KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

The Gold Within You: Seven Alchemical Stages to Attain Spiritual Wholeness, by Nanci Shandera, PhD

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Alchemists put various base metals, such as lead, through a series of processes that refine them until they become gold. Sound impossible? It's been done. My friend Dennis William Hauck, author of The Emerald Tablet, is a practicing alchemist and has actually made gold from lead, as have other alchemists through the ages. But the secret is that alchemical processes in a laboratory are symbolic for the transformation of our inner "lead" into our "Gold," or True Self, our Soul.

This article briefly describes each stage and how it applies to our personal transformative processes. For an in-depth study of more about these stages as well as how to apply them to your life, I recommend Dennis's book as well as my own: Your Inner Gold: Transform Your Life and Discover Your Soul's Purpose.

Stage 1: Calcination
Calcination brings us to new awareness of the influence of the ego within us, and the process deflates the ego so we can discover more of our true reality, previously hidden by the ego's protections and defenses. In this stage we face a crisis of identity as our ego-based beliefs and false sense of self are transformed as if burned in an alchemist's fiery furnace.

Suffice it to say, most people avoid this process.

Calcination incinerates the ego's defenses against the unknown. As our cherished beliefs and habits turn to ash and smoke, we may feel as if we're dying. And though this is not a physical death, it feels just as ominous and frightening. As we die to patterns we have outgrown, space is created for us to begin to realize more of our true reality.

We can't consciously make Calcination happen. It is merely what we go through at those times in which we feel powerless, confused, disheartened, and afraid. Every individual's reaction to a Calcination event differs—one person may sink into a depression and want to be left alone, while another may reject what's happening and fight fiercely to prevent change. There are others who might recognize that this event is actually an opportunity to let go of past conditioning, beliefs, and traumas, so they decide to surrender, without judgment or denial, to whatever they are experiencing.

As our conscious awareness of our true feelings intensifies, we are led into the next stage of inner alchemy: Dissolution.

Stage 2: Dissolution
The immersion into Dissolution doesn't eliminate any of the discomfort of Calcination, but rather adds an element of authenticity to the emotions that emerge. Even so, we may feel more frightened, lost, fearful of the unknown, and even panicked that without the ego's protective control, we will be harmed, criticized, or annihilated.

In laboratory alchemy, the ashes of Calcination are dissolved in water in the Dissolution process. Transformational Dissolution connects us to our original, Divine emotions before the ego's protections taught us to reject our feelings as somehow wrong. Since our emotions are essential to the Soul's well-being, they must be reintegrated if we are to mature spiritually and become whole again. Whenever we feel any emotion, the worst thing we can do is to deny what we're feeling. Denial prevents access to the guidance and wisdom of our Sou,l and we continue feeling alone and we despair that we'll never be who we've always wanted to be. In consciously working with Dissolution, we accept our feelings, and express them as long as they don't harm others. We can do this by writing, dancing, making sounds, doing ritual, or just sitting and crying (which the alchemists call "cibation," a process of inner cleansing by the salt in our tears) with no judgment.

Stage 3: Separation
Some may think this stage is a break from the pain and suffering during Calcination and Dissolution because they assume the stage of Separation as merely an intellectual exercise. It is true that in this stage, we explore beliefs and learn to understand our emotions. But we must do it in an unconditional, non-judgmental way, else we create more blocks to consciousness development. For instance, if we use our intellect to reject emotion as bad or wrong, or to rationalize our cherished beliefs, we disconnect from our Soul, and don't move ahead in our growth. (And, we'll very likely end up back in Calcination!)

Separation offers us the opportunity to consider our experiences with an open mind, so intuition, rather than fear or ego, can guide us to new ways of perceiving our lives. When we allow the ego to make our decisions, we usually discover they were the wrong ones that cause us more pain. For instance, it is often easier to stay in an abusive relationship or bad job than it is to listen to that still, small voice within and leave the unhealthy situation. The fear that holds us back is based upon immature perceptions of ourselves, and Separation helps us to discover that we have more power than we thought we had. It helps build a strong foundation upon which we can make wise, intuitive decisions that support our evolution.

Stage 4: Conjunction
Conjunction is the stage that opens the heart by embodying self-acceptance. It integrates all aspects of ourselves, and our perceptions change as do our attitudes and beliefs about ourselves and our lives. In conjuncted consciousness, our fears are transformed into faith in and love for ourselves and a higher power.

Conjunction teaches us how to love ourselves and others unconditionally, meaning without judgment or comparison. We can view our "mistakes" or difficulties of the past as having been necessary for our growth. Our past experiences are stepping stones toward the realization of who we were created to be. Instead of continuing to blame others for our problems, our open heart shows us our contribution to our difficulties, and we can see the others we'd blamed as having actually been catalysts—even teachers—for our growth. With unconditional love, we can honor and thank everyone who has ever challenged us, for they helped us become stronger and closer to who Spirit created us to be.

Stage 5-a: Putrefaction
In the Putrefaction stage, we face the ego again but the quality, intensity, and source of the experience is quite different from that in Calcination. By this stage, we have developed more conscious awareness, so even though the process of Putrefaction can be very disturbing, our inner forces, which are now awake, help us to respond to life with courage instead of fear.

My students have often remarked that things seemed so much easier when they were unconscious of the deeper aspects of themselves. They realize that when they face difficulties with awareness, they come face to face with the challenge to make better choices than in their past experiences. They have told me that the difference is accountability. They are now responsible—meaning able to respond—for how their lives evolve. They are no longer like powerless little children, vulnerable to all of life's twists and turns without having to make mature choices.

The stage of Putrefaction can be a purging of the remaining influences of the ego; this can be excruciating because we are letting go of the excuses and rationalizations we've used to justify our behavior. Just as so many of life's important moments, such as leaving home, having children, moving to a new city, or getting a divorce, can shake us to our core, the boiling cauldron of Putrefaction presents the biggest challenge of all: taking full responsibility for all aspects of our lives, body, mind, emotions, and Soul.

Putrefaction "cooks" us so we can enter Fermentation, whose process is similar to how crushed grapes become fine wine.

Stage 5-b: Fermentation
In Fermentation, a new sense of wisdom arises within us, founded upon the breaking down of old barriers of belief. In the alchemical laboratory, the Putrefied brew must be transferred to another container (symbolizing the newly developing Self), where a catalyst is added to produce a highly refined element that began in Calcination as lead. In personal alchemy, the catalyst helps to "ferment" that within us that is Divine, but which we couldn't accept and experience earlier on during our more unconscious stages because our perceptions were based upon illusion. What results from the Fermentation stage is a higher perception of Self and a new, strong, and authentic identity.

Stage 6: Distillation
When we have embodied the gifts of all previous stages, we are ready to refine ourselves to an even greater degree in the stage of Distillation.

In Distillation, we have reached the point of spiritual and emotional maturity. We can now merge with collective thought without being taken in or overwhelmed by it—in other words, what society says is true may no longer be true for us. We now think for ourselves, but without judging others' opinions or behaviors. In fact, we find them interesting and learn from them. Distillation melts away the final dregs of the ego's control so we are free and independent in thought and Spirit.

In Distillation, we may have sudden rushes of ecstasy and joy—and for no particular reason. We may see our own face—or even the face of the universe—in those of others. We may be drawn to some type of service to humanity with feelings of love and excitement.

A distilled person no longer responds to egoistic expectations, isn't devastated by challenge and crisis, is integrated with Soul, and responds to new, higher guidance while honoring Earthly existence.

Stage 7: Coagulation
An alchemically transformed person is one who has experienced, not necessarily in order or just once, all the seven stages. Coagulation is the final stage of having integrated all six previous stages, but it is not the end of our transformation. It is another beginning. This is no resting place, for now we can deepen even further what we've learned. We may experience more discomfort than when we were at varying degrees of unconsciousness, but now we act upon higher wisdom for we know how our beliefs and responses can affect entire universes.

Few people reach a point of complete Coagulation. Just as it takes miners effort, toil, and time to uncover riches within the earth, our struggles to find our inner Gold are ultimately worth it all.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2013. All rights reserved.

I have been unemployed for three years. I left a good paying job with decent benefits because I was treated horribly for over 13 years, and I couldn't take the mental abuse anymore. Now I can't find a new job because my reference is saying bad things about my work ethic. This has led to health problems like kidney stones in February and a car accident in May. What can I do to get all this negativity out of my life? I am beyond stressed out! I feel hopeless and helpless, and overwhelmed with medical bills, legal fees, and regular living expenses. My husband is becoming very aggravated with me. I feel like I have a spell on me. Please help! I have been having vivid dreams, and I even think I had a premonition about the car accident. Is Spirit trying to help me through the dreams?

- Donna

Dreamchaser:

I would like for you to re-read your question, please. As you tell it, you are being picked on by everyone (including the Universe) because you feel like you have a spell on you. There is not one area in your life that is going right, and now your husband is upset as well.

Is this how you look at your life? Is this how you talk to everyone around you? Are these the stories you tell over and over? Is this the tone of the emotional state you are in every day? If so, it's no wonder your life is crap!

As everyone here knows, I am a huge fan of the movie and book entitled The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, which explores the Law of Attraction and how to get what we want by focusing on it. That is a very simplified description - the important thing is that this really does work!

I tried it and it worked for me. I was an incredibly angry, negative person for a very long time. I blamed everyone else for my troubles. I saw myself as a complete and total victim of everyone and everything.

I had no money; I had no love; I felt sick a lot of the time, and I had no future. When I realized that everything in my life was a result of my own thinking, everything changed for the better.

You think negatively all the time. You not only worry about your problems, you worry about things that haven't happened yet, or that might happen some day. You also focus on the past and how you feel wronged. You focus on bad health, pain, suffering, sorrow and despair. Now you are focusing on your marriage and how it may fall apart.

Hear this, please: you are creating more and more misfortune in your life by focusing on nothing but all the bad things that happen to you. The good news is if you change your focus, you will change your life.

I know it works, for I personally have experimented with this process and my life is drastically different now. I also have friends and clients who have said the same thing.

The only way your life is going to change is if you take control of your thoughts, feelings and habits.

Spirit can't help you unless you ask for help. Spirit is not giving you omens and warnings; Spirit is throwing you a lifeline and begging you to PLEASE change on an inner level, which will empower you to change your outer experiences.

You have the power: it's is as simple as changing the way you think, and The Secret will show you how to do that.

You CAN have a good and happy life, Donna. I wish you healing on all levels.

*****

Astrea:

It can be really difficult to get back to a normal feeling life after such an awful accident. To have the people at your old job insult you by telling other businesses not to hire you would naturally create even more stress.

Sometimes husbands aren't great at understanding our need to talk things out, which of course means even MORE frustration for you.

You ARE under a spell, Donna, and you put it there yourself by adopting the belief or attitude that everyone is against you. I know it may seem like that right now, but the truth is that other people don't have time to make you the center of their universe.

I don't mean to sound harsh: I'm only trying to point out that the others you speak of are too selfish to go to great lengths to try to make you miserable, for they have more important things to do.

Negative people get negative outcomes. What you need to focus on is how, for every job those people caused you NOT to get, the Universe will open another pathway for you and close one for them. For every unkind word they say about you, three will be said about them.

Choose to stop being part of the negative karma others have around them. Release all of that and be free. If you can stop being angry and feeling like everything and everyone is against you, that won't be your experience anymore.

Instead of trying to hurt you, every person, animal and entity in your Harmony is trying to help you, and not just through your dreams. You have people working for you in every part of your life to counteract all the negativity you've been experiencing. Your Angels are always with you; they are keeping you going and keeping you alive.

The only person who is stuck in a negative rut is YOU, and you're keeping yourself there with this why me? attitude.

You wrote that you had a premonition about your accident, yet it still happened. When you have strong intuitions or premonitions, you have to listen to them and DO something about them instead of passively accepting that this must be your fate.

The next time you have a premonition about a life-changing event, say it out loud to someone - ANYONE. Then say out loud that you refuse to become a victim. Speaking out loud about the bad stuff we intuitively sense often prevents it from happening. It's a mystery to me how that particular tactic wards off disaster, but it works.

While you truly have my sympathy for all you've been through, I know you could be doing more to change your life by thinking less about what's being done to you and becoming more proactive about creating what you want.

If you choose to think positive thoughts, your life will become abundant with positive experiences. If you allow yourself to think negative thoughts, then negativity will come your way time and time again.

Banish the negativity and begin to live in happiness again. You can do it, but only if you really want to.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.