The Latin expression “solve et coagula” is derived from “solve,” meaning to break down and separate, while “coagula” describes the process of bringing elements back together (coagulating) into a new, higher form.

Interestingly, “solve et coagula” is a brilliant psychological metaphor. By pursuing Gold (or listening to our intuitive “higher calling”) we “break down” limiting parts within us that are in the way of our transformation (Philosopher’s Stone) into a free and whole being (coagulation).

This journey of death, rebirth, and transformation has often been summarized into the four levels of alchemy:

I) Nigredo (or “blackening” – symbolic of the death of old ways of being)

II) Albedo (or “whitening” – symbolic of the process of rebirth and Soul consciousness)

III) Citrinitas (or “yellowing” – symbolic of the development of Spirit consciousness)

IV) Rubedo (or “reddening” – symbolic of the attainment of Spiritual Liberation)

I’ll break down these four levels of alchemy below.

Note: while there are no universal stages of alchemy due to the sheer number of different schools out there, here are some of the most widely accepted stages and how they pertain to the spiritual awakening journey.

1. Calcination:

The stage of Calcination represents the stage in our lives where we begin breaking down our egos, self-doubt, stubbornness, self sabotaging behaviour, pride, and arrogance and out it aside so we can find out what is underneath.

Calcination is the process of heating and decomposing raw matter – or in other words, breaking down parts of ourselves that are in the way of our own happiness. Often we’d rather be right or fulfill an idea of “perfection” than be truly happy, so we continue neglecting the exploration of ourselves.

2. Dissolution:

This is the beginning of spiritual maturity and the spiritual awakening process. Sometimes this stage of transformation is brough about accidentally by illnesses and misfortunes.

Once we’ve broken down all of our personality characteristics that were in the way of our evolution, we’re left with the process of dissolution which is the beginning of feeling less identification with our illusionary sense of self.

Once we’re free from the strong grip of the egocentric self, we can take one step back and truly observe our positive and negative qualities.

In this stage, our inability to take responsibility for our many faults, our repressed traumas, and other inner tensions rise to the surface, causing us to become aware of how our behaviour might be affecting others.

This stage is, therefore, the beginning of spiritual maturity and the spiritual awakening process. 

Often, this stage of transformation is brought about by sudden illnesses, mental health crises, or misfortunes in our lives that cause us to closely pay attention to what we’re doing, shocking us out of our avoidance patterns (such as workaholism, addictions to certain relationships, drugs, unhealthy habits, etc.).

3. Separation

Separation is the stage where we make our thoughts and emotions more defined by practicing introspection, self-awareness, and self-analysis.

A simple example of this process is understanding the difference between our anger and our grief or the conflicting desire to isolate ourselves but also connect with other people.

The process of separation involves truly becoming aware of our authentic feelings towards others and ourselves.

In this stage, we choose to experience our anger, frustration, or disappointment towards another or ourselves, rather than reverting back to the old habit of dutifully trying to “forgive and forget” because it is the “right” or comfortable thing to do (or, on the other hand, to react and hold a grudge).

Separation is closely entwined with shadow work in that we must allow all feelings and thoughts within us to surface side by side and become aware of our “darker side.” This practice helps us to isolate particular elements of our character to honestly see and assess them, then eventually consciously embrace and transform them.

4. Conjunction

After the purification and clarification of the first three stages, we must integrate and combine the remaining elements within us through the process of “Conjunction.”

While in the previous step, we learned to distinguish all of the feelings and thoughts within us, Conjunction provides the inner space – the simmering – that is required for us to truly and honestly accept all the parts of our authentic selves.

When we experience this stage of spiritual alchemy, many of our long-forgotten (or suppressed) unconscious thoughts and feelings bubble up to the surface and into the light of conscious awareness.

In this stage, journaling, introspection, solitude, and meditation are particularly useful practices to facilitate movement toward the next stage.

5. Fermentation

Fermentation is the beginning of our process of rebirth. This stage can be compared to the death of a grape, which then becomes the birth of wine.

While the first four stages involved working with aspects of our old personality, in the stage of Fermentation we begin to experience moments of our more “refined” self.

Fermentation occurs in two parts: Putrefaction and Spiritization.

Putrefaction is the decomposition of our former selves; the process of inner death by which the old elements of our conscious and unconscious minds are allowed to rot and decompose. (Some call this stage The Dark Night of the Soul as it can be followed by troublesome mental states such as depression.)

On the other hand, Spiritization is the stage in which we begin to look at the world in a new light. With the right guidance and with solid inner work, Spiritization involves letting go of all the aspects of ourselves and our lives that don’t serve or contribute to our spiritual transformation.

This is when we taste moments of great inner peace and stillness.

6. Distillation

Once we begin our Spiritization, we must find a way to continue to integrate all of these spiritual realizations into our lives in order to allow them to become permanent. Distillation is the level of further purification.

One example of Distillation is finding ways to live from a daily place of inner peace – even in the most mundane circumstances.

With enough repeated practice of constantly dying and being reborn in the present moment without entering again into the habits, identifications, and cycles of the mind, we experience a strong and profound inner transformation. In the East, this is what’s referred to as self-realization or spiritual enlightenment.

Certain practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and self-inquiry are useful in this stage to facilitate movement toward the next stage.

7. Coagulation

Similar to the blood’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding, Coagulation is the moment when we’ve “broken open the head,” or in other words, we have become free from the mind and our consciousness or Soul has united with the Materia Prima: the Spirit.

It’s at this point that we’ve found the Elixir of Life also known in alchemy as The Philosopher’s Stone.

This non-dualistic meeting point between two opposites – the spiritual Self and human self, ego and Soul, inner and outer worlds – represents the culmination of the spiritual journey, the holy moment of spiritual freedom or enlightenment.

Alchemy’s greatest achievement is to mirror the interrelationship between mind and matter, ego and soul, self and world. It embodies and points to the union of opposites, the transcendence of division, and the Oneness of all beings.