THE TOOLS OF THE ALCHEMIST
Transmuting darkness into light, discovering more of ourselves, and uncovering the Truth.
 Grand rising, dear Alchemist:
Today we'll be exploring the idea of free will vs determinism. To begin, let's conduct a thought experiment: Imagine if you will, a supercomputer capable of analyzing every detail of reality, while also being able to quantify that information flawlessly in order to predict the future with perfect precision. This means that any action you consider taking, no matter how minor, has been calculated based on a previous set of circumstances that led you to take said actions. Would this prove that you have no free will? This is a simplified version of the dilemma that philosophers have been struggling with since time immemorial. Taking a position on either side can pose major ethical and spiritual problems. If all life is determined, then all of our actions both good and bad have always been out of our control. This leads us to question the point of our existence in the first place, not to mention having no way to justify our experiences. Knowing we have free will helps us be at ease with our place in the Universe. It allows us to feel as though we are not simply an embedded occurrence among all the randomness that goes on. Choosing this line of thinking, of course, means we must also take responsibility for our actions. It is entirely on us to wake up in the morning and go about our days knowing full well that we are the masters of our own lives. The prospect of free will has not yet been forsaken. Take the example we started with: If one were to see their own future, then all that would need to happen in order to deviate from it would be to simply change the course of events that lead to it. The ability to know one's future could, in fact, change it. This could mean that our example can hold no weight in actuality. Perhaps the only thing that is determined in our reality is that nothing actually is, and any sense of control we have might be a fleeting, third-dimensional illusion. Alchemist, in our journey through this life, we may have learned that it is best to let go of the need for certainty, and this past year has really hammered that point in. Discovering who is writing the never-ending scenes of life is not what's important. Our role in the play is what matters most, to make every moment memorable, and to watch the story unfold together. We are the actors, the writers, and the audience. Now, enjoy the show. With love and sincerity, The Alchemy by LA Council  Good day, fellow Alchemists:
Life is a mysterious thing. We are born clueless as to why we're here and must journey onwards despite the lack of such crucial knowledge. From day one, we are bombarded by information from other people about life and the nature of reality. This forces us to be firm on our beliefs in order to navigate the world with the least amount of existential dread as possible. Everyone seems to have their own perspective on our situation and so far, no interpretation seems to be the one. Generally speaking, we humans try to avoid thinking of our untimely end and what will become of us afterward. But it's not merely the mystery of death that makes us think critically about our role in the Universe. It is the mystery of everything! Are ghosts real? How about aliens? Why are humans the way we are? Are we living in a simulation? Maybe questions like these pop in-and-out of your head at times or maybe they never cross your mind. Regardless of what you may be curious about, uncertainty seems to be the general mode of being on this planet. So in a life filled with uncertainty and mystery, how do we find any kind of truth? Some people believe there is no such thing as truth. That all of our opinions are just temporary constructs created to maintain order. Others believe in an inherent truth that encompasses all facets of the human dilemma; beliefs that usually pertain to a single Universal consciousness presiding over all living beings. Given the state of our existence, nothing can be ruled out or disproven. This is why it's important to question ourselves and our own beliefs regularly. Think of it as a personal challenge to ask yourself in any given situation, what do I really know? Freedom from knowing allows us to create space for what might be possible, instead of only what we believe to be real. It was through this kind of self-skepticism that some of the greatest minds have found some semblance of relative truths about life. Living our lives through the courage of not knowing can be thought of as our source for meaning. To live without being sure of ourselves and taking steps forward regardless; that is what it means to be human. Open yourself up to the mystery of life. In return for your bravery, you will always be rewarded. With love and sincerity, The Alchemy by LA Council  Grand rising, dear Alchemist:
The human mind is a mysterious tool. Many have tried to disassemble it; analyzing every single one of its features, leaving no stone unturned. And yet, more mysteries can be found. It is an instrument that can make or break us when it matters most. It is simultaneously the source and the solution to all of our problems. If we can master the mind, many of the obstacles in our way will cease to exist, and building a life of fulfillment for ourselves will be much more plausible. However, this is no easy task due to how our mood has such a profound effect on the way our mind operates. The idea of controlling our mind may seem impossible, but with a change in perspective, we can be well on our way to mastering it. But what does it mean to master our mind? To control our thoughts is a notion that has been largely thrown away due to its restrictive nature. This is why we are constantly taught in meditation to simply observe our thoughts rather than control them. To build on this idea, think of your mind as a naughty child. The more you try and force the child to behave a certain way, the more resistant the child will be. Like the child, our mind has to be taught proper behavior, encouraged in positive ways, and must experience things first hand to grow properly. We often find ourselves at the mercy of our mind, which incarnates as problems like depression, anxiety, lack of focus, or even insomnia. These are all due to behaviors that your mind has learned. They are a type of coping mechanism that only serves to exacerbate the problems we originally are dealing with. Negative reactions are habits that we can train ourselves to stop doing, just like any other habit we have. A simple way to hack into our brain's matrix is by taking a moment to breathe. Whenever a moment of mental anguish arises, take a breath inward for four seconds and then let it out for four seconds. Do this continuously until a sensation of tranquility manifests. This simple technique can help the mind calm down for just a moment, and find clarity. The more moments of clear consciousness you have during times of mental anguish, the more your mind will begin to associate the two states and a new coping mechanism will be developed. With love and sincerity, The Alchemy by LA Council  Good day, fellow Alchemists:
There exists a kind of affliction that many of us suffer from. It's a type of spiritual malady riddled with excuses and procrastination, making it so easy to go overlooked and untreated. It makes those suffering from it break out in a kind of hiccup, which can sound like "if only" and "maybe one day," or any other kind of groan or whining sound. Those afflicted may have any or all of the following symptoms: - Working in jobs that they are unhappy with - Being stuck in dysfunctional relationships - Feeling as though they are wasting their potential - Waking up in the morning without a feeling of inspiration In case you haven't caught on yet, the disease we're referring to is LIMITATION, and as debilitating a sickness as it might be, society refers to it as just a simple case of being realistic. But what does it mean to be realistic? In this crazy world of ours, just about anything can happen. And more often than not, the people who stand at the top are those who were willing to take the risks necessary to accomplish what they set out to do. When we examine the possibilities that are available to us at any given moment, without the sense of "realism" that society has instilled in us, we can see how EASILY and EFFORTLESSLY we can bring ourselves into a life filled with everything we've ever wanted. The only obstacle in our way is ourselves. Immediate action is the only cure for a limited mindset. Alchemist, if there is anything at all that you'd rather be doing... if there is something that will fulfill you to an indescribable degree by accomplishing it... We recommend doing it as soon as the thought enters your mind, in the HERE and NOW! After all, you can't change the past and the future has yet to happen. The only thing you can change is yourself in the present moment. With love and sincerity, The Alchemy by LA Counsel |