Personal Alchemy Quiz

The purpose of this free, self-scoring quiz is to help you determine your current level of personal transformation and suggest appropriate alchemical operations to pursue. The Personal Alchemy Quiz was developed in group meetings with people undergoing psychological and spiritual change, and it has proved useful as a guide in determining a person's inner alchemy. As long as you are consistently truthful in answering the questions, the quiz can be used repeatedly to provide at least some indication about how your alchemical temperament is changing.


My results:

LUNAR (Intuitive) Score: 18--- The deeper essences and energies of your soul are surfacing. At this moment in your transformation, you are experiencing a flood of images and feelings that have their origin in your own subconscious. As we become adults (or are "adulterated" ), many people feel they have lost a precious part of themselves and are leading inauthentic and superficial lives. Our souls despair trying to survive in a world of spiritual drought, and we have less psychic energy available. The purpose of psychological Dissolution is to dissolve rigid beliefs and any remains of ego falsity the hold back the powerful "waters" of the subconscious mind. Tremendous energy can be generated when the waters held back are released, as the ego is further humbled by its direct confrontation with the primal energies of the unconscious. This tremendous energy can be used to heal body and mind and fuel our continued transformation.

SOLAR (Intellectual) Score: 9 ---You are entering a period of intense bodily, mental, and spiritual transformation. You have begun a process of profound change in which you have pierced through the illusions of everyday life and seek something greater and more truthful to live by. However, to transform anything permanently, it must first be reduced to its most fundamental ingredients. All the dross, falsity, and extraneous material must be removed. It is the job of this fundamental operation in alchemy to see that this purification is done correctly and completely. The Emerald Tablet tells us �Its father is the Sun,� and the alchemists called this initial Fire operation "Calcination" and represented it by the symbol for a crucible. Calcination means literally "reduced to bone" by burning in an open flame. In the laboratory, it is the heating of a substance in the fire until all that is left is a pile of white ashes. On the personal level, those white ashes represent the purified essences of your personality � the real you stripped of all pretenses.

HERMETIC (Metaphysical) Score: 7 --- You are entering a period of intense bodily, mental, and spiritual transformation. You have begun a process of profound change in which you have pierced through the illusions of everyday life and seek something greater and more truthful to live by. However, to transform anything permanently, it must first be reduced to its most fundamental ingredients. All the dross, falsity, and extraneous material must be removed. It is the job of this fundamental operation in alchemy to see that this purification is done correctly and completely. The Emerald Tablet tells us �Its father is the Sun,� and the alchemists called this initial Fire operation "Calcination" and represented it by the symbol for a crucible. Calcination means literally "reduced to bone" by burning in an open flame. In the laboratory, it is the heating of a substance in the fire until all that is left is a pile of white ashes. On the personal level, those white ashes represent the purified essences of your personality � the real you stripped of all pretenses.

YOUR TOTAL SCORE IS  34 --    You are becoming a Spiritual Warrior and must accumulate both power and presence to continue your transformation.  It is time to lift yourself out of the quagmire of your broken ego personality and recognize your Unborn Self. By breaking yourself down into your most basic traits and desires, you become aware of the essences within and isolate them from ego complexes and unwanted unconscious elements. Personal Separation is the discovery of your individual essences and the reclaiming of dream and visionary �gold� previously rejected by the masculine, aggressive, or rational part of your mind. Review formerly hidden material and decide what to discard and what to reintegrate into your refined personality. Much of this shadowy material are things you are ashamed of or were taught to hide away by your parents, churches, and schooling. Separation is getting beyond these restraints to your true nature, so the �real you� can shine through. You should try to take an honest look at yourself and the traits you want to count on later in your life.

Thanks. I needed that.

You are becoming a Spiritual Warrior and must accumulate both power and presence to continue your transformation.

   It is time to lift yourself out of the quagmire of your broken ego personality and recognize your Unborn Self. By breaking yourself down into your most basic traits and desires, you become aware of the essences within and isolate them from ego complexes and unwanted unconscious elements. Personal Separation is the discovery of your individual essences and the reclaiming of dream and visionary �gold� previously rejected by the masculine, aggressive, or rational part of your mind. Review formerly hidden material and decide what to discard and what to reintegrate into your refined personality. Much of this shadowy material are things you are ashamed of or were taught to hide away by your parents, churches, and schooling. Separation is getting beyond these restraints to your true nature, so the �real you� can shine through. You should try to take an honest look at yourself and the traits you want to count on later in your life.

Chemically, Separation is the isolation of the desired components from the previous two purification operations (Calcination and Dissolution). In the laboratory, the components of the polluted solution from Dissolution are separated out by filtration, cutting, settling, or agitation with air. Any ingenuine or unworthy material is then discarded the most basic constituents of the matter at hand are revealed. In a like manner, a number of psychological Sifting Techniques are available for the alchemist to cut through worldly illusion and catch the ego in its deceptive habits and manipulations.

A method called "Sifting Identity" is a private meditation in which you simply relax, concentrate on your breath, and periodically ask yourself the question �Who is aware?� In the silence of the response, you can feel your own consciousness at the very ground of your being. Alternatively, sit in a silent, dark room and repeat your name to yourself over and over, trying to determine what it really means. By observing yourself observing yourself, you enter an infinite progression or mental loop � until finally there is no difference between you the observer and you the observed, between you and your own consciousness. That primordial awareness is a big part of your true identity, your true Self. Out of the intense focusing of your consciousness on yourself, your individuality fades away into a boundless realm and is replaced by something so vast and eternal that death itself seems a laughable impossibility. During Separation you realize that the loss of the ego-dominated personality is not extinction but the only true life.

"The Wind carries it in its belly," says the Emerald Tablet of this phase. The alchemists saw this as an impregnation of the personality with something entirely new, as our true essences come alive and shine through the murky waters of Dissolution. Now it is the job of the life-bringing element of Air to isolate and invigorate the material worthy of further attention. Aside from psychological techniques, there are a number of physical methods for bodily Separation. Some of these methods date back over 3,500 years to Egyptian alchemists who taught spiritual breathing techniques in the city of Akhetaton. These methods centered on working with the subtle life force that the "Wind carries in its belly.� Known in Indian alchemy as �prana� and in Taoist alchemy as �chi,� this vital breath is responsible for a person�s state of health and can also be harnessed for his or her psychospiritual transformation.

People who have not yet begun the process of Separation can be overly assertive and controlling, refusing to compromise in even the most mundane matters. At their worst, they are driven by frustration and anger and can become cruel or violent. On the other hand, people undergoing Separation are courageous and daring, often initiating major changes in the world and in the lives of the people around them. During Separation, you have to cut away all but the purest essences of everything around you. It is what alchemists called dealing only with the "true signatures" of every person, thing, event, or situation.

The sword you use to cut through to reality is your own consciousness honed to penetrate even the deepest illusion. You sharpen this sword of knowing by living on the edge between this world and the next, between matter and mind, between life and death. You no longer immerse yourself totally in the everyday world but sacrifice yourself to a higher reality. The way in which we pay attention to the everyday world is called the First Attention, and most people only know this single way of relating to the world. However, if you defer judgment and use the Second Attention, you can sense things about their character, deepest secrets, and even state of health. To develop the Second Attention, try to detect true signatures, what the Emerald Tablet called the "correspondences" between the Above and the Below, between God and his handiwork.

Very interesting, I needed that too.

Really interesting, thank you Stacey!


The opposing forces within you, whose conflicts have kept you drained and confused for so long, are finally coming together as one.

     You are about to experience a joyous and life-enhancing empowerment of your personality. If the preceding three operations (Calcination, Dissolution, and Separation) were successful, only the most genuine and essential parts of the matter at hand are left in the vessel of transformation. The next step in alchemy is the Conjunction, which is the recombination of those saved elements into an entirely new substance. Conjunction is the paradoxical union of the archetypal elements of Fire, Water, and Air to produce Earth.

Psychological Conjunction is the empowerment of our true selves, the union of both the masculine and feminine sides of our personalities into a new belief system or state of consciousness. The alchemists referred to this union as the �Marriage of the King and Queen,� and they referred to the result of the Conjunction as the "Philosopher's Child" or "Lesser Stone." After this new state of consciousness is achieved, you are able to clearly discern what needs to be done to achieve lasting enlightenment, and synchronicities begin to occur that confirm you are on the right track. In spiritual terms, the purified essences within are your very Soul and Spirit. It is now time for these archetypal forces to come together and nurture their newborn child, which is a refined and integrated personality. "Its nurse is the Earth," says the Emerald Tablet of this important juncture. At this time of renewed confidence, you should seek those activities that reinforce your peace of mind. It is an excellent time for a nature retreat or deep meditative session.

In many ways, the child of the Conjunction is like the creation of an "Overself" in which the ways of Spirit and Soul (rational, aggressive thought and intuitive, passive feeling) unite in a higher state of awareness that Egyptian alchemists called "Intelligence of the Heart." To create the Overself, you simply have to start practicing to maintain your "presence" no matter what happens, no matter how confusing things get, no matter what emotions swell up within you, no matter how cruel or thoughtless others are towards you. Every problem, every personal challenge, every nuisance or annoying person, is another opportunity for you to develop presence of mind and create the Overself. In trying to maintain your presence in all situations, you soon learn that you cannot rely on intellect or logic alone. To be really connected to what is real, you have to make use of talents and sources of knowledge that you cannot explain. Finally, you learn to value your feelings and intuitions as well as your rational judgments, and you will be able to work creatively with any challenge that comes along.

Do not forget that these two opposing ways of knowing only come together when they are used together. You have to practice personal Conjunction on a daily basis in the everyday world for the Overself to become part of your personality. The major effort in the alchemist's life is the creation of this unified self, which can withstand the onslaughts of ignorance, insensitivity, and illusion one encounters in the world. You actually can feel yourself coming together as one mind, one larger presence. Signs that Conjunction is taking place within a person are the growth of confidence, equanimity, and calmness. You start laughing at stupidity instead of getting angry. Within you, the feeling of an indestructible or "default" presence grows stronger every day. That personal presence is what the alchemists called the "Lesser Stone," which will gradually be perfected and emerge as an all-powerful state of consciousness they referred to as the "Greater Stone."  

Before Conjunction, a person can be lustful and wanton in seeking their �other half� and jealous and possessive once it is found. On the other hand, the conjuncted person is appreciative of the alchemical forces at work in relationships and careers and tends to be considerably kinder and more sensitive. Such a person appears balanced and quietly confident, and that inner harmony is proof of the integration of the elements within.

That the human body must be perfected, as well as the mind and spirit, is a basic tenet of alchemy. Yet how do the King and Queen manifest in the body, and what exactly is the Child of the Conjunction in terms of human physiology? According to Tantric alchemists, the phallic-shaped pineal gland at the center of the brain and the bilobed pituitary gland play the roles of King and Queen. Their union, achieved through meditative exercises, produces a Pill of Immortality, which is released at the back of the throat and is activated when it reaches the stomach. This inner sex act initiates a Second Puberty that perfects and rejuvenates the body.

This is really good.  After taking my quiz, I was even more impressed.  

The opposing forces within you, whose conflicts have kept you drained and confused for so long, are finally coming together as one.
You are about to experience a joyous and life-enhancing empowerment of your personality. If the preceding three operations (Calcination, Dissolution, and Separation) were successful, only the most genuine and essential parts of the matter at hand are left in the vessel of transformation. The next step in alchemy is the Conjunction, which is the recombination of those saved elements into an entirely new substance. Conjunction is the paradoxical union of the archetypal elements of Fire, Water, and Air to produce Earth.
Psychological Conjunction is the empowerment of our true selves, the union of both the masculine and feminine sides of our personalities into a new belief system or state of consciousness. The alchemists referred to this union as the �Marriage of the King and Queen,� and they referred to the result of the Conjunction as the "Philosopher's Child" or "Lesser Stone." After this new state of consciousness is achieved, you are able to clearly discern what needs to be done to achieve lasting enlightenment, and synchronicities begin to occur that confirm you are on the right track. In spiritual terms, the purified essences within are your very Soul and Spirit. It is now time for these archetypal forces to come together and nurture their newborn child, which is a refined and integrated personality. "Its nurse is the Earth," says the Emerald Tablet of this important juncture. At this time of renewed confidence, you should seek those activities that reinforce your peace of mind. It is an excellent time for a nature retreat or deep meditative session.
In many ways, the child of the Conjunction is like the creation of an "Overself" in which the ways of Spirit and Soul (rational, aggressive thought and intuitive, passive feeling) unite in a higher state of awareness that Egyptian alchemists called "Intelligence of the Heart." To create the Overself, you simply have to start practicing to maintain your "presence" no matter what happens, no matter how confusing things get, no matter what emotions swell up within you, no matter how cruel or thoughtless others are towards you. Every problem, every personal challenge, every nuisance or annoying person, is another opportunity for you to develop presence of mind and create the Overself. In trying to maintain your presence in all situations, you soon learn that you cannot rely on intellect or logic alone. To be really connected to what is real, you have to make use of talents and sources of knowledge that you cannot explain. Finally, you learn to value your feelings and intuitions as well as your rational judgments, and you will be able to work creatively with any challenge that comes along.
Do not forget that these two opposing ways of knowing only come together when they are used together. You have to practice personal Conjunction on a daily basis in the everyday world for the Overself to become part of your personality. The major effort in the alchemist's life is the creation of this unified self, which can withstand the onslaughts of ignorance, insensitivity, and illusion one encounters in the world. You actually can feel yourself coming together as one mind, one larger presence. Signs that Conjunction is taking place within a person are the growth of confidence, equanimity, and calmness. You start laughing at stupidity instead of getting angry. Within you, the feeling of an indestructible or "default" presence grows stronger every day. That personal presence is what the alchemists called the "Lesser Stone," which will gradually be perfected and emerge as an all-powerful state of consciousness they referred to as the "Greater Stone."  
Before Conjunction, a person can be lustful and wanton in seeking their �other half� and jealous and possessive once it is found. On the other hand, the conjuncted person is appreciative of the alchemical forces at work in relationships and careers and tends to be considerably kinder and more sensitive. Such a person appears balanced and quietly confident, and that inner harmony is proof of the integration of the elements within.
That the human body must be perfected, as well as the mind and spirit, is a basic tenet of alchemy. Yet how do the King and Queen manifest in the body, and what exactly is the Child of the Conjunction in terms of human physiology? According to Tantric alchemists, the phallic-shaped pineal gland at the center of the brain and the bilobed pituitary gland play the roles of King and Queen. Their union, achieved through meditative exercises, produces a Pill of Immortality, which is released at the back of the throat and is activated when it reaches the stomach. This inner sex act initiates a Second Puberty that perfects and rejuvenates the body.

Lunar (Intuitive) Score: 33
Solar (Intellectual) Score: 10
Hermetic (Metaphysical) Score: 3
Total Score: 46

The opposing forces within you, whose conflicts have kept you drained and confused for so long, are finally coming together as one.

     You are about to experience a joyous and life-enhancing empowerment of your personality. If the preceding three operations (Calcination, Dissolution, and Separation) were successful, only the most genuine and essential parts of the matter at hand are left in the vessel of transformation. The next step in alchemy is the Conjunction, which is the recombination of those saved elements into an entirely new substance. Conjunction is the paradoxical union of the archetypal elements of Fire, Water, and Air to produce Earth.

Psychological Conjunction is the empowerment of our true selves, the union of both the masculine and feminine sides of our personalities into a new belief system or state of consciousness. The alchemists referred to this union as the �Marriage of the King and Queen,� and they referred to the result of the Conjunction as the "Philosopher's Child" or "Lesser Stone." After this new state of consciousness is achieved, you are able to clearly discern what needs to be done to achieve lasting enlightenment, and synchronicities begin to occur that confirm you are on the right track. In spiritual terms, the purified essences within are your very Soul and Spirit. It is now time for these archetypal forces to come together and nurture their newborn child, which is a refined and integrated personality. "Its nurse is the Earth," says the Emerald Tablet of this important juncture. At this time of renewed confidence, you should seek those activities that reinforce your peace of mind. It is an excellent time for a nature retreat or deep meditative session.

In many ways, the child of the Conjunction is like the creation of an "Overself" in which the ways of Spirit and Soul (rational, aggressive thought and intuitive, passive feeling) unite in a higher state of awareness that Egyptian alchemists called "Intelligence of the Heart." To create the Overself, you simply have to start practicing to maintain your "presence" no matter what happens, no matter how confusing things get, no matter what emotions swell up within you, no matter how cruel or thoughtless others are towards you. Every problem, every personal challenge, every nuisance or annoying person, is another opportunity for you to develop presence of mind and create the Overself. In trying to maintain your presence in all situations, you soon learn that you cannot rely on intellect or logic alone. To be really connected to what is real, you have to make use of talents and sources of knowledge that you cannot explain. Finally, you learn to value your feelings and intuitions as well as your rational judgments, and you will be able to work creatively with any challenge that comes along.

Do not forget that these two opposing ways of knowing only come together when they are used together. You have to practice personal Conjunction on a daily basis in the everyday world for the Overself to become part of your personality. The major effort in the alchemist's life is the creation of this unified self, which can withstand the onslaughts of ignorance, insensitivity, and illusion one encounters in the world. You actually can feel yourself coming together as one mind, one larger presence. Signs that Conjunction is taking place within a person are the growth of confidence, equanimity, and calmness. You start laughing at stupidity instead of getting angry. Within you, the feeling of an indestructible or "default" presence grows stronger every day. That personal presence is what the alchemists called the "Lesser Stone," which will gradually be perfected and emerge as an all-powerful state of consciousness they referred to as the "Greater Stone."  

Before Conjunction, a person can be lustful and wanton in seeking their �other half� and jealous and possessive once it is found. On the other hand, the conjuncted person is appreciative of the alchemical forces at work in relationships and careers and tends to be considerably kinder and more sensitive. Such a person appears balanced and quietly confident, and that inner harmony is proof of the integration of the elements within.

That the human body must be perfected, as well as the mind and spirit, is a basic tenet of alchemy. Yet how do the King and Queen manifest in the body, and what exactly is the Child of the Conjunction in terms of human physiology? According to Tantric alchemists, the phallic-shaped pineal gland at the center of the brain and the bilobed pituitary gland play the roles of King and Queen. Their union, achieved through meditative exercises, produces a Pill of Immortality, which is released at the back of the throat and is activated when it reaches the stomach. This inner sex act initiates a Second Puberty that perfects and rejuvenates the body.