The struggle is real… Burn, Fire, Struggle, Calcination - [week 2]
In the motion of time and space experience we call life, we recognize the first stage of the works of alchemy as struggle / the Calcination phase that burns everything down. This must happen before we can re-envision and re-build our lives towards the intuited visions we dream of.
Often, we resist the struggle. Most of us don’t invite the hard times of chaos and our world crumbling to the ground with open arms, but rather resist change to stay in comfortable routine, convincing ourselves with stories of “it’s fine, I’m fine” even if it doesn’t serve highest selves or life’s mission (which can be as simple as joy or happiness).
So here, we acknowledge the need for the uncomfortable struggle as the first stage of renewal in both the 4 stages of flow & the 8 stages of alchemy. Here, we light bonfires of what no longer serves us, embracing the beginner's mind as strong emotions flow through as we watch what we’ve previously built (and are often very attached to) disappear before our very eyes.
Calcination - Welcome to your ego death. The fire burns what is no longer needed, often tumbling all you know & your life into a great big pile of ashes. Here, you can begin again. This is the struggle.
Here we dive directly into the deep end, breaking down parts of ourselves and thought systems getting in the way of our own happiness. We acknowledge and say goodbye to our defense mechanisms in order to welcome in new beginnings. ‘But for the alchemists, Calcination is a controlled burn achieved by a deliberate surrender of our materiality through a variety of spiritual disciplines that ignite the passion in our souls…Calcination is working with Fire to burn away mental constructs and reveal a person’s true essence.’ - The Emerald Tablet, Chapter 10, Step One: Calcination.
photo by Erin Grimm from Ignite Your Inner Flame 2022, in Costa Rica
Some ways Calcination/Struggle can appear in our lives:
-losing something we’re attached to, a job, relationship, home, possession, or self-image.
-hitting yourself with a flow prop - even painfully.
-ending relationships that no longer serve us.
-making huge decisions that change our & other’s lives, inducing huge change.
-feeling frustration, rage, anger, fear, and outbursts of strong emotions as our ego resists change.
-uncomfortability with the present or in our own skin
-incredulousness & disbelief
While the struggle phase doesn’t feel ‘good’ (it’s kinda not supposed to?) it’s a crucial moment to create space for the next phase of our existence. Without the space, we cannot create anew.
Ask yourself & flow:
How can I lean into the struggle & learn something new? something that truly challenges me?
What old patterns and paradigms are you ready to release, or are being released right now?
Flow like raging fire.
I can’t wait to hear and see your musings. Post on the socials and tag me & @ignitefirekeepers so we can share our musings together.
<3
gaea
