Alchemy: Embracing the Journey of Whole-Making

The Tears of Things

True transformation is not something we can force or rush; it requires a willingness to hold opposing elements without immediately seeking resolution. Life is full of contrasting forces, inner tensions, and contradictions, all of which play a crucial role in our growth. In fact, much like alchemy, these differing elements need to be allowed to marinate together, over time, until something new emerges. The secret is to hold the different ingredients together without seeking an answer, a goal, an outcome, a product, or a judgment. [1] This is one of the most difficult aspects of transformation: we want results, we want answers, we want change right now. But what if the secret lies not in trying to resolve everything instantly, but in staying with the uncertainty? Transformation is not about rushing toward the end goal, but about staying present with what is, allowing the tensions and opposites to exist side by side. It’s in this holding pattern that we allow the alchemical process of change to do its work. We must trust that, eventually, the right mixture will reveal itself, but only after we’ve fully embraced the process. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Spiritual growth, similarly, cannot be achieved through external systems or formulas. Too often, we expect laws, self-help programs, or external structures to lead us into transformation, thinking that these will provide the answers. Without it, we tend to expect law to achieve the purposes of Spirit. [1] But this approach is limited, even misguided. No external system can do the deep work of transformation that is required for spiritual maturity. It is not the rigid adherence to rules or the quick fixes of self-help that lead us into deeper understanding, but an internal journey of trust, surrender, and openness. The real work is not about finding the perfect external guide or formula, but about cultivating an internal posture of trust in the process itself. We need to allow spiritual growth to unfold in its own time, free from the expectation that it can be manipulated or rushed. When we stop looking for external solutions and begin to trust the inner guidance that arises, we move toward a truer form of transformation, one that is far deeper and more lasting. (Romans 3:20-24)

At the heart of this growth is the realization that human wholeness is an organic, spontaneous unfolding. This journey cannot be forced or manipulated by the ego. The real genius of Jung’s metaphor is that it describes a rather spontaneous, organic, natural movement. [1] When we force transformation, we may find that we limit ourselves to narrow, ego-driven outcomes. Transformation, like the alchemical process, is not a matter of exerting control, but of allowing what is already within us to unfold. The organic nature of growth means that it cannot be rushed or controlled. It takes its own time and moves in its own direction, often in ways we cannot predict. When we try to control the process, we only limit the potential for deeper change. Our job is not to force the process but to trust it, to allow it to happen naturally. The more we resist, the more we miss out on the richness of the journey. Growth is organic, not mechanical; it cannot be rushed, and it cannot be controlled. (Philippians 1:6)

The process of growth, therefore, requires quiet allowing. This is one of the most counterintuitive aspects of spiritual life, especially in a world that rewards quick results and decisive action. In our culture, we are taught to always be doing something, to constantly strive and push forward, as if we are responsible for every outcome. But real transformation requires a different approach. A quiet allowing is much to be preferred to any strict controlling. [1] We must learn to trust that, often, the best course of action is to do nothing—to simply be still and allow things to unfold as they will. This is the essence of wu wei, the Taoist concept of effortless action. It is not about passivity, but about trust. We do not need to force change; instead, we must learn to allow it to happen. This is a difficult practice, especially in times of struggle or uncertainty. Yet, when we embrace the quiet of allowing, we open ourselves to the possibility of deeper transformation. It’s in that stillness that the greatest work happens, and we must be willing to wait, trust, and surrender. (Psalm 46:10)

Effortless action, or wu wei, is an essential element of mature spiritual faith. Most of us are accustomed to thinking that we must act decisively and forcefully to make things happen. But what if the true form of action is one that arises naturally, without strain or force? It is a very different agenda from the one we normally practice. [1] This type of action is not about doing less, but about doing what is needed in a way that feels aligned with the flow of life. It’s the recognition that our best action often arises from a place of inner stillness, not from a place of pushing or striving. In spiritual terms, this type of action is a manifestation of trust in the divine, the recognition that the universe is already unfolding in the right direction. Our task is not to impose our will on the world, but to attune ourselves to its natural rhythms and participate in them with grace and ease. (Matthew 11:28-30)

For this transformation to take place, the ego must be transcended. Our egos, with their constant need for control, can be the biggest obstacle to spiritual growth. Our only job is to keep the ego from trying to control everything, which it loves to do. [1] The ego thrives on certainty, control, and predictability, and it resists the unknown, the mysterious, and the uncontrollable. But spiritual growth demands that we transcend the ego’s limited perspective and open ourselves to a more expansive, divine understanding. This doesn’t mean eliminating the ego, but learning how to recognize when it is acting out of fear or desire for control, and allowing something larger and more universal to guide our actions. The ego keeps us small, self-centered, and disconnected from the greater whole, but when we let go of its grasp, we open ourselves to a deeper experience of life and transformation. The ego must be understood and transcended for us to experience true spiritual growth. (Galatians 2:20)

Finally, transformation involves letting go of control and embracing the natural flow of change. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of spiritual life: we want to hold on, to control, and to direct the course of our lives. But what if we could learn to relax our grip and trust the process instead? The secret is to hold the different ingredients together without seeking an answer, a goal, an outcome, a product, or a judgment. [1] The act of holding things without trying to fix or resolve them creates space for transformation to happen. It is in the letting go, in the surrender, that true change occurs. Transformation does not happen because we try to force it into being; it happens when we allow it to emerge naturally, in its own time, and according to its own logic. The alchemical process shows us that when we stop trying to control, we create the conditions for something new and wonderful to emerge. It is in the act of releasing that we make room for the deeper currents of transformation to flow freely. (Matthew 6:25-34)

[1] Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things