If there is really one essential Work for mystics, in general, and Rosicrucians in particular, it is SPIRITUAL ALCHEMY. This form of alchemy is one of the foundations of philosophy that sets out the path to follow in order to fulfil our inner evolution. Herein is the Great Work that each human being must accomplish in order to discover the Philosopher’s Stone that is found in his deepest part so as to achieve perfection of his own nature. Material alchemy, also called “operative alchemy,” has for centuries fascinated scientists and mystics, but more essential action is the perfecting, transmuting and evolution of our inner being.

Whereas the operative alchemy transmutes base metals, usually lead or tin, into gold, spiritual alchemy transforms our soul. Transmutation for material alchemy was not carried out directly upon the metal in question, but on a “MATERIA PRIMA” – a primary or raw material, referred to as the “stone material” in some alchemical writings. According to certain sources, this consisted of a naturally-occurring ore, composed essentially of sulphur, salt and mercury, when combined in precise proportions. Material alchemy was just the outward expression of an infinitely higher transmutation, that of the soul itself, and the cornerstone of this transmutation is, purely and simply, SPIRITUAL ALCHEMY.

This mystic process consists of transmuting our faults by means of the crucible of life, and urged on by Divine Fire that burns within us. Since we are all imperfect, the ultimate goal of our evolution is to attain that state of perfection which Rosicrucians call the “ROSE-CROIX STATE.” This state comes only when we purify our personality of its negative shortcomings, awaken the virtues of Divine Soul within us and seek to express its capacity for wisdom. Since such goal cannot be attained in one single lifetime, we reincarnate for as long as we are imperfect. If we have not awakened the virtues of our Divine Soul, we continue to manifest certain faults, such as pride, selfishness, jealousy, intolerance, and so on.

These faults are detrimental to us because they generate negative karma which is expressed as trials of varying degrees in our life. We have good reasons for perfecting ourselves: first, it is part of the process of evolution from which we cannot withdraw and whose ultimate goal is to attain perfection; second, it allows us to “think” out our behaviour into being positive, and to create positive karma for ourselves, which is expressed in our lives as joy that is conducive to the happiness we seek in order to gain mastery of life. There are several stages required to reach the sought-after goal in spiritual alchemy.

The first stage consists of realizing that we are imperfect and have faults to correct, and, as mirror of our soul, to pay attention to the image of ourselves that others send back to us. If we do not do this, we become blind to our real personality and give more power to our faults, to the point where they generate negative conduct on us, thereby giving rise to corresponding karmic tests. We know and recognize our weaknesses, faults, deficiencies and mistakes, but we have within us the potential to transmute them and improve ourselves.

In order to accomplish our inner transmutation, we must resolve to correct our faults if we truly have the conviction that humankind’s goal is to evolve; this constitutes a key stage in spiritual alchemy, and the real meaning that we attribute to life. When we strive to perfect ourselves, we receive the support of the God of our Heart, and find happiness. Conversely, if we let our faults and weaknesses to control us without transmuting them, we attract various problems and trials to ourselves. Another stage in Spiritual Alchemy comes when we decide to perfect ourselves. This consists of materializing our desire in order to transmute, and not to accentuate, our faults; we must not give power to our ego so as to assert its hold upon our conduct. We should not give in to our fault, for, in so doing we arrogate more force to increase its ability to be harmful. We should, rather, endeavour to acquire its opposite quality, by calling on the Divine within our nature.

The best way to achieve Spiritual Alchemy is to first define the manner in which the quality, that we want to inculcate, expresses itself in our everyday life, and to manifest it every time that we have occasion to do so, until it becomes an integral part of our soul. In order to rid ourselves of, for instance, the fault of pride, we need to implement its opposite quality, humility, by not demonstrating our intellectual or other type of superiority. We should not seek to draw attention to ourselves, but to act in totally impersonal way in service of Good. With time, this determined effort to be humble becomes habitual, and law to the subconscious, such that pride is eventually transmuted. This is basic principle of spiritual alchemy that we should apply to our faults. A mystic, who transmutes all of his or her faults into its opposite qualities, experiences the final stage of spiritual alchemy, which is Illumination. The “materia prima”, as the soul, then becomes pure and perfect, or very close to the state of perfection.

It is not by chance that the Rosicrucian alchemists symbolized the Great Work by a Red Rose, often with an Aura of the Colour Gold. Whoever has attained this state has brought about the celebrated “Chymical Wedding”, having accomplished the union between the human Self and the Divine Self, symbolized in the language of Alchemy by the marriage of the King and the Queen, and by the union of Sulphur and Mercury. From that point on, the mystic truly possesses the Elixir of Long Life, for he has become a Pure Agent of Divinity, and is no longer obliged to reincarnate. In our mind, in our heart, and in our life, may alchemy take place.