Spiritual Alchemy, and what the past has shown us

Alchemy; the art of transmuting base metals into gold. It was an art form steeped in mystery and which was a lifelong pursuit for those who chose to pursue it. It was a path with many twists and turns strewn with many unsuccessful experiments and failures. The path of Alchemy would often prove fruitless, with many men spending their entire lives hidden away in a dark, dingy basement mixing chemicals and powders hoping that this next concoction would provide them with the riches that they so desired. Although the process was futile for many, there have been a few alchemists throughout history who have said that they have achieved the seemingly impossible feat of turning base metals -such as lead -into gold. Alchemy as we know it was the predecessor to modern day chemistry, and many of the elements on the Periodic Table can be attributed to the experiments – both successful and unsuccessful – of the Alchemists of a bygone era.

The Art of Alchemy, which is still practiced by some today, had it’s heyday back in the middle ages- and was relegated to basements and to the underground because it was considered to be a Dark Art. Alchemy was not banned or illegal, but it was frowned upon by the church authorities. We must remember that in the Middle Ages and the Medieval period that the Church was the governing factor of all things. The Church and God were the highest authority in the land.

Now, Alchemy was also highly esoteric, and as well as being concerned with the transmutation of base metals into gold, it was also about one’s relationship with nature and the natural world. It took into account the four elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water – and the manipulation of these elements to produce the desired results. With this in mind, Alchemy was deemed heretical and at odds with the Church. Because as the church saw it, only God could command the elements…and certainly not a mere mortal… thus, why it was hidden from view by ordinary society. If we look at some of the alchemical symbolism, we can see that their language was highly symbolic, and conveyed esoteric knowledge. The Alchemist’s needed to shield their knowledge from the Church authorities, but was there another reason for this secrecy. It was as if the Alchemist’s were hiding a great secret. Was there something more to Alchemy than met the eye? Well, we also know that Alchemist’s were searching for the elixir of life which could extend a person’s life.

So, was this ‘life elixir’ something more than for this physical life. Was the art and language of the Alchemist’s so esoteric and difficult to decipher because within it was hidden a great secret that could only be known to the Alchemist’s themselves? It has always been a theory that Alchemy was an allegory for something much greater, and that was the search for our own soul. The search for our own Spiritual Self that would allow us to gain immortality through transcending our own mortality and realising our Spiritual Self. This is what Spiritual transformation really is.

 When we realise that we are part of all things and part of the Universe itself, we feel free and more at ease because we know that the trials and tribulations of the mortal world are relatively small in comparison, and don’t matter as much in the big scheme of things. This knowledge was why the Alchemist’s work was hidden, or occult, because it contained a knowledge that ordinary society might not be ready for. If we look at some of the artwork concerning Alchemy, we can see that it is highly symbolic and representative of the natural world. It also contains symbolism from Astrology and Tarot amongst other esoteric arts.

Today, the world is much more liberal in its outlook, and widely accepts Spirituality and the knowledge that we all have a Soul, although back in the Middle Ages and Medieval period it was highly dangerous to look beyond the views of the Church. We are very lucky in the modern age that life has changed and progressed, and differing views on Religion and Spirituality are highly accepted.

Keep Searching for your own elixir.

Peace and Love always,

Ben.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

There is a condition that pervades the global society, it isn’t a medical condition or an ailment, it is purely psychological, and it has come to be known as the ‘Nice Guy Syndrome’. As the tag states, it only affects men, but not all men, only some. What is this? Isn’t being a Nice Guy a good thing? Well that is a loaded question, and one which I would say yes to, although there is a ‘but’ in there. I also know through experience that being ‘nice’ isn’t always a good thing as some people can take advantage of that.

Nice Guy Syndrome is when a man is essentially a people-pleaser. He wants to keep everyone happy and not get on the wrong side of anybody. If this is the definition, I guess it means that if you are keeping everybody happy, you are not necessarily having your own needs met. The leading expert on Nice Guy Syndrome, Dr. Robert Glover, says in his book ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ that nice guys seek the approval of others, sacrifice their own personal power and often play the role of victim and are often disconnected from their own masculine energy. Wow, that says it all doesn’t it! Disconnected from their own Masculine energy. That should drive it home for all Men. What Man doesn’t want to be in touch with his own Masculinity?!  I always thought that being the nice guy was a good thing, and it wasn’t until it was brought to my attention that being nice can sometimes be taken advantage of. Sometimes you have to look out for no.1! 

It seems that people can almost sniff out the act of being nice, and as I said before it can be taken advantage of. This isn’t nice, and it is manipulative when another person does this, it seems that some people can almost smell the trait of ‘niceness’ on someone, and use this knowledge to satisfy their own needs or wants. One way of this happening is when it comes to women. Now, this doesn’t apply to all women of course, only some, and again it is to satisfy their own needs or wants. These desires could be emotional, physical or outright manipulative. Unless, a Man’s sexual orientation is for the same sex, Men love Women. That’s a given. So, sometimes in order for a Man to make an impression on the Woman he desires, he will do almost anything to please her, and to catch her eye. 

A woman can usually tell when a man has the hots for her, it is like a sixth sense. And depending on the Woman, she can use this to her advantage. It might be as simple and apparently innocent as feeding her emotional needs by allowing the Man to dote on her and treat her as a princess, or it might be a little bit more malicious, and she might use the Man by wrapping him around her little finger. But, who is at fault here? Essentially the man and woman are meeting each other’s needs. The Man feels wanted and is being with the one he desires, and the Woman’s emotional needs are being met.

From the above scenario, and what has been written about nice guys, it seems that they do -as they say- finish last, because they are basically being used. But, this isn’t to say that all Nice Guy’s are doormats. To be a nice guy is a trait, a part of the being that we are. One might call being a Nice Guy having good manners. An Individual still has strength of will, and this is another thing completely. Strength of Will is character defining. It is an individual’s outlook or belief that is dogged or cannot be changed. Other ways to describe this would be that of a person’s resolve or their iron will or their doggedness.

If you are a nice guy, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just don’t be defined by that. It is always important to have your own individuality and your own strength of will. Don’t be defined by someone or something else.

There is a lot more to Nice Guy Syndrome than has been mentioned here, I’ll write some more about it in another post. Until then, I highly recommend ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ by Dr. Robert A. Glover. Much will be clarified on this societal trend, why it has come about and what we can do to change it.

Be safe and healthy,

Ben.

References

https://goodmenproject.com/guy-talk/breaking-down-the-nice-guy-syndrome-mlyd/

RA Glover, No More Mr Nice Guy, 2000.