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Blog Entry 2 of 23 Conscious Evolution and the World Around You.

This blog will discuss the idea of conscious evolution and how world events may impact that personal or global process. It will also discuss clashing cultural aspects and what we can do to see past our differences and work towards acceptance of our fellow human beings.

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Spiritual alchemy

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Contributed by: Michael Kilman on 1/6/2008

Alchemy is well known for the idea that one can turn lead or other base metals into gold. However it is not the actual metal that is being transformed, but the Alchemists themselves. This is why Carl Jung wrote several books on the process of Alchemy. It is not because he believed that he could turn lead into gold, but that he would be able to transform the lives of those who used the processes. Jung recognized that people could transform themselves from lead into gold.

Turning oneself golden is nothing more then achieving a sense of inner peace and external wisdom. It is learning how to understand yourself and the rest of the world in a new way. The moment you start down this path you have everything you need to understand yourself in this new way.

Within Alchemy there are many schools of thought. Alchemy shows up in most major cultures and lives within the mysticism of all major religions. It shows up in Christianity through the Rosicrucian and the Hermetic teachings of the Free Masons (Christian Alchemists tend to believe that Jesus was the Divine Alchemist). It shows up in Hindu through the Yogis, and in Islam it was called Al-Kemi. In Taoism its is achieving the process of cultivating health and longevity, while in Buddhism it is almost identical to the teachings of the Buddha himself. It even shows up in Japanese Martial arts through the school of Aikido.

There are many ways to practice Alchemy, some prefer to understand how the metals and the elements interact and so go to a lab. Some work with the spirit of plants and so they make healing elixirs, some practice through different forms of meditation. The arts of Yoga, Tai Chi, and Aikido are physical paths to this same end.

My own personal practice is through Meditation, Yoga, and Aikido. Through guided visualizations I work on letting go of the past, and clearing out old emotions, thoughts, and ideas that no longer serve me, so that I can make room to grow as a person. This process also helps you to detatch from overly egotistical tendencies and be more understanding of other individuals you encounter. It teaches you patience and how to deal with conflict in a more peaceful way.

In the way I practice and teach there are seven basic processes to the meditations I use.

The first process is called Calcination. This process often happens to us when we hit rock bottom. Our whole life burns down around us and all that is left in its wake is ashes of our former self. However, because of this process , the excesses and the unnecessary aspects of the self have now burned away. What is left is the primal substance that we can begin to work with. Thus, Calcination is a process by which we burn away old patterns and prior conceptions of the self.

The second process is called Dissolution. In this process you are taking the element of water and washing the remainder of the ashes from Calcination, thus purifying what you have left. Emotions can often be the representative of this primal water. This process therefore uses sorrow as a vehicle of understanding and spiritual cleansing.

The third process is called Separation. In this case you are working with the facets of the ego and the conscious mind. You have now cleansed yourself through Calcination by burning off the unnecessary, and through Dissolution by purifying what was left. At this point it should be clear what elements of that particular substance should be present in your life and which elements can be discarded. This is a process of taking inventory and clearing out your mental and physical space. By removing these obstructions in your life, your energy is able to flow in a natural way.

The fourth process is called Conjunction. Up until this point you have worked mainly with the lower worlds, or the subconscious. At this point in the work you begin to bring in the elements of the super conscious or that of the spirit realm into that of your conscious mind and combine them with the refined subconscious that you have already been working with. Thus you are combining the world of the below with that of the world of the above and becoming the stone that lives between those worlds.

The fifth process is called Fermentation. Change begins to come much quicker now so quick in fact that your conscious mind often becomes open to possibilities you may have never considered before. This is the final death of all your old patterns, and anything that was remaining is now purified. In this stage you will dive deepest into your subconscious and find the very spirit of your oldest wounds. This can be one of the most difficult and profound experiences in alchemy.

The sixth process is called Distillation. In this process you learn to focus your chi energy into different parts of your body. You learn to circulate your vital energy and can move it from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. This process focuses on the yang or female aspects of the world and of God. It helps to revitalize your intuition and helps you to bring balance to the rational mind.

The seventh and final process is called Coagulation. This process is the final rebirth of the self. It is the dawn of a new day and the birth of a new view of yourself and of the world. This process is more of a result of the previous six processes then of the current one.

It is important to note however Alchemy is constantly happening in our lives. The old Alchemists used to say that each person must go through the entire process at least 3 times. Personally I have done the process twice. The first time for a week, and the second time for 49 days. The last and final time will take seven months.

Each of these processes have specific exercises and meditations that go with them. If you are more interested in this subject you are welcome to contact me. I am always happy to answer questions. This path may be a bit unusual, but it has helped me in my life and I wish to help others who are interested.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Michael Kilman

Castle Rock , CO

Michael Kilman has posted 23 blog entries and 16 comments since joining on 1/5/2008. Michael Kilman 's average blog rating is 5.

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