Introduction to Alchemy

Chapter 1: An Overview

Welcome to the 12 Steps of the Alchemical Process course from Inner Mysteries. Today, we’re going to be going over the 12 steps of alchemy and showing how these 12 steps relate to:

The seasons
The 12 Zodiac signs
The 12 processes of alchemy
The alchemical lore

We’ll also explore how we go through these stages every year and on a grander cycle throughout our whole lives. We’ll separate the 12 months to the 12 Zodiac, the 12 cranial nerves, and the 12 alchemical processes of the human body.

Clearing Confusion in Alchemical Thought

In the ancient school of thought on alchemy, there has been some confusion. For example, some say that Dissolution is the second step, but we’re going to say that it is actually Coagulation. Upon further research, Dissolution should belong to Cancer, the Crab, and we’ll get to that point.

A Preview of Alchemical Terms

To begin, here’s a general preview of some alchemical terms:

Calcination: A purifying fire.
Separation: Separating the authentic from the conditioned.
Conjunction: The point of no return.

These are figurative terms representing the ideas that will be carried out in this course.

Aries: The Spring Equinox and the Beginning of the Alchemical Process

Aries (March 21st) in the Spring starts out with a bang. The Spring Equinox is the original New Year, marking the beginning of the alchemical process in Aries. If you’re watching this course in Spring, it’s a great time to start the alchemical process. You’ll learn how to go through the 12 Zodiac signs and apply it to inner alchemy from both a Jungian perspective and a Vedantic transmutation perspective.

The wisdom of the Ancients encoded these spiritual evolutionary processes in alchemical lore and ancient scriptures:

The Bible is alchemy, essentially.
The Upanishads are alchemy.
The whole system of this universe operates through alchemy.

God the Creator is considered the Master Alchemist, and within us, our divine spark is the Master Alchemist of our body, the original alchemical laboratory.

The Importance of Calcination

Calcination is believed to be one of the 12 vital processes required for the transformation of a substance. Alchemists distinguish two kinds of Calcination:

Actual Calcination: Brought about by actual fire, such as wood coals or other fuel, raised to a certain temperature.
Potential Calcination: Using the crude elements of the physical body, raising them to a certain temperature to begin the purification process.

The Spiritual Perspective:

Calcination involves activating our inner fire—not physically heating up but symbolically igniting our astral fire. This inner fire burns away the ego and purifies attachments to the animal nature of the body.

The Bible’s phrase “Be still and know that I am God” relates to this process:

I AM is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Through Calcination, you confront the ego and initiate purification in your astral body.

Coagulation: Taurus and Crystallization

The second step, Coagulation, aligns with Taurus. This step is about crystallization and materialization, where spirit takes form in matter.

Key Themes:

Crystallization: Spirit polarizes into matter, enabling form and materialization.
Realization: Meditating on the motto, “I HAVE,” reflects Taurus’ role in spiritual grounding.

In this process, the volatile and fixed elements become inseparable, and your state of awareness becomes fixed. Coagulation helps you prepare for further transformation.

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The Supreme Spirit

The Upanishads refer to the supreme spirit as Brahman. The solitary seer of heaven is the Sun. The Sun in the sky is a physical manifestation of the supreme unfathomable spirit. It is interesting how there is a prayer in the Upanishads that says remove your blinding splendor so that I can see your supreme form. The physical light we see is manifested light. The one who produced the light is unseen with physical eyes but can only be seen with the eyes of spirit.

In this world, we are blinded by the physical light. It is the product and power of the unlimited nature of deity. The Upanishads talk about knowing Brahman, the Universe, and the souls that dwell within it. If we syncretize this with Western conceptions of the creator we will see the infinite relationship The Great Spirit has with its universal dwelling and the souls that dwell within it. The supreme spirit is within everyone’s heart but simultaneously transcends all souls and the universe and is the solitary seer. The infinite one or the immortal one.

God is outside of creation but his spirit flows within every living thing that is in creation. God is all but not all are in God. This physical realm is a womb. Mother is matter in the material realm which is undated by the spirit of God and produces Christ or the children’s souls. Brahman creates infinite beings that have various dwelling places. For example, human beings do not just occupy the physical realm. In the Upanishads, it states that the soul goes from the physical realm and to the land of dreams and dwells with the ancestors of those who have died before its physical incarnation is over. The soul experiences all of these separate dimensions as compartments. The sage or seer awakens to these realities and becomes aware while occupying them. The waking state, the land of dreams, and the great spirit beyond. You have a part of your soul or spirit that is untouched by matter and it dwells within the spiritual dimensions. It then manifests a personality or prototype in the astral which then manifests in the physical form.

Prisca Theologia the Ancient Theology

The Prisca Theologia asserts that one true theology exists sense the beginning given to man by divinity. The perennial wisdom of the ages is found within all true traditions and passed down through generations from man. At times the knowledge becomes obscured in shadows and lore and the mystic truth becomes lost except to those who see and have ears to hear.

At this age, we are lucky to have access to all the great figures of truth whether it is Krishna, Jesus, the wisdom of the Tao, or the Upanishads. We follow truth wherever truth may be. There is only one truth and many true paths. There are also many false paths. It is like Ralph Smart said who is a famous Internet influencer. Life is like a game of snakes and ladders.s some paths lead up and paths lead down. It is foolish to say anything path leads to heaven or truth. It is foolish to say everyone has their truth, Truth can. not invented or made up. Everyone may have their own perspective of what he or she believes to e true but that does not make it so.

Some say that there must only be one true religion or religious figure. One must follow the teachings of Buddha or Krishna of the form the Vaishnava perspective to have true knowledge. We hear this a lot in the Christian way saying that being of the belief that Jesus is the truth is the only way to the truth. However, the eternal doctrine of the soul is found in all great paths and religions.

Religions serve as a cosmology for the intelligence of the being to understand who and what it is and where is it going. The soul created in the image of God the intelligence beyond cause and effect has fallen from its glory and wandered unto uncharted territory, This is san the story found in all the myths, the main character is thrown into an unknown land, This unknown lad is the physical body the material world which is far away from home which is the eland of the spirit. Through trial and error, and thee subtle guidance and impulse of the spirit the soulful discards its fleshy listings and desires and puts on the new heavenly garments after having had its heart weighed and judged by the divine laws of maat or divine judgement or the actions or inactions the soul took part in while in physical body. and enters into a subtle realm of being and transcends the the world of pleasure and pain again and enters eternal bliss with the knowledge and experience gained in the in the under the or the land of the dead. the land of the edea as proven by writer and philosopher Alvin Boyd Khun is none other than what we refer to as the land of the living in the waking state.

Song to the Supreme Self

He cometh as the sun

He cometh as the moon

cloaked in the matter yet beyond it

it makes itself a room

within this room

manifest infinite numbers of multi layered

beings, qualitatively the same as the one who created the room

the space within the room individualized and produced manifold beings

but the space outside the room stays beyond cardinal, fixed, and mutable qualities

and remains outside of the cube of creation.

Not perturbed by the elements,

with a mind posed in equilibrium on the heart center of your being

let yourself identify with the space beyond the cube and merge your individual personality with the higher individuality of the Atman which is

outside the cube and maintain your perfect form immortal

The self which is you is never manifest in matter

but walks upon it like the Sun’s reflection on still waters

that spirit that is aware of all beings

and our soul which is aware of our own being

are qualitatively similar

The Work of the Magi

WE HAVE TO CONSECRATE THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF OUR BEING.

WE NEED TO SOLIDIFY AND FIX OUR EARTH WHICH IS OUR MINDS AND BODY THROUGH VARIOUS DISCIPLINES AND DEVOTIONS LABORS ETC LIFE’S A SCHOOL !!

Our body and our mind is the earth that we need to balance and put to good practical use and make strong healthy. Through routines and exercise as well as a prominent soul connection to one’s vocation. Sacrificing the efforts and labors to the great Spirit.

Our soul can walk upon the waters of life as long as we balance our emotions! Our emotions and our relationships with one another other represents our water , our imagination and dreams, are receptive in nature. We can balance our water element and calm the waters and triumph through various methods that evoke the water elementals to assist us in mastering this element.

Esoteric Astrology

Astrology has traditionally been used for much more than fortune telling, the bible does not condemn Astrology in fact it condemns astrologers or people who worships material objects or those who want to use the science of the word of God to tell fortunes for material gain. Astrology is the science of the word of God, astro meaning light and logos meaning word so the study of the word of god or of Christ. Astrology is deeply connected to our inner life as well as our physical body, Aries rules the head, Taurus rules the neck, Gemini the arms and lungs, the crab rules the breast, leo the heart,virgo the digestive system, libra rules the kidneys, and scorpio the generative system, sagittarius rules the hips, capricorn rules the knee caps, aquarius rules the shins and finally the two fish pisces at the bottom of the feet.

The ancients seers sand elevated beings who were in contact with the great spirit knew that the body was a microcosm of the macorosmom that means that it was an individuated parcel of a greater whole. That whole reflects its image through the material creation and we perceive it as the celestial heavens above. The world below being matter and the sky being the closest image we have of the spirit realm hence why most religions use heavens and the sky to represent the spiritual realm.

Astrology is the map of the mind of god. The 12 zodiac relay how energy manifest in the material realm, how a thought is conceived and acted upon, how the seasons change from spring to winter, and how the soul descends and re ascends out of the material universe and back to the realm of causes.

Astrology is also the key to the unfoldment of the the archetypes of the soul and how the seer unfolds his inner being through the 12 labors of Hercules. Hercules represents the archetype of the soul that relates to the soul that is in a human journey or physically incarnated in the material realm and thus has to learn from trial and circumstance to overcome and triumph and become victorious.

We can use astrology practically to acknowledge our defects as well as where we are gifted and unique. An Aries can serve as a brilliant leader or power exorcist. The cardinal fire energy creates impulsiveness and an inner courage to act with much forethought. This can be great to tread to solve problems where most will not. Aries rules the cerebrum is shaped like a lambs wool and governs the nervous system. It is the builder of the body and where Hiram the chief architect resides. The builder of Solomon’s temple which is the human body. . The first formed as a fetus, The sun starts its journey March 21s in Aries and commences at the feet pisces. Aries forms our identity. Its motto is I am.

When consciousness first manifested from the pleroma it acknowledged its self as I AM this is Aries. Aries is our inner father who art in heaven which dominates the lower nature. Aries sign is in the spring so it is considered the child of the zodiac along with taurus and Gemini. The planet that rules Aries is Mars which is red Adam who was formed from the dust of the Earth.

Aries in a daily cycle starts at 6 am, when the rooster crows. The rooster is a symbol of Aries as the sun rises the rooster is the first to make a noise. Aries is Moses which is an archetype of Will power, Moses blows the rams horns and tells us to stop worshipping the Golden calf of taurus. The ages go retrograde essentially Moses represents the Sun entering the Age of Aries and leaving the Age of Taurus. At the same time this symbolizing man overcoming his lower nature and ascending the lower instinctual energy and consciously transmuting it through will power in to more subtle bliss and cognizant. This cognizance allows one to hear the the ten inner commandments of the heart .

With the help of Taurus we are able to express word sand use tp use our body to do labor and world, The bull has always been a symbol of labor and material gain. It is said that Taurus’s motto is I have. It is our ability to have desires. Taurus is our motor brain the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the bull in esoteric anatomy. The cerebellum is in charge of it modulating and commanding the motor neurons to allow for shifts in body position or changes in load upon muscles hence the cerebellum is the physical manifestation of the zodiac energy of Taurus in the material human body.

Questions One Should Ask One’s Self

1.Have I become athiestic in nature? If so why?

2.Do I meditate on the Supreme being with form or without form?

3. Is the prime creator personal or impersonal or above both?

4. Do I want to taste the fruit or be the fruit?

5. If there is an absolute truth, do I live up to its existemce and relevence in my day to day activities?

6. What existence is possible without the body and mind? Have I personally experienced life and existence beyomd the physical and mental spheres if only for a glimpse?

7. Am I able to wake up consciously while dreaming and have full cognizance in that realm?

8. Does God take personal interest in people and there lifes and aspirations?

9.What lessons can be learned from witnessing the cycle of life in the animal kingdom and the brutal nature of eating other entities to continue life?

10. Am I perfect in all ways or are there imperfections and evil inlcinations laying deep within my own heart?

These are the questions that are important to ask in this age of forgetfulness.

Mysteries of Gemini

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As the consciousness illuminates the subconscious mind, tendencies, and aggregates of the psyche are recognized as they are. By self remembering and making ourselves conscious by holding fast to the sense of I Am, we are able to better comprehend our mechanical nature. We can learn to take back control of the mind and body and become less reactive. Krishna says the soul is above mind and intelligence, our soul must rule over our mind and intellect. Instead of being the effect of our surroundings we can become the cause of phenomena relating to our personal lives! By comprehending our inner reasoning for doing things and acting out in a particular manner we can become more tolerant and understanding of those around us. Self reflection is a process corresponding to the influence of Gemini the twins.

Gemini represents the split of the the monad into male and female as well as the dual aspects of the consciousness, the witness and the witnessed, Gemini also relates to the conscious mind’s relationship with the subconscious mind. Our consciousness is mirrored onto itself. The conscious mind is the male suspect and the subconscious mind is the female receptive aspect, both are products and under control of the superconscious mind or over soul. Normally we experience life as the one who experiences, or the subject. Self observation breaks the illusion and we realize and understand that we are the witness the observer of that which experiences. Once the two are seperated a deeper comprehension is reached and we understand that we are both, the observer and the observed, and we can live life consciously living in both states. We begin to watch ourselves from an objective standpoint, here in which the I AM presence begins to crystallize and we become less reactive to our emotions, or outer phenomena which normally would have an effect on our moods and actions. We begin to step outside of the subjective reasoning and find objective reality. Or that which is and find that I Am That is forever and was.

Mysteries of Moses

Moses the inner Moses, our spiritual willpower is the only thing that can free the Israelites from bondage. An Israelite is one inwardly who has decided to transmute the lower nature into purity and righteousness. Our inner Israelites are the energy that is bound to the lower chakras by the pharaoh of Egypt. The pharos represents our lower ego which causes psychological disturbances that make us reactive or impulsive. While we are in bondage, we have feelings of lust, fear, shame, and pride, we hunger for material goods, we hunger for approval, we want a sense of pleasure and we slave away in Egypt every day fulfilling the wants of a bottomless pit or an unsatisfied Pharoah. True fulfillment comes from the spirit and living in alignment, sensual instant gratification without moderation or reason can only be fleeting and the thirst can not be quenched.

Moses, our spiritual willpower can help us raise from these lower centers as we make our journey to the promised land. This represents our Christic energy as it can rise from the lower chakras and reach the land flowing with milk and honey which is the higher mind or the cerebrum. How do we do this? Well, we have to wander through our wilderness, through fasting, prayer, mediation, not overeating, and refraining from drugs and alcohol. Finding peace within rather than without. Reserving the sexual energy. Moses commands the rock to bring forth water not by force but by spiritual will, allowing the water to come forth and quench our thirst. This allows us to move from reactive earth consciousness, robotic consciousness, to the level of water, which is silence and peace.

The parting of the red sea of the lower uncontrolled emotions allows us to enter the right hemisphere of the brain. Moses’ staff has the serpents entwined showing a masterful control of this energy in our bodies. We need willpower, we need Moses. MOSES IS WILLPOWER. The ram, areas, the cerebrum, or the higher mind which in anatomy is shaped like a lamb with fleece and wool. Moses is the age of Mars, or, ram, telling us to stop worshipping the bull Taurus, which is material, wanting, and gratification of the senses. Material imbalance without spirit. So as we cooperate with Moses we can become free from the bondage of the lower nature, the inner oil then ascends being led by Moses into the brain. The right hemisphere is accessed and we experience spiritual communion. Peace, an increase of clarity, willpower, and love, as well as unity, reside here. It is the land flowing of milk and honey, our glands produce DMT and serotonin. The brain is made of lactose and sucrose. Milk and honey. The inner chemistry is now balanced and refined and we can be happy and healthy physically and spiritually. As we can see we have incorporated, biochemistry, astrology, psychology, as well as mythology. It’s because they are all one. It’s like one of those dolls and you can fit smaller dolls in the big doll. It’s all one verse hence the universe. However, it is of utmost importance to understand that this only works with the objective truth of nature as we align our values and integrities to that which is. By Christopher Campbell ( Christos Mathias)