Alchemized Body:

In Weeks 1—3 we lay a lot of groundwork to prepare you for the alchemization process. In Week One we take a deep dive into “nutritionism” and the stories we’ve been telling. Our mind creates our world, and by bringing awareness to the perceptions we’ve been living from, we’ll be able to begin re-writing new, more empowering stories. Hence, the exercises this week focus on increasing our awareness.

In Week Two we're bringing awareness to stress: the different types of stress, uncovering our own cycles of stress, and learning how we've personally been coping. Exercises this week focus on learning how to intentionally activate both our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and explore why and when to do so.

In Week Three we delve into some of the scientific principles that support the process of alchemization, as well as collective beliefs, dreams, energy, and the power of our minds. This is a thick & juicy week full of mind-expanding concepts, so come with an open mind.

In Week Four the 7 stage process of alchemy begins — the element we’re focusing on this week is FIRE. Calcincation involves pulverizing then burning all the pieces of our “false self” to ash, from which our authentic selves can arise. This requires an unearthing of unconscious material, and a willingness to question what you currently believe, especially about yourself.

In Week Five shadow work continues through deeply connecting with our watery emotions and our creative power. Submerging ourselves in these emotions allows them to be reintegrated and allows us to be reconnected to our True Selves. This Jungian stage is often called shadow work, and it can only be done if we are willing to wade through our distress and discomfort.

In Week Six we move out of shadow work, where we were focusing on increasing our awareness of previously hidden, unconscious, and rejected parts, and enter into the stage of separation. In this stage we are sorting out what is us and what is programming/others, then determining what to release and what to reintegrate as aspects of our authentic self. Separation includes a separation from others — from caring about what others think or believe, and connecting instead with our inner wisdom.

Ancient alchemists referred to conjunction as the “marriage of the Sun and Moon,” a union of the spirit Above, and the matter Below, or the joining of knowing with both our minds and our hearts. In this stage we focus on the union of both the masculine and feminine sides of our personalities. Week Seven is about dialectic BALANCE of opposites, as well as passion, pleasure, love, and beauty.

Fermentation involves the quickening of a chemical reaction by a catalyst, or an additive. It is the beginning of the process of spiritization and raising our consciousness. This is the stage of education and enlightenment through intuitive insight. Here we will be re-visiting the magic of who we were as children.

Distillation is a process of refinement. Psychologically, distillation is achieved through introspective techniques that raise our consciousness to the highest level possible by working with universal forces you know to be real.

In this final week, we reach Gold & the alchemical step of Coagulation. Gold represents the highest level of refinement spiritually, psychologically & energetically. This gold, this light, lives within us always. A healed & whole version of us exists, and intuitively you know this. We know it because we experience dissonance and distress, or contrast, when we are not embodying our Authentic Self. You are already that which you seek. And your recognition of this, is how you claim it. You are healed when you realize that a healed version of you already exists, and you step into it. Claim it. Claim your healed, whole, Higher Self. Claim your Gold.

Though this is the last week of the course, the "work" never ends. There is no destination. The journey is the destination. There is no "there." The work is always in the NOW and it always happening, layer by layer. So we transform lead into gold, deeper and deeper among each layer of ourselves. Healing is not linear, but a beautiful journey.