Alchemy, from Virgin Earth, to Lead to Gold

[Enrapture]

I do believe that Alchemy can be a very important tool to use in improving the emotional health and to obtain the ability to acquire and maintain a "pure mind", turning lead to gold. It is only possible once appreciation for the lead is gained. This has nothing to di with its properties of 'protection' (ie. lead aprons to shield you from radiation at the dentist), but for its heaviness which is to be fully acknowledged. In acknowledgement one might contemplate on it like "whoa dude, that's HEAVY", which truly is a positive step in the right direction. The initial and important first step to gaining Alchemical skills, starts when you are presented with salt. Salt, which is a common and naturally occurring thing, derived from just about any soil (this salt is also known as "virgin earth" in The Six Keys of Exodus). People, being unaware that the (keeping metaphor very much in mind) salt within the dirt is the catalyst for a reaction in even those who are unaware of its presence when this "dirt" is given (even thrown/flung) to them. The dirt from the flinger could be intended as a judgment, insult or anything that is a projection of theirs which they may be benightedly using on you you as something which could potentially effect you emotionally. Possibly this person may be as a child, delighted by his learned assumption that if he throws something at you, you are going to react, which would in turn bring him gratification.

Humor this perspective for a moment: Dirt is ugly and it is everywhere.
So are insults. How about dirt insults?

Someone walks up to you and says "You are a worthless pile of dirt!"
(little did they know that wasn't just an insult. That was an in-salt!)

Well, a wise man once said "God made dirt and it don't hurt!"

Now that you're a little more primed for jocularity and metaphors....

So, you now have this handfull of dirt someone just gave you.

Now, what you are to do, now knowing about the presence (of this particular) and the properties of (any) salt? That would be to dissolve this dirt in water. Water, being as you probably know, emotional, but to make things even lovelier, let's now say that since you now know this much, this water is not just some plain old water.. Let's say it is water of new wisdom from the sea of knowledge. Now it's a *little* more charged, no? You will need to have mastered this first practice of Alchemy in order to move on to being successful in anything else. Realize that the solution you are creating, in dissolving and extracting this virgin earth, will be useful for you in the future. Extract the virgin earth (salt). Remove the soil. Retain this. Allow it to fill you and serve as a powerful solution. Eventually, it will replace all the toxic water in your body, if you let it.



Now, let's say that some one (of a PURE nature- a rare and valuable individual) gives you a "look in the mirror". Cold, hard, weighty truth- that is, unaffected by any desire to deride you and only brought to your attention with all good and pure intentions in mind. For instance, he tells you that you had done wrong-- made a mistake in your actions and exactly how it was wrong, being thorough in making sure you fully understand the wrongness. Let's say it REALLY hits you pretty hard (cold, hard, weighty) initially since it regards something you normally do, yet may not have been FULLY aware of until that moment. This, in my opinion is the lead. You can choose to be burdened with this criticism and see it as negative, focusing too strongly on all negative properties of lead and let's say, allow it to fill you, until you may actually be able to FEEL it as it is delivered to you. You may feel physically like you are suddenly weighed down. This is indeed a telltale sign that you have received true lead. Unless you learn to dissolve it, you will retain the poison and feel like you are a horrible person and an inadequate burden on his purity. This, of course is why Alchemy is so valuable because now, having had experienced the ability to transform, you can truly preform a miracle of sublime growth within your self. Effloresce and work toward wholly becoming pure and the best definitions of bland! BLAND?

As you have seen, the Alchemists awareness of metaphors and symbols are indeed used for very powerful internal transformations. Everything you grow aware of in your practice allows you to become progressively closer to having the ability to transform this lead into something valuable. When you have fully mastered the completion of the first lesson, you are fully equip to handle (1.receive/dissolve, 2.contemplate/extract, 3.transform/transmute) this lead. Know that if you were to use it without full knowledge of the first lesson, you may hurt yourself. You may misuse the lead as for protection, to create an emotional shield, you will certainly poison yourself. So, having had fully weighed and digested these properties in your mind, realize that it is much better for you to let go of and extract the heavy, poisonous properties of lead. Obviously it is just the properties, & not all of it, for if you were to simply throw it away, you are yelling "bonk YOU!" to the person who presented you with this gift, thus ending your position of "Alchemist". Having had grown wiser from contemplating the lead and how utterly ridiculous it would be to just stick it in your pocket forget about it, eventually being poisoned. Not to mention continue accumulating this lead through repeating the same way of dealing with it whenever it is presented to you throughout your life (could you imagine depression and a bonked up world outlook being a result?). You would be regarded by the very few existing successful Alchemists as weak and woefully unsuccessful.

In extracting the negative properties, you will need the virgin earth solution which you have retained and dissolved time after time. Now, you gently place the lead within it and observe as the perceived focus you once had on those negative properties to fade in the solution. You take away some of the weight, lighten it (lighten up!), which in turn aids to dissolve the poison in this true holy water you have created, in the mastered practice of dismissing the dirt and extracting the virgin earth. This solution you have made is the best thing to use in the heavy situations, for now you have lightened it and made it pure through wisdom and virgin earth. The source of all things, unfettered by neurotic perception. You have chosen to make your lead something precious You can choose to take the cold, hard, heavy truth with not only appreciation, but acceptance and growth rather than defensiveness, which may have at one point only hurt and crippled you. You have created precious gold. If any one is lucky enough to repeatedly receive pure, good intentioned criticism (if you have an emotionally healthy family, you should), which is the only thing you can really turn to gold, as only a positive source can beget the most positive of results.

Now, not only have you emotionally grown in leaps and bounds. You must realize you now have the knowledge to become rich beyond any average man. Being no longer corrupted by a tainted and misconceived connection to the world where many see only what is physical, you now can choose not to be effected by externals. Be aware that gold possesses the properties of excellent conductivity, ductility (as opposed to rigidity) and it does not tarnish. Externals become less of a factor, not out of an acquired "numbness" but by sheer and increasingly effortless will. You may just say you are on the path to developing the "Midas Touch". Perhaps this gift truly can be likened to the Midas touch, so keep in mind his downfall. Always be aware of the ever present danger of corruption, as you probably know what it is that knowledge is also widely regarded as. Be meek and you will inherit the earth. Be driven by your ego and it will devour you.