There are no universal stages of alchemy as every soul experience is different, I've complied a list of stages I've personally gone thru.
1. Calcination
Calcination involved breaking down parts of ourselves that are in the way of our own happiness. In this modern society, we would often rather be "perfect" according to societies standards than be truly happy. This is why we often neglect exploring ourselves authentically.These calcination stage represent the state in our lives where we begin breaking down our self doubts, self sabotaging behaviors, stubbornness, fear, pride, arrogance and our egos. We are then able to find our what is underneath all that.
2. Dissolution
When we have broken down all of our own personality traits that were blocking us from self discovery, we then enter the process of dissolution which is the start of not associating with our false sense of self. Once we free ourselves from our own fears, self doubt and pride we can then observe our positive and negative traits objectively.
At this stage things rise to the surface to get released, causing us to become aware of how are own actions are not only affecting ourselves but others. We suddenly realize that we have been avoiding traumatizing memories and events or our inability to take responsibility for our own actions. This is the start of our spiritual maturity back to our self. Often times this stage is triggered by serious life events like: divorce, illness, job loss, bankrupcy, death and misfortunes. This makes us "stop and smell the roses"and stat paying attention to what we are really doing. Often we are avoiding ourselves and our problems with patterns like addictions to: alcohol, drugs, sex, codependency, workaholism, gambling, social media use, TV binging.
3. Separation
At this stage we take our emotions and thoughts and isolate them from other emotions and thoughts. For example, when we forgive someone we free our own hearts from past grief and resentment.The separation process includes becoming aware of our authentic feelings for ourselves or another person. Instead of reverting back to our old patterns of trying to "forgive and forget" because it is socially acceptable and comfortable to do, we honestly explore our frustration, disappointment or anger towards ourselves or another person. Separation is tied in with our own shadow work because we must allow our thoughts and feelings within us to rise to the surface. By doing this, we can isolate our character traits in order to authentically assess and see them for what they really are.
4. Conjunction
After the first three stages, we enter the conjunction phase where we properly combine the remaining elements within ourselves. The conjunction phase let's us go deep within our inner space for us to honestly accept all of the parts of our authentic self.
During this state of spiritual alchemy, all of our unconscious feelings and thoughts bubble up to the surface and into our conscious awareness.
5. Fermentation
Stage five is the beginning stage of our rebirth. For example this can be compared to the death of a grape which then turns into wine. The fermentation phase we begin to experience moments of our more "refined"authentic self.
There are two parts of this phase: putrefaction and spiritization. The first is a inner death which involved a decomposition of our former selves, where the old elements of our unconscious and conscious minds rot and decompose. This stage is also known as the dark night of the soul and is often followed by a spiritual depression.
The second stage, we begin to look at the world with a new set of spiritual eyes. When we do our own inner work and listen to our own inner guidance, we then learn to let go of all aspects of our lives and ourselves that no longer serve a purpose in our lives. For example, at this stage I said goodbye to my family members: my mom, my dad, my sister who are narcissist and were getting in my way of evolving. We experience moments of stillness and inner peace here.
6. Distillation
During this phase, we must integrate all of these spiritual realizations into our lives in order for them to become permanent. Distillation is a level of further purification within ourselves.
We experience a profound and strong inner transformation of peace and bliss here. This is called enlightenment or self realization in the East.
7. Coagulation
Coagulation is the stage where we have finally broken free from the mind and have connected to our higher consciousness or soul, to connect with the spirit.
This is the meeting point between two opposites like heaven and hell, life and death, black and white, the yin and the yang. At this point our existence becomes self aware, without duality where we become spirit and the spirit is us.
At this phase of coagulation, the physical universe is not separate from our mind, body, soul or spiritual reality. It is simply a reflection of it. This is also know as the mirror system.
Going thru alchemy is my greatest achievement to create an interrelationship between self and the universe and mind and matter!
Namaste ~ Paulina
FAQs
The Seven Stages of Alchemical Process; Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction, Fermentation, Distillation, and Coagulation. Symbolised by a more global spectrum of images but laced with traditional Alchemical symbols.
What are the spiritual elements of alchemy? ›
The three substances that all others consist of according to alchemical thought are known as the tria prima, or the three primes: the soul as sulfur, the spirit as mercury, and the body as salt.
What is spiritual alchemy? ›
Alchemy is far more than transforming metal into gold. It is the practice of inner transformation. We all have the potential to transform our lives, by aligning our thoughts, feelings, and actions with our highest and most authentic self. The ancient art of alchemy was the search for spirit in matter.
What is the number 7 in alchemy? ›
Remember that the number seven represents magical power in all of its strength. The Holy Seven is the Sanctum Regnum of Sexual Magic; the number seven is the Innermost served by all of the elemental forces of Nature. Every one who works with the Arcanum A.Z.F.
What is the black stage in alchemy? ›
In alchemy, nigredo, or blackness, means putrefaction or decomposition. Many alchemists believed that as a first step in the pathway to the philosopher's stone, all alchemical ingredients had to be cleansed and cooked extensively to a uniform black matter.
What is the one rule of alchemy? ›
Alphonse Elric : Human kind can not gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. In those days we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth.
What is the soul symbol in alchemy? ›
Sulfur or soul, the principle of combustibility: 🜍 ( ) Mercury or spirit, the principle of fusibility and volatility: ☿ ( ) Salt or body, the principle of non-combustibility and non-volatility: 🜔 ( )
What is spiritual transformation in alchemy? ›
Spiritual alchemy, then, is an ancient philosophy that uses the metaphor of transforming metals into gold for attaining spiritual enlightenment. It is used to achieve contentment, harmony, and awareness by liberating one's essence from one's acquired personality.
What is divine alchemy? ›
Alchemy is defined as a "divine secret" that is inherited from "our father Adam, who passed it on to his sons the wizards and the philosophers of Islam, through the honorable awliya' (saints) and the great prophets." The work goes on to divide alchemy into two sciences: the elixir, which deals with the "fixing of the ...
What is God in alchemy? ›
The central figure in the mythology of alchemy is Hermes Trismegistus (or Thrice-Great Hermes). His name is derived from the god Thoth and his Greek counterpart Hermes. Hermes and his caduceus or serpent-staff, were among alchemy's principal symbols.
While physical alchemy is concerned with altering and transforming the properties within matter, spiritual alchemy is concerned with freeing your spiritual self which is trapped within you by the unrefined parts of yourself such as your fears, personal beliefs, or self-loathing.
Is alchemy of souls magic? ›
She performs the alchemy of souls, magic that can change people's bodies and souls, which is forbidden in Daeho, and ends up being chased by Park Jin.
What does the number 7 mean spiritually? ›
In the metaphysical philosophy of numerology, the number 7 signifies the Greek deity Athena and the Roman deity Minerva, both goddesses of war and the city protectress. People affiliated with the number seven are believed to be insightful, intuitive, truthful, introspective, intellectual, and wise.
Why is the number 7 so powerful? ›
The Pythagoreans invested particular numbers with unique spiritual properties. The number seven was considered to be particularly interesting because it consisted of the union of the physical (number 4) with the spiritual (number 3). In Pythagorean numerology the number 7 means spirituality.
Why was alchemy kept secret? ›
But why was it illegal? There's a long association, for good reasons, between alchemy and counterfeiting. It's quite likely, actually, that medieval and early modern rulers were consciously employing alchemists to debase their own coinage.
What are the cycles of alchemy? ›
The Alchemical Process
- Alchemy is the process of transformation.
- Day 1. Calcination: The purifying fire.
- Day 2. Dissolution: Stirring the pot.
- Day3. Separation: The good and bad.
- Day 4. Conjunction: The point of no return.
- Day 5. Fermentation: Death & ressurection.
- Day 6. Distillation: Refinement in stages.
- Day 7.
Simplified, the aims of the alchemists were threefold: to find the Stone of Knowledge (The Philosophers' Stone), to discover the medium of Eternal Youth and Health, and to discover the transmutation of metals.
What are the 4 aspects of alchemy? ›
The pioneering medieval Arab alchemist, Jābir ibn Hayyān or Geber maintained the four classical elements of air, earth, fire, and water but added to them two new philosophical elements: sulphur and mercury.
What is the riddle of alchemy? ›
The Riddle of Alchemy is a dense and lavish text that elucidates a storied natural philosophy and protoscience, showing its creative influence on modern psychology. Paul Kiritsis's intricate text The Riddle of Alchemy surveys an esoteric field and enduring fascination with it.
