The Mystery of ALCHEMY (scroll down for the Secret Alchemy of Aquarius)
Alchemy is an enigmatic subject. It can feel super esoteric, ancient, obscure and can be off-putting, with its strange imagery and odd terms. However, once it is hoisted into the 21st century, and its terms are brought into a psychological light, it can be recognized as a powerful system for spiritual development and manifestation. To provide this clarification is one of the goals of Sacred Circuit.
There are two basic types of Alchemy, spiritual and physical. Spiritual alchemy comprises the bulk of what you find when you search the term online, or browse books on the subject. Spiritual alchemy involves a system of personal refinement and growth; it is highly psychological in this way. Physical alchemy is actual lab work and experiments. Both of these systems include seven “operations” which are loosely based on the planetary and chakra systems. True Alchemists of old advised that integrating both spiritual and physical alchemy was necessary if substantial personal transformation was desired.
There is another more rarely used system of twelve operations, which correspond to the Zodiac. The twelve steps can be seen as a more detailed version of the seven steps. Some of them have been split or divided into sub categories, but most are added in. For Hermetic purposes, which integrate Qabalah, Tarot and Astrology with Alchemy, and for use with work with the Astrological signs of the Zodiac, the twelve-operation system is highly effective, and it is what we have embraced here at Sacred Circuit. It can be seen as a roadmap of spiritual transmutation via astrology.
Each of the twelve operations — Calcination, Congelation, Fixation, Dissolution, Digestion, Distillation, Sublimation, Separation, Incineration, Fermentation, Multiplication and Projection — corresponds to an Astrological sign, and mirrors a stage in the initiate’s inner work — dissolving attachments, purifying desires, and reuniting fragmented aspects of the psyche, all in alignment with the zodiac.
This Alchemical-Zodiacal journey is not only about personal growth and spiritual enlightenment, it is also about manifestation. As the soul undergoes inner purification, it evolves to become a more receptive vessel for the Divine to enter into the realm of forms. Through these operations, the practitioner does not only manifest desires — they come to embody them. Alchemy, Qabalah, Tarot and Astrology together teach that manifestation is not control over reality, but harmony with the Great Work —the Magnum Opus of the Soul.
The Secret Alchemy of Pisces
The alchemical operation assigned to Pisces is Projection. Projection the act of casting a small portion of the “finished stone” onto a quantity of base metal. The stone then “projects” its perfected quality, instantaneously transmuting the base metal into a more purified substance, such as gold. The Stone, having undergone the other operations, carries within it the power to alter other substances without being itself being diminished. Projection can be therefore be considered transmissive.
Spiritually, Projection represents the outward radiation of an inner attainment. Once the ego has been purified and consciousness clarified through the earlier operations, the individual becomes a living Stone, capable of influencing and elevating others through what seems to be their mere presence. Projection is the transmission of awareness or “vibes” into the source field of life. It is the stage at which enlightenment ceases to be private and becomes tranmissive, projecting the frequency of coherent Will into the world as an energetic force.
A real-world example of Projection is heart coherence. According to HeartMath Institute, heart coherence is a “measurable physiological state in which the heart’s rhythm pattern becomes smooth, ordered, and sine-wave–like, reflecting synchronization between the heart, brain, and nervous system.” This coherent state is associated with feelings of appreciation, compassion, and calm focus and is believed to optimize mental clariy, emotional well being and overall body system performance. HeartMath researchers suggest that because the heart generates a measurable electromagnetic field, coherent states may positively influence group environments.
In this way, Projection suggests that transformation is not confined to the individual but becomes truly transmissive. One’s presence becomes medicine. Without preaching or imposing change, a person who has refined their will and clarified their consciousness may naturally embody the very strength, steadiness, or compassion that another person lacks in a given moment. Just as a small measure of the Philosopher’s Stone was said to transmute a larger quantity of base metal, a coherent and elevated state of being can subtly influence the emotional and moral atmosphere around it. A household may feel calmer, a workplace more focused, even a neighborhood more harmonious.
The idea is that by stabilizing your own physiological and emotional state, you create a coherent field that can promote calm, clarity, and emotional regulation not only within yourself but also in those around you. On a personal note, years ago I experienced the amazing effect of generating heart coherence. I found myself in a situation where I was with a child who was extremely upset. I knelt down and embraced the child, and then spontaneously generated heart coherence. Within 30 seconds the child was drawing away from me, saying she was OK. She had, within moments, stopped trembling and crying, and seemed suddenly perfectly OK. It was quite astounding how effective it was..
The Great Work is called the Operation of the Sun because it implies conscious participation in divine illumination, literally and figuratively turning Lead into Gold. The master alchemist, adept or enlightened soul becomes a solar center, projecting coherence and vitality into the world. Gold/Sun is King, but Silver/Moon is Queen. The Moon and Pisces describe the receptive, fluid medium through which energetic influence spreads. The Sun corresponds to the heart as a solar center of core life-force - the body’s engine. When the solar heart is coherent, it projects clarity and order into the lunar field of emotion and relationship. In this way, Projection becomes the marriage of Sun and Moon: inner solar coherence transmitted through a Piscean-Moon medium, uplifting and stabilizing the wider environment through resonance.
To generate heart coherence, HeartMath teaches a simple three-step process:
Heart-focused breathing – Shift attention to the area around the heart and breathe slowly and evenly (about 5–6 seconds in and out).
Activate a regenerative emotion – Intentionally evoke feelings such as gratitude, care, or appreciation.
Sustain the feeling – Maintain both the steady breathing rhythm and the elevated emotion for several minutes.
Note: In my own personal experience, I will sometimes experience heart coherence as that “warm and fuzzy” feeling in your chest, when it feels like it’s actually getting warmer.
Suggested Links:
Heart Math Institute
Sources:
Mytho-Hermetic Dictionary by Dom Antoin-Josef Pernety
The Alchemy of Tarot by Juno Lucino
Hermetic Alchemy - The Golden Dawn Alchemy by Paul Foster Case
Qabalistic Tarot by Rober Wang
Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kynes
The Idiot’s Complete Guide to Alchemy by Dennis William Hauck
Alchemy Study Program course books (set of 6) by Dennis William Hauck
Hermetic Qabalah by Oliver St. John
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall
