Only certain individuals can foster a genuine interest in alchemy. This pursuit requires not only intellectual capacity but also a particular insight into suffering – an understanding that motivates one to turn away from the conditioned world.
Whether through karma or other forces, this calling typically emerges in those born into relative comfort. The ability to question the authority of conditioned reality requires some distance from mere survival. Minds consumed by constant adversity often develop patterns of ill-will or greed, remaining too restless for deeper contemplation.
The Prerequisites of the Path
Inner Dissatisfaction
One must develop a fundamental dissatisfaction with the status quo. This isn’t mere discontent, but rather the wisdom to recognize life’s inherent unsatisfactoriness, driving one to look deeper.
The Nature of Consciousness
If we accept reincarnation, human consciousness tends to maintain its form across several rebirths. Interestingly, domesticated animals represent those fortunate beings who are learning the ways of human consciousness, potentially preparing for future human incarnation.
Buddhism teaches that humans can manifest in ten types of being, determined by the quality of their consciousness. While all humans are born with one of eight fundamental types, through circumstances like addiction or brutalization, one can become consumed by animal-like obsession with immediate needs.
The Natural Adept
Those with natural intelligence in spiritual matters may simply be souls with more human incarnations behind them. Alternatively, they might have descended from heavenly or formless realms – a topic for future exploration.
Signs of the Calling
These individuals often display:
- A deep, inexplicable fascination with the unknown
- Natural moral inclination – goodness simply makes sense to them
- Excellence in worldly pursuits followed by profound boredom
- Interest in both science and religion, while finding both ultimately limiting
The drive manifests as a vague calling toward the unknown – a silent summons that disturbs peace and tranquility. Like the Buddha, who despite his princely comforts and recent marriage could no longer rest in ignorance, these individuals feel compelled to seek deeper truth.
The Nature of the Path
This calling need not be dramatic. Ideally, it isn’t, though it often manifests as a restlessness that normal success cannot satisfy. Having an interest in alchemy might be the sole requirement for eventual success. While this path can become consuming and obsessive, such warnings rarely deter the truly called.
The journey is both moral and spiritual. To achieve the tranquility necessary for transcendental awareness, one must settle the mind. Anger, greed, and delusion keep consciousness bound to mundane concerns. Mere meditation without moral foundation becomes elaborate thinking rather than transformation.
Practical Considerations
The alchemist’s moral development serves practical purposes. One needs solitude and minimal social friction. Creating adversity through misconduct – stealing, sexual misconduct, violence – only generates distractions. The wise practitioner learns moral fluency to navigate mundane challenges efficiently.
Expanding Awareness
The alchemist must grow comfortable with strange concepts, worlds, and beings. While these ideas may eventually cancel each other out, one must first embrace the mysterious and ‘impossible’ to leave the familiar shore of conventional reality.
Developing respect for all beings, whether visible or invisible, becomes crucial. This manifests as deepening kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and fairness. Natural wholesome development accelerates once genuine confidence (faith) emerges.
Preparation
At this stage, we prepare the raw substance of consciousness. While each practitioner traditionally navigates these challenges alone, sharing these insights may prove valuable. In our next exploration, we will examine the first barrier facing the aspiring alchemist: the Fisher-King Wound.
Further Reading
- “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell
- “Psychology and Alchemy” by Carl Jung
- Psychology and Alchemy Wikipedia.
- “The Emerald Tablet: Alchemy for Personal Transformation” by Dennis William Hauck
- Jordan Peterson: The Hero’s Journey in Carl Jung’s Psychoanalysis – Youtube.
The writings here are based on a chapter from “Nigredo,” the first illuminating volume in Dr. Simon Robinson’s groundbreaking series “A Course in Modern Alchemy.” This thoughtfully crafted work serves as an accessible gateway into the profound world of spiritual alchemy, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary understanding.
Core Concepts
At its heart, Nigredo explores the fundamental nature of spiritual enlightenment through an alchemical lens. The book expertly weaves together Buddhist philosophy, Western mysticism, and psychological insights to create a practical framework for inner transformation. Dr. Robinson guides readers through critical concepts like the Fisher King Wound, the Rebis, and the Dark Night of the Soul, demonstrating how these archetypal experiences shape our spiritual journey.
Modern Relevance
This isn’t just another theoretical text – it’s a hands-on manual for those seeking genuine spiritual development in today’s world. The book breaks down complex alchemical principles into digestible insights, showing how ancient wisdom remains remarkably relevant to modern life. From understanding the nature of consciousness to practical techniques for inner work, Nigredo provides both the map and tools for meaningful personal transformation.
Experience the Journey
Ready to begin your alchemical journey? While these excerpts offer a taste of the wisdom within, there’s nothing quite like having a physical copy of Nigredo at hand – something you can highlight, annotate, and return to as your understanding deepens. The tactile experience of a hardcover book adds another dimension to this profound spiritual work.