The Alchemy of Business

Transforming Through the Seven Stages

Alchemy isn’t just about turning lead into gold—it’s about transformation on a much deeper level, something we experience in our personal journeys and, of course, in our businesses. Like ancient alchemists, we go through various stages of growth, refinement, and evolution. I want to explore how the seven stages of alchemy mirror the path many of us take as heart-centred business owners.

Let’s take a journey through the seven stages of alchemy and how they relate to our business transformations.

1. Calcination (Burning Away)

This stage is all about breaking down the ego, the false self, and the things that no longer serve us. In business, calcination is when we confront the parts of our work that are not aligned with our values or vision. It could be outdated strategies, limiting beliefs, or projects that drain our energy. This process of letting go feels like a necessary 'burning away' before we can move forward.

Reflection: What’s one thing in your business that you feel is holding you back, but you’re ready to release?

2. Dissolution (Melting Down)

Once we’ve let go, we enter a stage of fluidity—where we’re not entirely sure what comes next. This is dissolution. It’s when the structures that once defined us dissolve, allowing us to flow into new opportunities. In business, this might look like restructuring, trying new approaches, or stepping into the unknown.

Reflection: Are you in a period of fluidity or experimentation in your business? How does that feel for you?

3. Separation (Filtering)

In this stage, we start to sift through the chaos and extract what’s valuable. After dissolving old structures, we gain clarity. We discern what’s truly essential in our business—be it core offerings, values, or practices.

Reflection: What are the core aspects of your business that you want to focus on moving forward?

4. Conjunction (Union)

This is the stage where we bring together the elements we’ve separated and begin to integrate them into something new. In business, it’s the coming together of ideas, collaborations, or even a new brand identity that feels more aligned with who you are.

Reflection: How can you integrate new ideas or approaches to create a more aligned business vision?

5. Fermentation (Growth)

Now that we’ve combined everything, it’s time to let the magic happen! Fermentation is the stage where our ideas begin to take on a life of their own—growing, evolving, and expanding beyond what we initially imagined. In business, this could be a new product, a new service, or a whole new way of working that emerges as a result of previous efforts.

Reflection: What’s currently growing or evolving in your business that excites you?

6. Distillation (Purification)

Distillation is about refining—getting to the essence of what truly matters. In business, it’s a process of continuous improvement, refining your message, your services, and how you show up for your clients. It’s about clarity and purity of purpose.

Reflection: What can you refine or purify in your business to bring it closer to its true essence?

7. Coagulation (Manifestation)

The final stage is coagulation—where the transformation is complete, and you see tangible results. In business, this is the stage where everything starts to click into place. Your offerings align, your messaging is clear, and you feel deeply connected to your purpose.

Reflection: Where do you see tangible results manifesting in your business journey right now?

Just like in alchemy, transformation in business is a journey—sometimes messy, sometimes magical, but always rich with potential. I invite you to embrace these stages, knowing that each one brings you closer to the gold you’re meant to create in the world.

As always, I’m here for you on this journey.