§§ Earth Alchemy | Published books | Glennie Kindred
 

Earth Alchemy

An exciting fusion of the ancient art of alchemy and the 8 Celtic festivals.

Here the ancient healing art of Alchemy is brought into a fresh clear light of understanding that is relevant to our present age and time. Each of the alchemical processes is easily accessed through the natural alchemy of transformation inherent in the Earth and her seasonal cycles. Each of the Celtic Earth Festivals is linked to each of the alchemical processes and to the 5 Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

The alchemist's Gold, the Philosophers Stone and the Elixir of Life are understood as aspects of our search for Unity and wholeness, and encourages a new transformational shift into 'Unity Consciousness'. This creates many beneficial changes to the way we relate to the world around us and with the Earth.

Earth Alchemy is also a journal account of her journey through the year's cycle, with ways that she uses the energy of each of the alchemical processes and the flow of the seasonal cycles to create personal transformation and to deepen her understanding of herself and her subtle relationship to the world around her.

The book is full of practical ideas that encourage us to be open to our own inner world and experiences, and to work with the power of change and transformation in our lives, to bring healing to ourselves and our relationship with the Earth.

292 pages. ISBN: 978-1-78180-234-2
PUBLISHED BY HAY HOUSE UK, London
Published 2013 (and as Alchemists Journey 2005)
Also published and distributed by Hay House in the United States of America, Australia, the Republic of South Africa and distributed in Canada.

 

Price £13 + £3.20 postage & packaging - UK ONLY


 
 
 

Extracts

Earth Alchemy - PREFACE

Most of us have heard of the popular myth of alchemists attempting to turn base metal into Gold, and their search for the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. For years I looked into books on alchemy and could make no sense of it. It seemed to be cloaked in intellectualism, complex concepts and puzzling symbolism, but I continued to be intrigued because of a personal connection I made many years ago to Hermes Mercurius, the Greek and Roman messenger of the gods and a key figure in alchemy. Through my deepening understanding of Hermes Mercurius, my passion for metaphysics, and my passion for following the cycle of the year through the eight Celtic festivals, I found a key that opened the door to alchemy. I began to see that the alchemist's journey through each of the alchemical processes was similar to my journey through the Wheel of the Year with the eight Celtic festivals. I then had a 'eureka' moment, when I realised that each of the main alchemical processes were the same intrinsic energy pattern as each of the eight Celtic festivals and so I was able to understand them perfectly from this perspective! My journey through the Wheel of the Year has been greatly deepened by this fusion of the two systems and this book grew from this union.

There are no fixed doctrines in alchemy. It is based on simple observations of natural laws that root it firmly in the Earth, in the self and in the journey itself. This too is the same as following the Celtic festivals. We may call them 'Celtic' festivals or 'pagan' festivals, for they began in the past, but they continue today, uniquely evolving and developing to reflect the changing times. We each celebrate and honour them in our own way. There is no hierarchy, no one telling us how to celebrate them. We do what feels right and good for ourselves and this deepens our personal philosophy and spirituality and our relationship with the Earth. Similarly, every alchemist takes their own unique path, beginning with what they know and developing through what they discover. As part of an ongoing process each alchemist integrates their experiences with their own personal spiritual development, growth and understanding, earthing this in their own personal philosophy ~ their Philosophers Stone.

Every alchemist brings their own personal interests to their experience of alchemy. My background is in working with the energy of the Earth’s cycles through the eight Celtic festivals, and the Five Elements,and a great love of metaphysics and so this is what I bring to it. I also bring my natural passion for the transformative power of Universal or Unconditional Love as a force for healing and change in our lives and in the world.

Celebrating each of the Celtic festivals (see chart on page 1) brings stability and inner reflection into my life so that I am in touch with my spiritual development and my connection to the Earth through the unfolding cycle of the year. Similarly, the alchemist’s journey is rooted in the same natural cycles of union, birth, death and rebirth. The journey is always circular. There are always endings, whether created by choice, by Time or by circumstances, but each ending opens up a new beginning and each time the journey deepens, as new cycles of understanding grow from within.

Through celebrating the Earth’s cycles, I am rooted in my environment and myself. I unite with the seasonal energy of the Earth and so experience myself as part of the Unity of life. I am connected to each of the Five Elements of life: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Quintessence or Spirit, which is the unifying element that is in all life. This is the Infinite and Eternal Force, the Essence and the Source of life and it is this that the alchemist ultimately seeks to experience~ the Gold! As well as being rooted in the physical world, the Five Elements are an essential energy language and I experience them as mutable connectors of energy, an interface between Matter and Spirit. This interface is where alchemy happens, where energy merges and re-forms, transforms and transmutes.

My quest for the alchemists Gold is to experience my wholeness and my Oneness with all of Life. This consciousness of the Unity of life has been part of my life's quest and has been growing ever stronger over the last 30 years. I see it as the path to our planetary healing, as well as to our own wellbeing and lasting happiness. As an alchemist I aim to unite all parts of myself, to embrace the invisible as well as the visible, the acceptable as well as the unexplained. I follow my feelings and my intuition; I follow my imagination into the world within me. I look at what is hidden, reading between the lines, searching for the common bonds and the roots of communion, the paths that create Unity and harmony. I seek my true connection to Universal Love and Inner Peace as the root of my happiness and health ~ the Elixir of Life!

I see my life as a gift, to be grasped with both hands. I feel like an adventurer or great explorer, even though much of my life has been home-based, bringing up children. I feel like a pioneer, even though I am probably covering the same ground as many others before me. It doesn’t matter – I am on my own journey, living my own life, which is unfolding from my own choices.

This book is an account of a year and the alchemy I experienced within the Earth’s yearly cycle, fusing the alchemical experiences with the Celtic festivals. To write this book, I had to start somewhere, but of course my journey began many years ago and this is just a window into what is part of many yearly cycles that have gone before and part of many cycles that will follow........... for all things are connected.

I give thanks for the journey.

Glennie Kindred
2013

 
 
 

Reviews

"I am here to talk about the release of the updated edition of her book The Alchemists Journey, which is now entitled Earth Alchemy. It is a beautifully illustrated magical book that explores the link between the ancient healing art of alchemy and the energy that is inherent in each of the eight Celtic festivals. It is a practical guide that will resonate well with any one who wants to commune more closely with the natural world. From her own experiences, Glennie Kindred guides us on a journey of discovery that uses the seasonal and alchemical shifts to help us experience personal transformation - to find our own gold, which is the source of our healing and our happiness" - Claire Gilliam - Extract from interview by Claire Gilliam, Editor of Kindred Spirit Magazine. To read the full article, click here or on the image above.

"In this account of 12 months in her life, much-loved author Glennie Kindred explores the powerful fusion of alchemy with the eight Celtic festivals, and shows us how to tap in to the natural energy of transformation inherent in the earth's cycles. Full of practical ideas to encourage us to be open to the power of transformation, and written in an inspiring and accessible style, this book brings the ancient alchemical processes into a fresh, clear light. Glennie shows us how each season is an opportunity to develop, adapt, and experience ourselves in a new way. This inspires us to unlock the love that brings healing to ourselves and our relationship to the earth. She reveals how we can find this true alchemical gold and become a powerful force for positive change in the world." - Hay House Publishers

"Glennie Kindred is one of those rare understated experts who is supremely knowledgeable about her field of Earth traditions and yet who is modest and understated." - Kindred Spirit

"An informative, profound, yet simple to understand approach, to the expansive subject of Alchemy." Paradigm Shift

"Dare I say it but.... this is my FAVORITE BOOK of the MONTH...Possibly even the YEAR. It's filled with awesome stuff and you will be missing out on some much gorgeousness if you leave this book on the shelf." - pixiesmusings.blogspot.co.uk

"Fantastic. Enlightening, comforting, such wisdom. Glennie brings such hope for healing the Earth through learning how to live in harmony with nature not against it" - A.E. Bierne

"A Beautiful Book. This is a revised edition of Glennie Kindred's original The Alchemist's Journey. Glennie successfully fuses the ancient healing art of alchemy with earth magic and the Celtic festivals. The book is beautifully produced with Glennie's lovely line drawings as illustrations and a stunning green and gold cover. The heavy stock paper adds to the quality this book, making it an ideal gift or treat for yourself. For those familiar with Glennie's writings, you will not be disappointed. Her friendly manner, easy to understand explainations and clear style, are always a joy to read. Her experiences with chemical reactions in alchemy, which she translates into a wholeness and well being metaphor, is both unique and inspirational. As the seasons turn, Glennie takes us on a charming journey into her world, and fill us with the desire to know more, and experiment ourselves. I particularly like her diary entries and the activities she undertakes to mark the Celtic festivals - make flower essences, planting spring bulbs and cutting wands for example. All in all, a great read and a great buy." - Vate Pathfollower

"As ever, a book by Glennie Kindred is a special treat. I love her words of wisdom and I am grateful that she works to help people reconnect to Nature." - Terri Conroy

"Enlightening, uplifting, reassuring and just plain magical." - Stardancer