(This audio is Episode one of my podcast series Tales of Alchemy. To subscribe, go HERE.)

Alchemy at its essence is transmutation of base material into something precious.

Mediaeval Alchemists sought to turn lead into gold, to find the philosopher's stone, the elixir of life and their magnum opus.

In more recent times, the idea of “inner-alchemy” refers to the spiritual process a person goes through in order to transform their lower-mind, or “base-consciousness” of conditioned or mundane thinking into more purified, expanded-consciousness.

When I speak of Alchemy I am talking about inner alchemy. Carl Jung referred to it as individuation. I call it energetic, emotional, spiritual Alchemy or self actualisation.

Spiritual Alchemy is an ancient philosophy that uses the metaphor of transforming metals into gold for attaining 'spiritual enlightenment'.

In my work and in every aspect of my life I use alchemical processes to distil, refine, purify, remove...

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the rise of the Church and Patriarchy, both men and women were valued and respected equally.

God or Source or The Creator wasn't yet ingrained in our consciousness as being an old white dude.

Women were teachers, healers, mothers, and guides and they were respected for what they uniquely brought to their communities. They taught of the mysteries and creation of life. The innately feminine gifts of nurturing, receptivity, intuition, and being in tune with emotions, seasons and cycles were seen as powerful and valuable.

Some of these women specialised in herbalism, or numerology, or palmistry, or astrology and held space for other women in sacred circle and there were many temple arts, where a higher connection between the Divine and earthly beings was revered and nurtured.

The Priestess was a spiritual leader and guide, sharing ritual, leading ceremony and offering counsel.

The Priestess walked the bridge between the seen and unseen worlds....