If you follow my social media posts you’ll see that ‘Alchemy’ is a big part of my journey and my teachings to you, and my clients. I’m always banging on about ‘going in’ to discover if what you are going through is a breakdown or a breakthrough. It’s vital to understand the difference. And sometimes, it’s harder to decipher.
So what does Alchemy mean?
Definition of Alchemy
Alchemy (noun):
A medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy that aimed to transform base metals into gold, discover a universal elixir, and achieve the philosopher's stone—a substance believed to grant eternal life or wisdom.
Today, it's often used to describe a process of transformation, where ordinary experiences are turned into extraordinary insights or growth.
Origins of the Word
The word alchemy has ancient roots, tracing back to:
Middle English: alquymie
Medieval Latin: alchymia
Arabic: al-kīmiyāʼ, where al- means "the" and kīmiyāʼ refers to chemistry or transformation.
Greek: khēmeía, meaning "art of alloying metals".
The term has been around since at least the 14th century in English that we know of but has roots even further back in ancient Arabic and Greek practices, where early alchemists explored both physical and spiritual transformation.
Alchemy, today, is mostly used metaphorically and describes transformative processes, usually referring to personal growth or creative expression.
ALCHEMISE OR DEMISE
Over the past few years, I've become a bit of an alchemical expert. Reflecting on my journey—and the tough, sometimes soul-crushing events I’ve encountered—I see that I had only two choices: alchemise or demise. Thankfully, each time, I chose to alchemise through the visceral emotion I was feeling. I often wonder how I’m still here some days, as some of these experiences pushed me to the brink. But I was blessed with a supportive tribe who rallied around me during my darkest moments, and there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not grateful for them. And you know what else? As you understand the importance of alchemising, the process gets faster, which is a blessing.
These days I feel I alchemise daily, and no, it’s not always pleasant. But it comes down to choices and it’s mostly simple, until we complicate it. We have those parts come up that tell us we’re not good enough, our ideas a rubbish, we can’t be loved, we have no purpose, what could we possibly contribute – you know the drill. This little devil on your shoulder whispering lies in our ears.
But this is where your power sits. Like the most incredible diamond you’ve ever seen, just beneath the rough, you catch a glimpse of the sparkle, but you have to dig a bit deeper to truly uncover it. Slowly, with hard work, with tears, with dirt smeared down your face you finally get there, and when you expose that rare diamond, sometimes you need to sit back and recover a bit more before you can fully appreciate the magnitude of what you’ve accomplished. And it is so very worth it.
Tarot: Death and The Hanged Man
Tonight, funnily enough, during my usual tarot read, I noticed the same cards coming up as they have over the last week or so. I always find it incredible when this happens—sometimes, even with different decks, at the same time, the same message appears. It’s like the universe is yelling at me that there’s something here I need to grasp. Today, it was Death and the Hanged Man. Twice.
These cards represent deep change and the art of surrender, inviting me to let go and trust in the will of the divine. Death doesn’t mean an end in tarot, but a powerful transformation, a clearing of the old to make space for the new. Meanwhile, the Hanged Man asks for patience, a pause in the midst of change to gain a fresh perspective. Together, they whisper (or maybe I should say yell) to me that something needs to be released, that my journey calls for trust and the willingness to see things differently.
But this message indicates to me there is still work to do. Some days alchemy is harder than other days. There are a few issues I’m needing to absolutely surrender to and work through, but there is resistance to the surrender and patience is one of my major life lessons; I’m getting there, but I am determined to alchemise those things one way or another. And that is where my ‘patience’ lesson lies I think to myself, with an audible sigh.
The Ongoing Journey of Alchemy
Ultimately, alchemy isn’t about reaching a single destination; but a journey of constant transformation, and an invitation to turn every single experience, especially the challenging ones, into gold. Each time we dig deep, face resistance, or embrace patience, we’re honing in on our own inner alchemist. And some days, the process feels impossible, unbearable and painful—those are the days when alchemy requires the most courage.
So, as I continue this path, I invite you to join me. To view your own life as a process of alchemy, one where every obstacle holds the potential to reveal a hidden diamond within.
Remember, you have a choice: to alchemise or to let things remain as they are, which is even more difficult. When we choose to alchemise, we take back our power to transform, to grow, and ultimately, to turn life’s blockages into breakthroughs.
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