive, i.e. the world no longer threatens our real self because we are free of it and we can choose when and how we integrate the world into out self (rather than our self becoming absorbed and lost in the world). When we enter the unconscious we often experience these emotions in terms of water images such as the sea, or a lake or a river. This is also a sign that we are beginning to "flow along" with our inner process, i.e. we have let go of our attachment to the solid outer world (earth element) and are following our feelings.
Stage Two: Albedo or "Whitening"
Just as stage one is called the earthly encounter, so stage two is called the stage of the moon. This requires a further purification of our psyche and a receptivity to our soul nature, which originally incarnated free of worldly impressions, of the family, the environment, and society. Becoming conscious of our soul nature is the first real step in answering the question "who am I?" Alchemical texts speak of the soul now becoming conscious of itself by becoming aware of its own-light nature - the reflected light, symbolized by the moon, and discovers the source of its life and light, which is pure spirit. It is this "spirit," sometimes referred to as the "waters of life," which-enables the neophyte to transcend through the realms of the psyche and to enter higher dimensions.
Just as stage one is called the earthly encounter, so stage two is called the stage of the moon. This requires a further purification of our psyche and a receptivity to our soul nature, which originally incarnated free of worldly impressions, of the family, the environment, and society. Becoming conscious of our soul nature is the first real step in answering the question "who am I?" Alchemical texts speak of the soul now becoming conscious of itself by becoming aware of its own-light nature - the reflected light, symbolized by the moon, and discovers the source of its life and light, which is pure spirit. It is this "spirit," sometimes referred to as the "waters of life," which-enables the neophyte to transcend through the realms of the psyche and to enter higher dimensions.
Stage Three: Citrinitas or "Yellowing"
Alchemists refer to Citrinitas as the stage of the sun, or the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in our Being. Now the light is no longer reflective as in the lunar or soul light. Its nature is direct and it is all pervading (we do not experience it as having a source). This light is "great and strong, as ofa calcining fire." It is sometimes referred to as the original Light or the Light that is pure, creative Intelligence. Some alchemical texts describe it as the Divine Intellect (as distinct from the human,mental intellect). It is said that the only true knowledge is revealed to us when this Light becomes conscious in us. Now in describing the second stage, mention was made only of an alchemical marriage and are birth. Stage three begins with the "yellow death," i.e. there is a dying away of the "lunar light" to the point of complete darkness, which is in fact "black light," a light so bright we cannot see it as our inner sight is veiled and it appears as darkness. St. John of the Cross speaks of this in a personal account of his own "Dark Night of the Soul." This "death" is also described from a Buddhist point of view as a death of the sense of self as being a separate individual. It is a complete dying of the dualistic state of mind that perceives subject and object as separate.
Alchemists refer to Citrinitas as the stage of the sun, or the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in our Being. Now the light is no longer reflective as in the lunar or soul light. Its nature is direct and it is all pervading (we do not experience it as having a source). This light is "great and strong, as ofa calcining fire." It is sometimes referred to as the original Light or the Light that is pure, creative Intelligence. Some alchemical texts describe it as the Divine Intellect (as distinct from the human,mental intellect). It is said that the only true knowledge is revealed to us when this Light becomes conscious in us. Now in describing the second stage, mention was made only of an alchemical marriage and are birth. Stage three begins with the "yellow death," i.e. there is a dying away of the "lunar light" to the point of complete darkness, which is in fact "black light," a light so bright we cannot see it as our inner sight is veiled and it appears as darkness. St. John of the Cross speaks of this in a personal account of his own "Dark Night of the Soul." This "death" is also described from a Buddhist point of view as a death of the sense of self as being a separate individual. It is a complete dying of the dualistic state of mind that perceives subject and object as separate.
Stage Four: Rubedo or "Reddening"
In stage four, the alchemist awakens to the desire to return to the earth and to fully incarnate his other state of "illuminated" consciousness into the mind and body. To achieve this, a purifying fourth fire, "burning and vehement, as of fusion," must be used to bring about a new coagulation of spirit and matter. The culmination of stage three leaves the alchemist completely free in a state of Pure Spirit, Pure Intelligence, beyond space, time and form but without a consciousness of body or mind. Thus the death or "Red death" at the start of stage four involves the death of the freedom inherent in this state and the death of the conscious state of Pure Spirit (and Pure Intelligence) as an individual soul that desires to be embodied without the sense of separation from its original pure state. It is only when the soul is finally incarnated in the mind/body (psyche) that it can realize its state of spiritual completeness. Heaven and earth in the alchemist are now united.
Furthermore the process is incomplete and inherently unstable at the end of stage three as there is no body or psyche as a vehicle to incarnate into, and the mind/body will suffer the fate of eventually regressing backwards towards its original impure, leaden state. However, spirit is not meant to incarnate into the old (leaden) state of mind/body as there would be no purpose in the process if this happened, i.e. the consciousness would revert back to its leaden state or worse still,split off from the psyche and the alchemist would be left in an internally split state. So the psyche needs to be awakened - "Materially spiritualized" is the term used - so that it can be an appropriate vehicle for the soul to incarnate into, i.e. the psyche can now express the soul's qualities and nature because the psyche has become of the same nature as the soul.
This uniting of the spirit/soul with the mind/body represents the final and most important alchemical marriage. Now the anima becomes the Mother of God, or Consort of God, the object of mystic love. The corresponding animus figures are Illuminated Ones - Christ, Buddha, the Saints, etc. What this means is that God consciousness, in being born into the world of the earth, realizes its God like nature consciously - as an enlightened, transcendental individual and in a state of oneness with the Cosmic whole. This then is the philosopher's stone that the alchemist has been seeking for. It is the grand culmination of the Great Work.
This work of spiritual alchemy brings a deep healing of the splinters in our careers, our lifestyles and our emotional bodies. Integrating your shadow aspects will give you back the power to control your life. You will also notice that things like meditation and astral projection become easier and more controlled. Its hard to put into word how much of a difference it makes to be in control of your reality. You won't feel forced through life you will find life flows through you. That's why so many spiritual teachers are starting to teach more about shadow aspects and self-acceptance. These concepts are important to understand if you want to connect with your higher self or source energy.
Have a nice day!!!
In stage four, the alchemist awakens to the desire to return to the earth and to fully incarnate his other state of "illuminated" consciousness into the mind and body. To achieve this, a purifying fourth fire, "burning and vehement, as of fusion," must be used to bring about a new coagulation of spirit and matter. The culmination of stage three leaves the alchemist completely free in a state of Pure Spirit, Pure Intelligence, beyond space, time and form but without a consciousness of body or mind. Thus the death or "Red death" at the start of stage four involves the death of the freedom inherent in this state and the death of the conscious state of Pure Spirit (and Pure Intelligence) as an individual soul that desires to be embodied without the sense of separation from its original pure state. It is only when the soul is finally incarnated in the mind/body (psyche) that it can realize its state of spiritual completeness. Heaven and earth in the alchemist are now united.
Furthermore the process is incomplete and inherently unstable at the end of stage three as there is no body or psyche as a vehicle to incarnate into, and the mind/body will suffer the fate of eventually regressing backwards towards its original impure, leaden state. However, spirit is not meant to incarnate into the old (leaden) state of mind/body as there would be no purpose in the process if this happened, i.e. the consciousness would revert back to its leaden state or worse still,split off from the psyche and the alchemist would be left in an internally split state. So the psyche needs to be awakened - "Materially spiritualized" is the term used - so that it can be an appropriate vehicle for the soul to incarnate into, i.e. the psyche can now express the soul's qualities and nature because the psyche has become of the same nature as the soul.
This uniting of the spirit/soul with the mind/body represents the final and most important alchemical marriage. Now the anima becomes the Mother of God, or Consort of God, the object of mystic love. The corresponding animus figures are Illuminated Ones - Christ, Buddha, the Saints, etc. What this means is that God consciousness, in being born into the world of the earth, realizes its God like nature consciously - as an enlightened, transcendental individual and in a state of oneness with the Cosmic whole. This then is the philosopher's stone that the alchemist has been seeking for. It is the grand culmination of the Great Work.
This work of spiritual alchemy brings a deep healing of the splinters in our careers, our lifestyles and our emotional bodies. Integrating your shadow aspects will give you back the power to control your life. You will also notice that things like meditation and astral projection become easier and more controlled. Its hard to put into word how much of a difference it makes to be in control of your reality. You won't feel forced through life you will find life flows through you. That's why so many spiritual teachers are starting to teach more about shadow aspects and self-acceptance. These concepts are important to understand if you want to connect with your higher self or source energy.
Have a nice day!!!