alchemy (n.)
- change.
- the study of change and the practical application of knowledge about change.
- a personal practice consisting of beneficial transformative activities that lead to a mastery of change.
- a 2,000-year-old tradition of practical wisdom that uses symbols to elicit life-changing personal revelations. The native integrative wisdom tradition of Western civilization.
- the developmental matrix of modern science, modern technology, modern medical practice, modern psychology, and modern systems theory.
Become Your Most Authentic, Vibrant and Powerful Self
Change occurs continually, everywhere, at all levels of existence, both in the world around us and within us. Existence is change. Learning to understand and master change is the most empowering thing we can do in our lives. Whenever we’re stuck, unfulfilled and miserable or doing fine but yearning for something better, we’re in need of changes that we don’t know how to make. Understanding how change works in our lives gives us the power to find our way from any wanting situation to abundant creativity and joy and fulfillment.
Alchemy uses symbols to convey knowledge and wisdom about change. Alchemy also teaches us how to use symbols wisely, and it gives us an entire world of symbols that provide powerful practical guidance. The core method of alchemy has always been (a) to study the world around us for insights about how we can effect change both in the world and within ourselves, and then (b) to capture those insights in symbols that can trigger the same insights in other people.
Historical Western alchemy offers dozens of enlightening symbols, and the symbolic method of alchemy enables us to use symbols from all of humanity's great wisdom traditions—Judeo-Christianity, Western classical mythology, yoga, Buddhism, Taoism and others—without any conflicts between their collections of symbols. The symbolic method of alchemy also enables us to make new symbols that reflect novel insights from modern science, philosophy, psychology, self-help and other fields.
Contrary to common misperception, alchemy did not fail as a form of early chemistry. Alchemy gave birth to modern chemistry and to all our modern sciences and technologies. Alchemy also gave birth to modern medicine, modern agriculture and botany, modern psychology, and modern systems theory, including the study of emergence and complex dynamic systems. (The perspectives and principles of modern systems theory are clearly evident in the core alchemical symbols of metals/planets/gods. A teaser: Hermes/Mercury reflects the principle and effects of interactivity between the parts of any system.)
Since its initial emergence in Alexandria, Egypt around 150 CE, Western alchemy has gone through three major eras—first in Egypt, then in the Middle East, and then in Europe. The purpose of this website and the associated book, to be shared here as the drafting proceeds, is to establish a fourth, modern era of the Western alchemical tradition, hence the title, Alchemy 4.0.
The book will draw upon the following fields and more for valuable insights about the nature and practice of change:
- Modern sciences, including chemistry, physics, biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, complex systems theory and chaos theory
- The history of human civilization and technology
- Semiotics (the study of signs and symbols)
- Linguistics (the study of language and words)
- Integrative wisdom traditions, including yoga, Buddhism and Taoism
- Other practical philosophies, including Stoicism, Epicureanism and Existentialism
- The teachings of Joseph Campbell, including the functions of myth, the Hero’s Journey, and the use of symbols in society and religion
- The depth psychology of Carl Jung, including his model of the psyche; his writings on alchemy; and his theories of archetypes, the transcendent function and the process of individuation
- Art-making, storytelling and the performing arts
The book will explain key ideas from all these subjects in straightforward language that most everyone will be able to understand, and the book will provide clear instructions for incorporating transformative alchemical perspectives and practices into modern daily life.
As of launching this website in June 2026, the author has written more than 500,000 words of notes across more than 30 years of study and practice in yoga, meditation, art-making, business-building and living life in general, accompanied throughout by regular contemplation of traditional alchemical symbols. ... I've been fascinated by alchemical symbols since I first encountered them decades ago in the writings of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. I felt sure that there were unrecognized treasures hiding in the symbols. Since then, I've come to understand how the symbols work and what they can accomplish.
I wrote the main outline of this book more than 25 years ago. I still had much to discover about how it all fits together and how to teach it to a general . I'm now writing the book. I'm going to share the drafting as I go on this website for people who are interested in supporting and participating in the project.
According to 15th/16th century German alchemist Basil Valentine, "The art is so great and noble that it cannot be written in one book." I aim to prove him wrong.