The Power of Alchemy
At 4 a.m., jet-lagged from Asia, I found myself by the pool with Naomi during one of Chakrana’s transformative Ayahuasca ceremonies in Mexico. I asked her what the most powerful insight was on the medicine, she replied with one word: “duality.”
Navigating my 20s has been a journey of cultivating awareness on all of my beliefs, but the lesson I’m about to share is perhaps the most profound. I understand how it feels to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders from feelings of guilt, shame, frustration, and unmet expectations. The hardest thing is to catch yourself in that cycle of darkness.
But then I remembered Naomi’s words. If there’s darkness, there must be light.
This is where alchemy comes in, a practice I learned from Jess at Chakrana. She gathered us, a gang of 20-somethings that hung out at her sanctuary this summer, and had us voice our mistakes and fears. She then taught us to transform them, to turn lead into gold. Some people wait a lifetime to learn something like this, that the concept of “energy cannot be created nor destroyed” applies to all aspects of life.
Whether you call it alchemy or transmutation, the power to reshape your life lies in perspective.
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What is Spiritual Alchemy?
In spiritual alchemy, you're refining your soul by noticing and shedding your limiting beliefs, and flipping the script to the side that will help you spiral higher and allow yourself to become your best self.
You are basically transforming the darkness within yourself into light. Everyone has this power because it already exists within us - and I will share some insights I gained from her lecture.
Empowerment over Victimhood
When you stop seeing yourself as a victim of the past and current circumstances, you reclaim control over your actions, decisions, emotions, and your life. Use that weight to transform it into light, lessons of wisdom and discernment that will reward you with peace and prosperity. You have to be definitive, decisive, and intentional.
Embracing Radical Acceptance
Fully acknowledge your emotions. All of it — the good, the bad, the ugly, the emotions of deep shame and fear you’ve tucked away. Until you get so unfazed when it comes up again, those emotions are waiting to be processed.
Choosing Your Path
“Will you choose to lie with the pigs?” Jessica asked, reminding us that we always have a choice in how we respond and must take responsibility for our actions.
Whatever happened may not have been right. But it is your responsibility on how you move on and what path you decide to take.
I love Kanye West as an example of choosing your path, a boy from Chicago who dared to think bigger despite what his reality presented to him.
The ability to turn any situation to your advantage, especially through mindset
If lack exists, then abundance must exist. If weakness exists, then strength exists. I make it a practice to see where my mentality is at, because the universe will reward whatever side you are on.
If you find resistance, look at situations with neutrality first and what is.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Have you heard of alchemy? Are you embodying alchemy already - or plan to? These short notes I have only scratch the surface, and I’m excited to dive deeper into alchemy myself.
Allow yourself to feel the darkness and transform it into light. Permit yourself to transform.
I also want to give a huge thank you to everyone at Chakrana (Olivia, Naomi, Monty, Nicole), and especially Jorje and Jessica for creating a space where people can evolve mentally and spiritually. Chakrana’s has been a space that has allowed me to be creative and has helped move me towards shedding my fears. If you get the chance, I encourage you to stop by Chakrana in the heart of Puerto Vallarta and I hope you feel as happy and inspired as I do every time I’m in this space.
If you are looking to evolve in the practice of alchemy, here are some recommendations:
Read The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
Find a way to release yourself - this could be meditating on this thought, being mindful about what you’re consuming (mentally and physically), or releasing energy through being immersed in nature.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.
"May the entire universe ever be filled with peace, joy, love and light."
Adios,
Nirel Manalili