Alchemy and Wisdom

This is modified from sections of one of my books ...

While the application of alchemic principles does not require wisdom, nor such pursuits guarantee wisdom, any substantial growth in wisdom certainly requires alchemy. Wisdom is the result of the transition from ‘believing’ to ‘knowing’ within the dynamics of practical experience and evolving ‘presence’. When the ‘believing’ comes from functional learning through education or forced dogma, the transition to ‘knowing’ requires only a freeing of oneself from boxes and definitions set by others. This is not alchemy. But when the ‘believing’ comes from other Zones of Knowledge through instrumental means including observation, revelation, currents, instinct or divination, then the transition is certainly alchemic in flavor, if not practice.

Once a concept or practice is reduced to either scientific principle or congruent understanding it can no longer be a tribal memory, magic, phenomena or intuitive touch – you ‘own it’! Ancient alchemists believed that this process of transferring concepts from the ‘unknown’ to the ‘known’ would refine a purify the unknown realms so that only pure magic or divinity would remain. Unfortunately, as one’s knowledge increases, so does the capacity for conceptualization – ‘the more you know, the more ignorant you become’! Fortunately, the transition of knowledge into wisdom has an attendant growth in presence (who you are). A high degree of wisdom through alchemic means will result in humility and selflessness as your personal sphere of Comprehensible Knowledge expands toward pure understanding. For the religious readers, “greater ethical wisdom brings you closer to God.” for the metaphysical explorer consider, “The relationships between Comprehensible Knowledge and Useable Knowledge, is the relationship of Ethereal Mystery and Comprehensible Knowledge.

Either way, the only way to achieve significant wisdom is through alchemy.

Note: this may appear daunting or difficult -- not so. Just to accept that knowledge can come from sources other than school texts, TV sound bites or pulpits may be enough. Look for "the other right answer" and you are on your way.

papa