7 Mystical Stages Of Spiritual Alchemy You Need To Know For Your Awakening!

 / 

, ,
Spiritual Alchemy Powerful Stages of Spiritual Awakening

Do you think alchemy is about turning ordinary metal into gold? The following article on the 7 stages of spiritual alchemy dispels such notions by delving deep into this topic.

For centuries, alchemy has become synonymous with gaining wealth and immortality. But this perception of alchemy is largely misguided: it stems from confusing the metaphors of original alchemy with reality. Alchemy, as a result, became a pseudo-science of transforming lead into gold.

These days, alchemy is thought of as something quaint, even a little occult; a relic of the dark ages. But there is tremendous wisdom to be found within this obscure, archaic philosophy.

Contrary to popular belief, alchemy is not about transmuting base metals into gold โ€“ instead, itโ€™s the secret science of illumination, inner liberation, and awakening to your True Nature.

What is Spiritual Alchemy? (Definition)

One has to cross the 7 stages of spiritual alchemy to transform their soul into gold

Aurum Nostrum Non Est Aurum Vulgi: Our gold is not common gold. โ€“ Alchemist saying

Whether you understand alchemy as a science or as a type of spiritual psychology, alchemy is ultimately concerned with transformation and change.

While physical alchemy is concerned with altering and transforming the properties within matter, spiritual alchemy is concerned with freeing your spiritual self which is obscured within you by the unrefined parts of your ego (e.g., your fears, personal beliefs, self-loathing, etc.)

When it comes to physical alchemy versus spiritual alchemy, spiritual alchemy is vastly more multi-faceted. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of spiritual alchemy is its objective: to free you from your core wounds, core beliefssoul loss, and other self-destructive personality structures in order for you to live freely and joyfully.

Existing in โ€œpure being,โ€ spiritual Oneness, or Soul-centered awareness is the ultimate state of transformation; the gold of spiritual alchemy. This is a process that attempts to restructure your personality and the various levels of attachment, avoidance, and identification that you possess.

These days, we can thank famous 20th-century psychiatrist C. G. Jung for their contribution to the deepening interest in alchemy.

In fact, much of his theory is heavily steeped in the rich symbolism of alchemy, creating a colorful and sophisticated roadmap by which we can learn to get ourselves โ€œout of our own way,โ€ stop being our own enemies and allow our fullest potential to unfold.

Read: 9 Qualities Of A Spiritual Warrior

Jung, Symbolism, and The Science of Transformation

The 7 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy Leads To Self-Actualization

As mentioned above, renowned Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung is commonly recognized as the main advocate and promoter of alchemy. He pointed out that he would notice many of the symbols found in alchemy texts mysteriously showing up in the dreams of his patients โ€“ most of whom had no prior knowledge of alchemy.

Jung also concluded that alchemy was a superb way of expressing the universal symbols of life, and was, therefore, a highly effective tool for psychological insight.

In his own words, he wrote,

Alchemy has performed for me the great and invaluable service of providing material in which my experience could find sufficient room, and thereby made it possible for me to describe the individuation process at least in its essential aspects.

Three Powerful Spiritual Alchemy Symbols

Materia Prima, The Philosopherโ€™s Stone, and Gold are the three most powerful and commonly known symbols relating to alchemy.

Materia Prima (or โ€œfirst matterโ€), is an Alchemic symbol that reflects the notion that all the universe originated from a primitive, formless base.

The idea of โ€œMateria Primaโ€ can be traced back to Aristotle who understood that thereโ€™s a force that holds all other forms in existence together but is itself invisible โ€“ these days, we refer to it as โ€œSpirit.โ€

Materia Prima, as the invisible womb or unseen force, is a field of pure potential that can only come into existence when it is embodied within a โ€œform.โ€

In alchemy, the Materia Prima or primal material is that which is left over after we have reduced matter into its purest essence. This process is a powerful psychological symbol because it describes the internal experience of arriving at a โ€œcore realization,โ€ or in other words becoming aware of the root cause of a belief or trauma within us.

By working with the Materia Prima of our inner selves, we can go on a journey to find the Philosopherโ€™s Stone (spiritual liberation) which transforms any of our base qualities (selfishness, arrogance, vanity) into gold (kindness, tolerance, humility, etc.). Weโ€™ll explore these symbols more in the next section.

Why Learn About Spiritual Alchemy?

โ€œWhatโ€™s the point of learning about spiritual alchemy?โ€ you might be wondering.

My answer is that in life, we all need maps that can help us orient ourselves to our environments. In terms of the inner landscape and the journey of spiritual awakening, alchemy is one of the oldest practices and metaphors out there.

As such, we can use the various stages and symbols of alchemy to better understand where we are, and where weโ€™re going on a path that can otherwise feel quite disorienting and confusing.

The 7 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy

To travel through the stages of spiritual alchemy, we need to leave our old selves behind

Solve et coagula: Dissolve and coagulate. โ€“ Alchemist saying

The Latin expression โ€œsolve et coagulaโ€ is derived from โ€œsolve,โ€ meaning to break down and separate, while โ€œcoagulaโ€ describes the process of bringing elements back together (coagulating) into a new, higher form.

Interestingly, โ€œsolve et coagulaโ€ is a brilliant psychological metaphor. By pursuing Gold (or listening to our intuitive โ€œhigher callingโ€) we โ€œbreak downโ€ limiting parts within us that are in the way of our transformation (Philosopherโ€™s Stone) into a free and whole being (coagulation).

This journey of death, rebirth, and transformation has often been summarized into the four levels of alchemy:

I) Nigredo (or โ€œblackeningโ€ โ€“ symbolic of the death of old ways of being)

II) Albedo (or โ€œwhiteningโ€ โ€“ symbolic of the process of rebirth and Soul consciousness)

III) Citrinitas (or โ€œyellowingโ€ โ€“ symbolic of the development of Spirit consciousness)

IV) Rubedo (or โ€œreddeningโ€ โ€“ symbolic of the attainment of Spiritual Liberation)

Iโ€™ll break down these four levels of alchemy below.

Note: while there are no universal stages of alchemy due to the sheer number of different schools out there, here are some of the most widely accepted stages and how they pertain to the spiritual awakening journey:

1. Calcination

Stages Spiritual Alchemy Calcination
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Calcination is the process of heating and decomposing raw matter โ€“ or in other words, breaking down parts of ourselves that are in the way of our own happiness. Often weโ€™d rather be right or fulfill an idea of โ€œperfectionโ€ than be truly happy, so we continue neglecting the exploration of ourselves.

Calcination represents the stage in our lives where we begin breaking down our egos and the self-doubt, stubbornness, self-sabotaging behavior, pride, and arrogance that we possess, putting them aside so we can find out whatโ€™s underneath.

2. Dissolution

Stages Spiritual Alchemy Dissolution
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Once weโ€™ve broken down all of our personality characteristics that were in the way of our evolution, weโ€™re left with the process of dissolution which is the beginning of feeling less identification with our illusionary sense of self.

Once weโ€™re free from the strong grip of the egocentric self, we can take one step back and truly observe our positive and negative qualities.

In this stage, our inability to take responsibility for our many faults, our repressed traumas, and other inner tensions rise to the surface, causing us to become aware of how our behavior might be affecting others.

This stage is, therefore, the beginning of spiritual maturity and the spiritual awakening process. 

Often, this stage of transformation is brought about by sudden illnesses, mental health crises, or misfortunes in our lives that cause us to closely pay attention to what weโ€™re doing, shocking us out of our avoidance patterns (such as workaholism, addictions to certain relationships, drugs, unhealthy habits, etc.).

Read: Jim Carrey On Awakening: How He Began His Spiritual Journey

3. Separation

Stages Spiritual Alchemy seperation
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Separation is the stage where we make our thoughts and emotions more defined by practicing introspection, self-awareness, and self-analysis.

A simple example of this process is understanding the difference between our anger and our grief or the conflicting desire to isolate ourselves but also connect with other people.

The process of separation involves truly becoming aware of our authentic feelings towards others and ourselves.

In this stage, we choose to experience our anger, frustration, or disappointment towards another or ourselves, rather than reverting back to the old habit of dutifully trying to โ€œforgive and forgetโ€ because it is the โ€œrightโ€ or comfortable thing to do (or, on the other hand, to react and hold a grudge).

Separation is closely entwined with shadow work in that we must allow all feelings and thoughts within us to surface side by side and become aware of our โ€œdarker side.โ€ This practice helps us to isolate particular elements of our character to honestly see and assess them, then eventually consciously embrace and transform them.

4. Conjunction

Stages Spiritual Alchemy conjunction
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

After the purification and clarification of the first three stages, we must integrate and combine the remaining elements within us through the process of โ€œConjunction.โ€

While in the previous step, we learned to distinguish all of the feelings and thoughts within us, Conjunction provides the inner space โ€“ the simmering โ€“ that is required for us to truly and honestly accept all the parts of our authentic selves.

When we experience this stage of spiritual alchemy, many of our long-forgotten (or suppressed) unconscious thoughts and feelings bubble up to the surface and into the light of conscious awareness.

In this stage, journaling, introspectionsolitude, and meditation are particularly useful practices to facilitate movement toward the next stage.

(Learn more about how to journal.)

5. Fermentation

Stages Spiritual Alchemy Fermentation
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Fermentation is the beginning of our process of rebirth. This stage can be compared to the death of a grape, which then becomes the birth of wine.

While the first four stages involved working with aspects of our old personality, in the stage of Fermentation we begin to experience moments of our more โ€œrefinedโ€ self.

Fermentation occurs in two parts: Putrefaction and Spiritization.

Putrefaction is the decomposition of our former selves; the process of inner death by which the old elements of our conscious and unconscious minds are allowed to rot and decompose. (Some call this stage The Dark Night of the Soul as it can be followed by troublesome mental states such as depression.)

On the other hand, Spiritization is the stage in which we begin to look at the world in a new light. With the right guidance and with solid inner work, Spiritization involves letting go of all the aspects of ourselves and our lives that donโ€™t serve or contribute to our spiritual transformation.

This is when we taste moments of great inner peace and stillness.

6. Distillation

Stages Spiritual Alchemy Distillation
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Once we begin our Spiritization, we must find a way to continue to integrate all of these spiritual realizations into our lives in order to allow them to become permanent. Distillation is the level of further purification.

One example of Distillation is finding ways to live from a daily place of inner peace โ€“ even in the most mundane circumstances.

With enough repeated practice of constantly dying and being reborn in the present moment without entering again into the habits, identifications, and cycles of the mind, we experience a strong and profound inner transformation. In the East, this is whatโ€™s referred to as self-realization or spiritual enlightenment.

Certain practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and self-inquiry are useful in this stage to facilitate movement toward the next stage.

Read: How To Answer Your Calling And Find Your Life Purpose

7. Coagulation

Stages Spiritual Alchemy Coagulation
7 Stages of spiritual alchemy

Similar to the bloodโ€™s ability to form clots and stop bleeding, Coagulation is the moment when weโ€™ve โ€œbroken open the head,โ€ or in other words, we have become free from the mind and our consciousness or Soul has united with the Materia Prima: the Spirit.

Itโ€™s at this point that weโ€™ve found the Elixir of Life also known in alchemy as The Philosopherโ€™s Stone.

This non-dualistic meeting point between two opposites โ€“ the spiritual Self and human self, ego and Soul, inner and outer worlds โ€“ represents the culmination of the spiritual journey, the holy moment of spiritual freedom or enlightenment.

Read: 15 Questions To Discover Your Life Purpose

The stages of spiritual alchemy lead us to discover the deeper meanings of life

Alchemyโ€™s greatest achievement is to mirror the interrelationship between mind and matter, ego and soul, self and world. It embodies and points to the union of opposites, the transcendence of division, and the Oneness of all beings.

I hope this article has helped to explain this mysterious topic more in-depth, provide you with an alchemical roadmap to understand your spiritual progress and illuminate your understanding.

What are your thoughts about spiritual alchemy? Iโ€™d love to hear below!

Written By: Mateo Sol
Originally Appeared On: Loner Wolf

Stages of spiritual alchemy
Stages of Spiritual Alchemy pin
stages of spiritual alchemy
what is spiritual alchemy

— Share —

— About the Author —

Response

  1. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    I was born with a mind that works a little differently than most human minds. It drives me to be more inquisitive and have a greater ability for patern recognition which has been professionally tested to be at the top scores. One result of this is that I learn many things without instruction and know where a teaching is incomplete. I understand well life, the universe and everything. I know the Big Bang Theory is incorrect. I know the secret of Dark Matter and it is not matter This innate ability gives me the wisdom that is typically described in Nephilim, magi and wizards. And like Merlin I know the location of the Holy Grail and like historical wizards I am a Christian.
    This spiritual alchemy that you present is not as metaphorical as you suggest but I agree that the highest goal should be spiritual. Much of the best spiritual alchemy is taught in the Bible but the modern interpretations of it have been intentionally obscured as a consequence of the Inquisition against wizards and alchemy.
    Exchanging lead for gold holds no fascination if the goal is gold. But the transformation is amazing and shows that lead is never necessary. Thus Aurum Nostrum Non Est Aurum Vulgi.
    Materia Prima… In the beginning the universe was without form. When God created the universe he bestowed paths that bring improvement in order to shape form that makes it good. All that has form in the universe travels on paths that are provided and if it does not take a path it would become formless and cease. So the paths provided are nearly infinite and they exist substantially. Those paths that are properly chosen bring improvement and are called virtues The Materia Prima of virtuous paths are called core virtues in which seven can be properly identified as part of this universe. Placed in order of difficulty to express (like finding gold) they are: 1) Faith 2) Compassion 3) Wisdom 4) Courage 5) Long suffering (one word for both patience and perseverance) 6) Integrity (NOT to be confused with imposing any CODE of ethics such as the Inquisition or Nazism or Bushido which resulted in the murders of millions.) 7) Peace (such as the greatest joy is peace.)
    (There are three more alchemical metaphysical virtues not normally expressed in this universe which is not composed of these. These are categories of special virtuous paths regarded as divine miracles and symbolized by Gold, Incense and Myrrh.)
    There are more paths than particles. When we choose paths we alter the entire universe and become co-creators of the universe. When we choose paths that are not meant for us even as simple as eating the wrong apple that is not meant for us that resulting universal damage is known as sin.
    The key takeaway in this is that PATHS EXIST. They precede the travel but do not make the travel. Newton’s forces only help explain why the travel on a path may occur. The object travelling never created the path. But Richard Feynman had to explain that paths do exist substantially offering potentials to be travelled in his integral path formula.
    So a type of alchemy is helpful to understanding the Bible, life, the universe and everything. And it is suggested that many of Christ’s earliest disciples where alchemists of sorts. To name some… the magi that recognized him at his birth, Simon Magus, Luke the physician, Mary Madeline (believed to be given a last name for the town she was from which wasn’t a first century custom but follows the example of giving the origin of the alchemist like the magi from the East and shows a respect that is contrary to suggesting that Mary Madeline was a prostitute.
    Please respond to my email to show you read this and it had any impact. Especially because there is much much more that I have not told.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Up Next

When No Place Feels Like Home: 3 Ways To Find Where You Belong

Ways To Find Where You Belong: No Place Feels Like Home

To find where you belong, can be a nuanced journey, often filled with self-discovery and realizations about what makes a place feel like home. Here are three insightful ways to navigate this path, uncovering where you genuinely belong and creating a sanctuary that resonates with your inner self.

What do you do when NO place feels like home? What if when watching Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz clicking the heels of her ruby slippers three times and crying out that famous line โ€“ โ€œthereโ€™s no place like homeโ€ โ€“ you found yourself shaking your head, feeling very much alone, and silently wishing that you HAD a place โ€“ ANY PLACE โ€“ that felt like home?

If that sounds like you, youโ€™re not alone.



Up Next

How To Get Over Infatuation: 10 Tips For Gaining Emotional Balance In Relationships

How To Get Over Infatuation: Ten Tips To Gain Emotional Balance

Ever found yourself deeply infatuated with someone, experiencing an overwhelming rush of emotions that consumes your every thought? Infatuation can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also be a double-edged sword that leaves us feeling vulnerable and emotionally imbalanced. Letโ€™s explore how to get over infatuation.

How to Get Over Infatuation

Whether you’re infatuated with someone who is not available or struggling with infatuation while being married, it’s important to find ways to navigate these intense feelings and regain your emotional equilibrium. 



Up Next

Understanding Atelophobia Symptoms: Fear Of Imperfection Unveiled

Understanding Atelophobia Symptoms And Seven Ways To Overcome

Do you ever find yourself plagued by self-doubt, constantly fearing failure, or feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be perfect? If so, you might be experiencing atelophobia symptoms, a condition that affects countless individuals worldwide. 

Let us explore the depths of atelophobia, exploring its definition, symptoms, and related factors. By gaining a deeper understanding of this condition, we can empower ourselves and others to overcome the paralyzing fear of imperfection and embrace personal growth and self-acceptance.

Atelophobia Definition



Up Next

Your Mental Health Matters: 5 Habits You Need To Let Go Of Right Now

mental health matters

Everyone talks about the importance of having good physical health, and a healthy and strong body. But what about mental health, or rather the importance of good mental health? Just like physical health, mental health matters equally. 

As caregiver to my mom and sister, both of whom were diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, I got good at pretending I was fine. From the outside looking in, I played the role of someone who had it all together.

On the rare occasion when somebody would ask me, โ€œAre you okay?โ€ or โ€œWhatโ€™s the matter?โ€ my automatic responses would be โ€œIโ€™m fineโ€ and โ€œNothing.โ€ Few people ever bothered to



Up Next

“I’m Not Like Other Girls”: 5 Telltale Signs of A Pick Me Girl

Toxic Signs of A Pick Me Girl And How To Stop Being One

Ever heard of “Pick Me girls”? These are individuals who go to great lengths to prove they’re “not like other girls.” Let’s dive in and explore this phenomenon!

In this article, we’ll dive into what is a Pick Me Girl and, how to spot her, and provide examples to help you better understand this phenomenon.

What Is A Pick Me Girl?

Pick Me Girls are individuals, typically women, who go to great lengths to be chosen by someone they’re interested in romantically. They often believe that by being overly accommodating, agreeable, and submissive, they can



Up Next

What Is Emotional Constipation? 13 Symptoms and Ways You Can Release The Emotional Logjam For A Healthier You

What Is Emotional Constipation? Signs Of Blocked Emotions

Life today feels like a whirlwind. With endless tasks and pressures, it’s easy to side-line our feelings and emotions. This busy routine can lead you to a place where you’re stuffing down your emotions, a jam-up that’s often called – emotional constipation. In simple terms, it means you might be having a hard time understanding and expressing your real feelings.

Ever felt like you’re about to burst but don’t know why? Or you just can’t find the words to explain how you’re feeling? That’s a sign. This article will help you understand what is emotional constipation, major emotional constipation symptoms, and how to deal with emotional constipation, so that you can break free and get your emotional groove back.



Up Next

How To Calm Down Quickly? 5 Best Tried And Tested Self-Calming Methods

How To Calm Down Quickly? Five Best Self-Calming Methods

We all have moments when we feel extremely overwhelmed and stressed out, and no matter how hard we try, it feels impossible to calm down quickly. So, how to calm down quickly? This article is going to talk about some of the most effective ways to calm down quickly, that won’t be hard on you but will also be good for you in the long run. . 

When you experience intense anxiety, anger, or sadness, you might need to calm yourself. Do you know how? Itโ€™s important that you find self calming methods that work best for you. Give these methods a try!

How To Calm Down Quickly? 5 Best Self Calming Methods