Alchemy, an Overview

While for the modern individual the spiritual journey is often associated with long distance travel or, at least an intellectual exploration, of culturally and hereditarily foreign spiritual modalities and traditions, it needn't be this way.

From a practical perspective, one could say that delving into 'exotic' esoteric, or, mystical traditions is a necessary part of the inner evolutionarily transformational experience. After all, it is undeniable that any palpable shift in the geographical cultural and spiritual environments, would lead to an experiential broadening of the explorer's established, (at times rigidly or narrowly), conceptualization of life.

For those who cannot afford travel, and especially for those who are opened to becoming more mindful and interested in the 'detail', as opposed to the mundane and profane, and therefore more curious about what is truly 'essential', there is a path that is closely linked to 'home' -to one's heredity, culture, history and land.

This path is often concealed, shrouded in mystery and superstition, and as such often adhered to outside of all that which could be considered mainstream.

This path is called Alchemy.

Alchemy is a secretively sustained tradition that has spearheaded and inspired most scientific endeavors as we know them today. In fact, until humanity reached the 19th century, all scientific breakthroughs, revolutions and discoveries were achieved by either known, or 'closet' alchemists.

As such Alchemists have been behind the discovery of gun powder and ceramic in China, as well as behind the edification of most of what is the very table of elements currently used in chemistry.

Yet, as far as the mainstream scientific 'establishment' is concerned, Alchemy is just an archaic form of applied chemistry and physics, a pseudo-science riddled with superstition, myth and astrological nonsense.

Alchemy is actually an esoteric path that is associated historically to the most ancient spiritual traditions and currents.

As such, not only is it rooted in the most ancient 'naturist' spiritual traditions, such as those currently referred to, in a generalized manner, as 'shamanism', but Alchemy is also strongly connected to the most fundamental principles found in Tantra, Spiritual Yoga, Kabbalah and Sufism, as well as to the very teachings of all major spiritual teachers and prophets.

Yet, as a spiritual path, Alchemy is a highly empirical, individualistic and egalitarian one. Rooted in practical and palpable experience, as opposed to dogma, and blind faith, Alchemy is a path that is only for those who are willing to do the work, without any guarantee that the years, or decades spent on this path will lead to the desired outcome.

This desired outcome, the end destination of this spiritual quest, for all apprentice Alchemists is but a vague idea, an ideal, an attractor, and a deep yearning for 'complete reunification with the Divine while still alive', or as has been Alchemically described, e discovering 'the philosopher's stone', or 'the golden chalice', or 'the holy grail', or even the more misleading, 'turning lead to gold'.

What the alchemist is truly searching for is purity, the essential 'essence' out of which stems all of creation, and by which all things in creation are sustained and expressed. This essence, or quintessence is the 'light' of Source, spirit's 'light', or spirit's unchanging and unchangeable absolute 'truth'.

More than anything else, the alchemist yearns to know, or 'realize' God in everything; not just through majestic, breath-taking and awe-inspiring expressions, but also in the mundane, or 'profane', or 'gross', as in imperfection, in mud, in rubbish, in decay, in death.

As such, it can be said that the alchemist's inner-transformational journey is one that is expressed externally through palpable means and hard work, but whose only purpose it to lead the seeker from a state of spiritual disconnection and blindness, to one of spiritual 'grace', or 'enlightenment'.

Alchemy, A shared journey

My personal relationship to Alchemy has indirectly been established through my explorations of Tantra, spiritual Yoga, Astrology, Sufism and a number of 'naturist', or 'shamanic' traditions from the Americas.

Along this spiritually orientated journey, I was introduced to and molded by various fundamental principles specific to the inner-path within the Alchemical tradition. As such, I do not possess the skills, knowledge and experience that an alchemist who works with metals, fire and kern would have.

It must be clarified here that neither path is higher, or better, than the other. The inner-path is simply more suitable to my inner-making, which is highly 'airy', as in 'mental', or 'heady'. On the other hand, the path of the lab, kern, metals and fire, is best suited for inner-makings that are more 'fiery', 'action orientated', and 'energetically expressive'.

It is only in relation to the relative uniqueness of each individual human being that the nature one of these two inner-transformational path can be described as ideal , and most appropriate, if, and only if, it truly fits the inner-making of the spiritual seeker.

Here, the description of types of inner-makings is based on the four fundamental principles that define all of creation, often symbolized by the four elements 'Air, Fire, Water and Earth'.

The fifth element, (which is referred to as in all-pervading, all-connecting and all-supporting Ether, or Consciousness, in the east, and which has been somewhat dropped from the collective esoteric paradigm in the west), is the very element with which and through which all alchemists are aiming to be reintegrated.

With variations in spiritual methodologies existing to meet the unique and specific needs of all individuals, intentionally embarking on the most intuitively appropriate alchemical journey can be experienced as a highly accelerated and beneficial process within the spiritual evolutionary journeys of all those presently born through, and, living by Karmic and hereditary bonds of incarnation.

If you feel inspired to find out more about my experience along the Alchemical path, just give me a 'howler' by email at kfadali @ gmail . com.

I am grateful to share that which I've learned, as long as there is an understanding that no two spiritual evolutions are ever the same.

May you be connected to your higher wisdom and intelligence, and as such be truly empowered.