Living alchemically is becoming increasingly aware of the cycles in our lives, their timing and how to creatively use the energy within them. I’ve lost track of this principle during the past few months tumbling through cycles that unpredictably swept me up like a wave on an ocean beach. But…more about these experiences and the learning’s spit out of them later. A larger cycle is one of the focal points in my life at the present moment.

It’s a special event that has been forming for a year, one that’s required a lot of time and effort and is now taking on an energy of its own. In October, hundreds of people from around the world will gather in Los Angeles to create the 2009 International Alchemy Conference. The link on this blog – Third International Alchemy Conference – will take you to our site. But, what I wanted to share with you is the special energy that is building around this gathering.

We chose the theme: Change Through Alchemy: A World of Transformation to try to capture the essence of the conference – our world is already changing in ways it has not before and alchemy is a powerful way to manage this change in our lives. While alchemists will present workshops, many other presenters who are experts in other practices that use alchemical principles will also be sharing their knowledge.

Communicating with presenters about the conference has given me the opportunity to experience the interest and energy from their perspective. A couple of examples will give you a sense of what is happening. Arranging flights for Mantak Chia, a renowned master of the Tao, that will take him from work he is doing in Brussels just before the conference and then on to London afterwards, it struck me that he believes our gathering is part of the message about his Universal Tao that he’s sharing with the world. Speaking with William Henry, who sees himself as an investigative mythologist, about his presentation called forth his breakthrough work with symbols and I’m excited that his presentation will focus on his new insights about alchemical images. Realizing that Hans Andrea, in his presentation “The Alchemy of Harry Potter,” will be talking about esoteric Christianity and Rosicrucian teachings revealed to me some of the many fascinating connections between the Ancient Art and other forms of transformation that are available to us today.

Got transformation?