As we are rapidly moving towards both winter solstice, a full moon, and a lunar eclipse, I am inspired to write about another concept or idea of medicine that can inform our understanding of healing, nature, and our souls and spirits.
In both ancient Eastern and Western occult traditions, there is a stream of teachings around the process of alchemy. In some cases, in both traditions, there was a literal search for external elixirs that would produce immortality or for philosopher's stones that would turn lead to gold. However, both of these traditions also had the understanding that another level of the process was Internal Alchemy. In some ways, this was an even more important tradition or superior path. Looked at from this point of view, Alchemy is really about transmuting our bodies, our vital energy, and our spirit into something more powerful and divine. In the West, this process is referred to as The Great Work, and in the East it is the creation of an Immortal. Not only does this produce great harmony inside of us, it also produces great harmony in the world all around us.
How does one go about transforming into an Immortal? How do we go about the Great Work? In some senses, our life's path is all about this process. Our fate, our wyrd, our dan, our ming, our destiny is about engaging in the process of transforming our bodies and minds ever towards a more refined spiritual state. In the course of our life, we will be forced to confront and integrate our shadow and deal with the illusion of duality between our spirit and body. However, there are ways to become consciously engaged with the way as well. This is where we come to Internal Alchemy.
Internal Alchemy is a way of cultivating, "Medicine". In this sense, we are talking about an internal fusion of vital energy, deep layers of our essence, and our spirit. In Eastern traditions, this is illustrated in the Daoist-influenced traditions of qigong, taijiquan, baguazhang, and internal meditations. In these practices, a person learns to harmonize their internal rhythms with larger macrocosmic cycles of the sun, moon, and starts. They learn to absorb energy from nature and the elements that supplements their own vitality. They learn to store and save their own energy and not waste it through excessive talking, thinking, and stimulation. What happens if this path of cultivation is undertaken? The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit begin to fuse. Stillness, peace, and brightness radiate from a person. The are simultaneously very relaxed but full of vitality. They become an embodiment of Medicine.
What are the implication of this for the practice of Wild Medicine? Well, some of the most powerful practitioners of the healing arts have also been practitioners of internal and external alchemy. The literally blend their medicine with their medicine, if you know what I mean. In order to be truly powerful healers and revive the power of Wild Medicine, we must cultivate our own Medicine and begin the process of the Great Work. How is this done?
The basis of this process is stillness and observation. So, as we approach Winter Solstice engage in these practices. What does the full moon feel like? Stand beneath it and feel it's silvery light caress your skin. How does this nourish you? What does the solstice feel like? What is the reflection of winter solstice inside your body? What can you do at this time of year to cultivate your Medicine?
Happy Solstice
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