Do you express the alchemist archetype? In any area where you do remarkable work or make transformation happen, you’re tapping into the traits of this archetype. By learning more about it, you make this process conscious.
Archetypes all capture a certain facet of human personality. Sure, they make great stories for children and satisfy the true believing mythic mind, but in a deeper sense these characters are mere placeholders for universal human realities that we all tap into to varying degrees. The alchemist archetype is no different, and today we’ll look at what it captures.
My favourite example of the Alchemist archetype is the alchemist character in Paulo Coelho’s classic book by the same name.
Not only do I love the book and gain great strength from it, but this particular character is a wonderful example of the archetype he represents. I’ve gleaned several of these traits from Coelho’s character.
Alchemist Archetype Key Trait 1: Transmutation
Perhaps the fundamental trait of the Alchemist archetype is that it transmutes one substance to another. The quintessential example of this ability is the transformation of lead into gold, a thread that runs through a thousand tales in various guises.
In fact, in days of yore many alchemical seekers did actually attempt to achieve this in reality. Like the seekers of the Elixir of Life and the Holy Grail, I think they were missing the point.
The crucial thing to realise is that the lead and gold is simply a metaphor for transformation, for transmutation.
Lead symbolises the common, the widely available, the insignificant, the unrealised, the unevolved. He who possesses lead is also common and unremarkable.
Gold symbolises the special, the highly coveted, the valuable, the realised. He who possesses gold is rich, endowed, rare, wizard-like.
A true alchemist has developed the ability to transform lead into gold. But don’t take this literally. We aren’t talking about metals. We’re talking about the process of transforming anything ordinary and insignificant into something coveted, rare, extraordinary, precious.
All kinds of professionals tap into this alchemical power. Psychologists, spiritual masters, architects, designers, chefs, jewellers, writers, and more. All of them work with ordinary base materials and transfrom them into valuable products. From this perspective, we all possess the alchemical touch, whether it’s in our work, play or family life.
This is the alchemical spark: the power to transmute, to evolve, to create beauty and order from mediocrity and chaos.
When we create something of high calibre, there is a glint in our eye, an understated smile of self-assurance, a swing of our cloak.
Alchemist Archetype Key Trait 2: Secret Knowledge
Essential to being a successful alchemist is the secret knowledge required to transmute and transform. Any alchemist archetype is privy to the secret sauce, the tricks of the trade, the keys that open doors that mere mortals cannot.
In Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, the alchemist character is a master of the desert. Having wandered the desert his whole life, he knows the birds and beetles, the winds, sands, camels, tribes and bandits, and travellers. He connects with the desert as though it were a friend, as though it had its own independent being.
Without him, the boy would have been swiftly destroyed by one of these forces. The alchemist protects, guides, warns, encourages, leads, then parts ways with the boy when the time is right. This secret knowledge eventually leads the boy to the pyramids, where he discovers his treasure.
Professionals in all fields require secret knowledge. Through continual exposure to their craft, they acquire it. Eventually they’re able to do things that are beyond the reach of the average person. To the public, these don’t seem like mundane facts of the profession, but magical feats that border on witchcraft. They are alchemical.
I’ve seen the alchemical nature of secret knowledge in various areas: languages, mathematics, writing, meditation, even running a website. In all cases, it seems intuitive, easy, even insignificant, because I’ve spent years training myself in these areas. But in fact, it’s the secret sauce, the magic knowledge that opens up a world of possibilities and enables you to transform lead into gold. We all have secret knowledge, yet it usually seems so self-evident to us that we don’t realise it’s secret and powerful.
Key Trait 3: Old and Wise
Alchemists are usually portrayed as old, as elders, as seasoned wanderers, as bearded old wizards or cloaked witches. They often play the role of master, teacher, or guide. Rarely will you find a young alchemist archetype in books, films or fables.
In my mind, this isn’t because you must be older in years to do remarkable work or possess special knowledge. Old age is a metaphor for wisdom, for equanimity, for clarity, for seeing more. As soon as we know a character is old, we assume they are the wisest of all. Writers use this fact to distinguish the wise and wily from the weak.
Doing remarkable things in this world gives you wisdom and power, whatever your age. You see a different world to others: you see greater possibilities, you see a deeper order, your tastes are more refined. You become worldly and experienced, in touch with reality and able to alter it in ways that others can’t.
Key Trait 4: Elusive Yet Radically Real
I find that the alchemist archetype is elusive, even aloof. For one thing, they remain detached from the main protagonist. In Coelho’s book, the alchemist has no name, only “the alchemist”. The reader finds few clues as to his appearance. We’re left to speculate and extrapolate from what is given. He is also incredibly generous to the little boy, but expects nothing in return. He gives freely. He is heavily invested, yet incredibly detached.
All of this creates an aura of mystery. We see the character but can’t grasp or possess him. We sense there is so much we don’t know.
This is typical of the alchemist archetype, and I think it’s because of a fundamental paradox at their heart of the character: they are in world but not of it. Thanks to their secret knowledge, they have transcended worldly concerns. They are highly skilled yet egoless. They are rich but unassuming. They are powerful yet humble. Always one foot in and one foot out.
At the same time, having been a mere mortal in the past, they understand the trials and tribulations of common people. They see the reality of the human condition and provide penetrating insight into it. They are unpredictable, radically real, and fearless. Though they tap into remarkable power and strength, they also realise their great limitations and those of humanity at large.
Combine these traits, and the alchemist almost has a heavenly awe, something of the untouchable and unknowable.
Key Trait 5: Intuitive
You’ll also find that the alchemist archetype is highly intuitive. In the West we tend to equate knowledge and skills with cognition: thinking, planning, remembering, figuring out, reasoning. But mastery in any field, no matter how cognitive, eventually turns intuitive, spontaneous, a blend of knowledge and sense.
Though the alchemist knows how to transform lead into gold, they approach their art heartfully, spontaneously, and this spills over into their general decision-making.
The alchemist deeply understands their craft, their tools, their domain of influence, their fellow humans, the terrain on which they walk, and the deeper, mysterious forces that act on their world. They hold all of this in their heart and mind as they navigate the world and attempt to influence it however they can.
Do You Embody the Alchemist Archetype?
Now I encourage you to think about your own life and whether you embody this archetype. I think the easiest way is to look at any secret knowledge you possess.
Do you have secret knowledge? We all require it. We’re all able to do things that are beyond the reach of the average person. What are your outstanding areas of knowledge? Where do you create order and beauty from chaos and mundanity?
Don’t think grandiose here. You likely tap into it in non-professional areas too. Whenever you work in any area where you transmute, transform and evolve, you’re tapping into the alchemist.
Learn about other key archetypes here.
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The post The Alchemist Archetype Explained first appeared on Deep Psychology.
The post The Alchemist Archetype Explained appeared first on Deep Psychology.
