The Mystery of ALCHEMY
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 ALCHEMY of the sign of SAGITTARIUS
The Alchemical Operation assigned to Sagittarius is Incineration. Incineration, to burn, is not one of the 7 Operations that are more commonly known, and many find the term confusing, as it is fairly close in meaning to Calcination, which also means burning. However after much research, the distinction we have come to settle on is that Calcination is a psychological burning away of unwanted parts, or to physically create powders, and can also indicate the initial flame of the Alchemical journey. Incineration is burning with the intent to completely reduce to ash, like the physical process of cremation. , It is the “fire of the crucible” so to speak, psychologically and spiritually. The intent is to totally reduce to white ash.
Sagittarius is a fire sign, and Incineration plays a critical role. Total reduction to white ash sound violent and extreme, and possibly something to avoid. However, reducing a substance to ash, specifically white ash, actually returns the material to its “Alchemical Salt”. Salt, in general alchemical terms, refers to the Body, but in truth it is literally the essential essence of the Body. The white ash that remains when a substance is incinerated is called its salt. (In a bit of a twist, Salt is also attributed to Water, which obeys the nature of the Moon, and/or the passive receptive nature of the Queen, in alchemical symbolism, which we will mention again later.)
Most notably however, Salt is one of the members in the Alchemical Triad of “Mercury, Sulfur and Salt”, and as such represents the Body – Sulfur being the Soul and Mercury Spirit. In physical alchemy, Mercury is alcohol of a substance, Sulfer is it’s Oil, and Salt is its white ash. To make any alchemical or Spagyric product, it is necessary to acquire and combine the Body, Soul and Spirit of a thing for a successful outcome. For example, in extremely simplified terms, one must reduce a plant to ash (incinerate it) to obtain its essential matter (Salt), then distill it to obtain its Soul (oil) and ferment & distill it to obtain its Spirit (alcohol.) Mixing these three ingredients together in a specific way creates an Elixir.
Incineration is obviously crucial to obtain the Salt, and as Salt is considered passive, whereas the fire of Incineration is distinctly active, the nature of the Hermetic Axiom of Polarities is beautifully expressed as one begets the other.
Mentally, Incineration “burns to ashes” old ways of thinking or what we might called experiential and societal programming. It is necessary in any spiritual journey to do the “psychological work” of deep-diving into one’s psyche, in order to cast out old programming that no longer serves us. However even after much purging and cleansing of body and mind, the task of incineration must be taken on to truly burn out the remaining residue and latent tendencies of the subconscious mind.
This part of the Great Work is was considered impossible (by adepts of old) for the person to do own their own, because the self-consciousness can not effectively access the deepest recesses of the subconscious mind to perform this degree of cleansing. It would be like a surgeon trying to do brain surgery on himself. To this end early Alchemists associated Incineration with the mystical experience of “The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.” This experience of divine connection, and subsequent assistance, was considered crucial to complete this task in order for the alchemist or aspirant to be able spiritually advance to the next stage. This is why most Tarot Temperance cards, which are associated with Sagittarius (and Incineration) show an angel doing the Alchemical work, over a fiery crucible.
Qabalistically, Incineration can be found on the Tree of Life by locating the Key 14/Temperance and its associated Hebrew letter, Samekh. On its way up to Tiphareth, Temperance crosses The Tower and sits between Death and The Devil, an ominous place to be for sure, but which echoes the severity of the process, and the plea for divine assistance to complete the task. Semekh actually does mean Prop, which seems to imply the need for assistance. The path of Temperance and Semekh is on the middle pillar and connects Yesod (Foundation) directly to Tiphareth (Beauty), which is (maybe not surprisingly) associated with the spiritual experience of “The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.”
One last mention needs to be made about Jupiter, which is associated with the metal Tin. Because Jupiter rules Sagittarius, the energetics of Incineration is expressed through the Jupiter center in the body. Where the Jupiter center actually is depends on who you ask. According to Paul Foster Case, the Jupiter center is the Solar Plexus. The Alchemical method traditionally assigns the Jupiter center to the Sacral Center. However both 2nd and 3rd chakras are considered “below the belt” and part of the "lower triangle" of chakras associated with physical reality and personal identity. They both deal with an individual's sense of self and how one relates to the world and other, and both centers are impressionable. It is interesting to note that Tin, as a metal, is one of the most impressionable metals, as it is the metal most commonly used for decorations made from impressions and hammering, etc. Also interesting to note that Tin does not succumb to incineration. It oxidizes and becomes part of the ash. It must go through a special process to be retrieved out of the ash, which reminds us again of the “divine assistance” needed during the incineration process to full purge our “impressions.”
Connecting with your Guardian Angel
Aleister Crowley and the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel
A complete guide to versions of this ritual can be found in Aleister Crowley’s Vision and the Voice and Liber Samekh works.
49 Ways to Connect with Your Guardian Angel
September 6, 2024 by grace.cummins https://www.watkinsmagazine.com
Established over 130 years ago, Watkins Books (London) is one of the world’s oldest and leading independent bookshops specialising in Esoterica.
This article is compiled by the participants of a group who meet regularly (roughly once every three weeks) at Tara, London, since 2010, to practice meditation and various techniques of deepening the communion with the angels and archangels of light.
All of us have a guardian angel – but do we all believe that we do? If you believe and you would like to know how to awaken and deepen your relationship with your Angel, your communion with them, here are some suggestions.
1. Intention. To connect with your guardian angel it is firstly important to wish to have this connection. Setting a clear and firm intention that is full of love and faith will help you to connect with your guardian angel.
2. It is often easier for your guardian angel to reach you through dreams. Recording your dreams will help you to remember them. Before going to sleep, ask your guardian angel to help you to feel its presence in your dreams.
3. Ask Ask Ask. Asking is a fundamental requirement to connect with your guardian angel. Angels respect our free will, so asking is fundamental to feeling the presence, help, advice, protection and guidance of your guardian angel.
4. After you ask, it is important to allow yourself to feel and experience the answer.
5. Gratitude – aim to cultivate gratitude as often as possible.
6. Call your guardian angel. If you don’t know the name of your guardian angel, simply call him or her, “My Guardian Angel.”
7. Your guardian angel knows you deeply. You can ask your guardian angel to embrace you and to help you to feel this embrace. Doing this regularly will amplify your relationship with him or her.
8. Bless your guardian angel.
9. Become as pure as a child.
10. Create a special “language” of communication. Notice the signs, so that when you see them you will feel that your guardian angel is there.
11. Open your heart.
12. Be kind.
13. Cultivate sublime arts.
14. Playfulness.
15. Recognise when people act or behave like angels.
16. Pray. You can use prayers that already exist, such as the Guardian Angel Prayer in this booklet, or a prayer that you create with your own words.
17. Be attentive. Be aware of everything that takes place around you, such as meaningful synchronicities, what people say to you. Angels act through and are present in synchronicities.
18. Be aware of everything that is within you. Become aware of inspiring thoughts or inspiring emotions.
19. Awaken your spiritual intuition.
20. Practise meditation of communion with your guardian angel.
21. Practise meditation of communion with the godly attributes. Godly attributes are godly energies in which the frequency of vibration never modifies. By meditating and abundantly attracting in your Universe many or at least one of these godly attributes, you will open your being to feel closer to the angelic realms of light. Godly attributes such as the Godly Attribute of
Godly Love, Harmony, Peace, Generosity, Beauty, Happiness, Kindness, Strength, Wisdom, and so on, will help you to connect to these pure energies and to your guardian angel.
21. Nature brings us closer to ourselves and the angelic realms. Aim to connect with your guardian angel while in natural surroundings.
22. Practice purification – both inner and outer.
23. Using orange essential oil can help you in connecting with your guardian angel.
24. Use the crystal Lapis Lazuli.
23. Create an altar for your guardian angel. A visual reference with pictures, crystals, flowers and little offerings will assist you in remembering the presence of your guardian angel. An altar also creates a beautiful and special place that will help you to strongly feel the presence of your guardian angel as soon as you sit near it, until you feel his or her presence everywhere and all the time.
24. Any angel can be evoked at any time, including your guardian angel, and your guardian angel can help you to connect with any other angel, archangel or angelic being of light. To evoke merely means to ask. Ask your guardian angel to be with you, to protect, guide, to help and advise, to inspire, to bring clarity, harmony and solutions for you, for members of your family, your beloved, your friends, planet Earth. Evoke your guardian angel by centring in your heart.
25. Being relaxed helps you to connect with your guardian angel.
26. Being silent assists you to connect with your guardian angel.
27. Watch inspiring movies with an angelic theme.
28. Have angelic images and sculptures close to you.
29. Listen to sublime music.
30. Read inspiring books with an angelic theme.
31. Use angelic cards for divination to help you to perceive messages from your guardian angel. After asking a question and asking for guidance, draw a card and take note of its message.
32. Create your own set of angelic cards.
33. Call upon your guardian angel to feel his or her presence more and more.
34. Use angelic techniques in spiritual books to help you to connect with your guardian angel.
35. Join a group, the intention of which is to deepen communion with angels and archangels of light.
36. Practise yoga to awaken and harmonise your body and being.
37. Ask your guardian angel to be with you in your everyday life, not only in moments of need, but also simply when you go for a walk, when you eat, when you meet someone.
38. Offer your time, talents and possessions selflessly and altruistically, without expecting anything in return.
39. Recognise signs – numbers, synchronicity, dreams, clouds, hearts, white bright light, feathers.
40. Remember – use different reminders to help you to remember to connect with your guardian angel, such as a screensaver with an angelic image, an angelic song for a ring tone.
41. Smiling and laughter.
42. Listening to, reading or viewing stories of others who have had experiences of connecting with their guardian angel.
43. Breathe to connect with your guardian angel.
44. Embrace consciously.
45. Practise creativity in any form, drawing, dancing, singing, painting etc.
46. Write a letter to your guardian angel.
47. Become a godly channel.
48. See everyone and everything as their best version of themselves. Cultivate a transfigured attitude towards life.
49. Cultivate faith and trust. If you are wondering when would be a good or bad time to connect with your guardian angel, the
best time to connect with him or her is all the time, here and now.
Here are 49 ways to connect to them above, but there are many more! Where there is the will there is a way…
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