Alchemical Transformation: 4. Fulfillment (‘Rubedo’)

With ‘Rubedo’ we pull together the Darkness, the Winnowing, and the Surprise of the first three steps and put them together into a completed Wholeness. When talking about Spirituality, we’re talking about things that are literally Not Of This (Physical) World. Thus, in order to talk about them at all, we have to rely on

Alchemical Transformation: 2. Purification (‘Albedo’)

Last week we discussed the transformation of lead into gold in Medieval Alchemy, including the metaphorical transformation of the human heart from its default ‘leaden’ state into Enlightenment or Oneness with God. Commonly this was described as taking place in four steps. The first step is ‘Nigredo’ — darkness. One thing about seasons of darkness,

Alchemical Transformation: 1. Darkness (‘Nigredo’)

Alchemy is an ancient philosophical and proto-scientific tradition historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. Alchemists attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain materials. Common aims were the transmutation of “base metals” (e.g., lead) into “noble metals” (like gold); the creation of an elixir of immortality; and the creation of panaceas able

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