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.