When people talk about alchemy, I think most people think of an unhinged scientist huddled over a mortar and pestle, grinding away at something crazy, alembics bubbling away in the background. They think of the visual of alchemy and not the sought-after alchemical reactions or why the alchemist seeks it out in the first place.

Alchemy, at its heart, is about purification through change (transmutation). Ye olde alchemists thought that with enough time, heat, and science, something as simple as lead could be taken through various processes to be turned into gold - this was, after all, how gold was formed in nature (or so they thought) over centuries and millennia. Maybe science would allow them to speed up that process...

The concept of purification through change, however, is something that can be applied to personal growth and Tarot can help guide that journey.

With Alchemy, the first step in purification is burning the material to ash, a process called calcination. If we transfer that concept to personal growth, we look at the process of breaking down the old, limiting aspects of ourselves (negative thought patterns, defense mechanisms, outdated beliefs, unresolved emotional issues...) - essentially the deconstruction of our Ego - so we are prepared for the next phases of growth.

Transitioning to our card today, the 6 of Swords, we see the aftermath of this transformative process. The card depicts two figures being gently rowed across a river by a hooded figure. They appear visibly distressed or broken, surrounded by swords on all sides: they have been through the process of calcination.

When I think on this card, there are a few perspectives I can take here.

1. Who am I in this card? Am I the person who is visibly distraught, crying in anguish from the pain of departure? Am I the person at front, sitting silent and stoic as they seek their pending destination? Or am I the person steering the boat for others?
2. The suit of Swords is about the mind - its thoughts, worries, and knowledge. These individuals travel amongst their swords - bringing with them anxieties, doubts, and worries of things in the past and things in the future. Currently, they are forced to sit with themselves, their baggage in tow as they await what comes next.
3. This voyage is by water, not road, which recognizes the emotional nature of the situation. The water in this card is not calm, but turbulent, lapping against the boat in protest. However, in the distance, the water is calm - a reminder that the emotional turmoil of this journey is not something that will last, but is a necessary part of the journey.

In a sense, this card is like a right of passage, like the mythological Charon ferrying the souls of the dead to the Underworld. They know not where they go, only that the journey is required.

As I pair this with yesterday's card, The Fool, I can see how the awareness of change - or knowing that we NEED to change - knowing that we will have to tear down a part of us that is keeping us from moving forward, can be intimidating and scary. For me, I'm currently making major lifestyle changes to improve my health, and I don't need to tell you who I am in that boat. There was much internal wailing and gnashing of teeth last night as I ate some dry-ass chicken and steamed broccoli. However, I'm already down 5 lbs and am seeing general improvements all around. The journey will be worth it, but sitting in my boat with my Swords makes me well aware of each passing day and each step of the god-forsaken journey.

But this was my choice, and I choose to carry on.

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