Alchemy. Chemistry of mysticism. Seekers combine materials with mystical
guides rather than the sure knowledge of applied science. Mysticism that
has given birth to science, through its own discoveries. But was modern
chemistry the point of alchemy? The philosopher's stone was told to turn
lead into gold, transform the most base into the most pure. The ultimate
power of transformation, from the lowest to the highest, and an escape
from the boundaries of materials merely found to the unlimited
possibilities of creation. But was the point of alchemy to create
chemistry? This was a mystical tradition, after all. Once again, we have
mistook the map for the territory.

The alchemist worked with physical materials: chemicals, compounds, acids
and bases. A compound can be broken down into its components, and these
further broken down until the basic building blocks of matter are
discovered, one by one: The elements. Likewise, elements are combined to
create compounds. Compounds of different sorts can then be recombined to
cause reactions. Energy is released or stored, and new substances are
created. An acid combined with a base create a salt and a gas, each with
new properties. The methods used themselves break down into elementary
functions of combination and reduction, releasing or requiring heat and
energy in the reaction.

The mystical applications are the same applied over and over in each
tradition: Components of the human psyche are mapped to the subjects of
the work. Through the reaction upon the materials, the components internal
to the mystic are thus transformed as well along with the reaction in the
alchemist's crucible. Just as meaning and purpose is assigned to the stars
and planets in astrology, to plants in herbalism, to spirits of animals
and trees, gods and goddesses, magical meaning was applied to the elements
and compounds of nature. Through refinement of the gross, the subtle is
thus refined. The creation of the philosopher's stone thus leading to the
purification of the spirits of the mystic, that they may reach the ever
taunting goal of spiritual perfection, transcendence and ascension to a
higher level of being. As above, so below. As below, so above.

The chemistry used was incidental, secondary to the real goal of personal
transformation. It was almost a side effect that science was discovered
through this practice. The material applications are now well known, but
what of the mystical? We have forgotten the subtle in the acquisition of
the gross. What was there to learn from the mystical side of this
practice? Certainly, we as sensible modern people understand that the
links forged between element and psyche were only the tools of the
magician, and not fundamental to our own existence. However, what does
this work teach us as a process, if we remove these links and look at the
tools themselves?

We are the crucible of the alchemist, the container in which compounds are
reacted. We are the lab, in which the experiment is held. The chemicals,
ideas and concepts we have learned. A compound is added to the crucible, a
concept is added to the psyche through study. One learns a skill, or a
fact. One puts an element into the crucible. Oe combines skills and
knowledge to create science, art, music, writing, philosophy, religion, or
any number of things we fill our heads with to get along in this world.
Each is a concept, containing a set of data, a number of facts, names, and
procedures, combined together through the bonds of relation through
observation, relation through formulation, or even by myth. When in doubt,
we can always make something up to explain a relation.

We learn, we place items within our heads. We consider, we ponder, and
these components react. New ideas are formed, and essential elements are
distilled. What we consider to be truth is discovered through the
distillation of many concepts, in observation of that which is consistent.
Elements are distilled from compounds when heated by the furnace of our
pondering minds. Compounds are combined to form new materials, new ideas
are built from the combination of old. Math brings about physics, chords
combined to form music, paint to make new colors, stories built upon to
create new epics. Sometimes, two ideas combine to release energy as
essential elements of truth are discovered in a flash of inspiration and
enlightenment. The joy of discovery, the eureka, as connections are made
or bonds broken to reveal elements previously hidden. As without, so
within.

We do not need to tie our ideas to materials, stars, or even imagined
beings for this reaction to take place. Alchemy happens each time we
consider an idea in a new light, combine two concepts into one, or
deconstruct an idea into its components. Energy is added through our
concentration and effort, applied with inspiration, and released with the
joy of accomplishment. The process of alchemy happens within us, as we
study science, philosophy, and the spirit.

So then, when applied to spiritual matters, one may take traditions and
religions, and consider them as compounds. Ideas bonded together through
links of myth and story to create maps of spirituality we live our lives
by. These in turn can be broken down into elements, and combined and
compared with other traditions to find what elements are truth, applicable
even today, and what were merely the social dogma of the time, necessary
to complete the reaction, but not timeless relations which hold true even
today. When these traditions, religions, philosophies, myths, and ideas
are combined and deconstructed within the furnace of our selves, how they
combine can create entirely new maps of spirituality to live by.

Philosophies that contradict, may be combined with a missing component to
form a higher compound of truth than either alone could describe. This
component might exist within another system that has not et been
considered, or formulated, should we only have enough data to complete the
reaction. Perhaps the creation of the philosophers stone, the perfect
relation which may allow for any transformation and the purification of
the spirit, requires only a hot enough furnace to forge, and all the
necessary ingredients present in the crucible. We build our truths piece
by piece, striving for stronger alloys to withstand the test of time.

Should we remain with only what we presently contain, we will never be
able to make these reactions, discover these new elements and compounds.
It is for this reason that we continue to learn, to add materials to our
lab, and to experiment. Live by more than one tradition, and the most
applicable and consistent parts of each will become apparent. The pure
elements of spirit are separated from the baser residue of dogma and
control structures. It is only through our work in the lab that higher
forms of spirituality, better transformations of the self, are attained.
The work of alchemy, divorced of its material components of chemistry,
continues today in the hearts and minds of those who seek truth and
understanding of the world we live in. Their discoveries improve our world
as surely as the metals and plastics of chemistry strengthen our
creations, and empower us to new heights of experience.