What is alchemical healing?
Nicki Skully
The power of alchemical healing comes from the intention of its practitioners and from their willingness to suspend any personal agenda in the healing work in order to allow something new to happen each time. It requires attention, focused concentration and presence, and expanded awareness that honours intelligence and invites inspiration and assistance from the realms of spirit. Skills can be developed through practice….True magic, however, cannot be contrived. It is the gift of grace and the Mystery.
Introduction
Alchemy is an ancient philosophical and spiritual tradition focused on transmutation, integration, and purification—both in the material world (e.g., turning lead into gold) and within the human ‘self.’ Psycho-spiritually, alchemy is about the transformation of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment.
Alchemical healing is a holistic approach to change that integrates ancient spiritual wisdom (including western and eastern alchemy), energy work, and intuitive guidance, with modern psychological insight, to catalyze deep healing and transformation in individuals.
On other sections of my website, you can learn more about:
- the overarching philosophy that guides my coaching, healing, and guidance work;
- my unique approach to alchemical healing; and,
- how alchemical healing compares to psychotherapy.
The roots of alchemical healing
Alchemical healing was initially named and developed by Nicki Skully. Nicki is a healer, teacher, and author who has dedicated her life to sharing the wisdom of shamanism and the Egyptian mysteries.
Alchemical healing has deep and diverse roots, drawing from multiple wisdom traditions, spiritual practices, and healing modalities—both old and new(er). These roots include, for example:
- ancient alchemy (both western & eastern traditions)
- hermeticism (e.g., as above, so below) and mysticism (e.g., gnosticism, sufism)
- indigenous and shamanic healing
- depth psychology; psycho-spiritual integration (e.g. Jungian psychology; transpersonal psychology)
- energy healing/medicine/work
I came across alchemical healing in early 2025 and quickly realized that my own intuitive approach to helping clients fits quite well within the alchemical healing framework. I found a ‘home’ of sorts (at least for now?).
If you’re interested in learning more about its roots, check-out Niki Skully’s book, Alchemical healing: A guide to spiritual, physical, and transformational medicine.
Common components of alchemical healing
I describe each of the common elements of alchemical healing below.
Ancient spiritual wisdom refers to the timeless teachings, practices, and insights generationally transmitted by indigenous cultures, mystical lineages, and spiritual traditions. This wisdom is often rooted in deep connection with nature, the cosmos, and the ‘unseen’ realms. It serves as a guiding light for balanced living with oneself, other people, and wider worlds.
Energy work refers to practices aimed at sensing, transforming, and balancing the subtle energies within and around the body. Everything is made up of energy—including thoughts, emotions, the physical body, and the environment—and this energy can be shaped to promote healing, well-being, and growth.
Intuitive guidance is the process of receiving insight, wisdom, or direction from a ‘knowing’ beyond reason. This guidance can come from, for example, bodily sensations, dreams, archetypal patterns, symbolic imagery, energetic experiences, spirit guides, and ‘higher’ spiritual knowing.
(Depth) psychological insight involves gaining an understanding and awareness of one’s (or others’) thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Among other things, psychological insight identifies the underlying patterns, motivations, and unconscious influences that shape a person’s experiences and actions.
Goals of alchemical healing
Alchemical healing (as I practice it) seeks to catalyze soul-informed identity shifts, transmute psychological wounds, and spur spiritual expansion.
I describe this healing process as growing deep roots (in soul) and fledging wide wings (in spirit).
Practically speaking, alchemical healing involves transforming a person’s patterns at the ‘foundational’ energetic level. This change automatically shifts/heals the levels ‘above’ it (e.g., the cognitive, emotional, physical, behavioural) as the new energetic template is integrated.
These shifts lead a person to naturally (and somewhat unconsciously) embody new and more authentic ways of being, knowing, and acting. They also spur spiritual growth and awakening(s).
The 7 stages of alchemical transformation
In ancient alchemy, seven stages of transformation are frequently mentioned. I (roughly) layer the alchemical healing process onto these seven stages below.
It is important to remember that alchemical healing is essentially non-linear and breaking it into distinct phases is necessarily problematic. Nevertheless, our rational minds often benefit from schemas and stories, so without further ado:
(Oh, and readers will also recognize some parallels with Dąbrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration).
- Calcination (Breaking Down the Ego & Old Identity)
- key element: Fire
- often triggered by a crisis or dark night of the soul
- involves the burning away of illusions, outdated beliefs, and ego attachments: the false self
- symptoms: feelings of confusion, loss, identity crisis, or burnout
- Dissolution (Emotional Release & Flowing with the Unconscious)
- key element: Water
- as the ego structure disintegrates, repressed emotions and hidden fears rise to the surface
- this stage encourages surrender and opening to the unconscious, intuition, and deep emotional healing
- symptoms: emotional overwhelm, grief, heightened sensitivity, mystical experiences
- Separation (Extracting the Essence & Discerning Truth)
- key element: Air
- here, we separate what is essential from what no longer serves us.
- a stage of clarity, discernment, and gaining insight into personal wounds, patterns, and strengths
- symptoms: a strong urge to redefine identity, withdrawal to reflect, moments of clarity
- Conjunction (Integrating the Shadow & Healing the Inner Divide)
- key element: Earth
- divine masculine and feminine (light and dark, conscious and unconscious) begin to reconcile and unify
- a stage of self-acceptance, heart-centred healing, and embodiment of wisdom
- symptoms: feeling lighter, more balanced, heart-opening experiences, deeper connection to nature
- Fermentation (Spiritual Awakening & Rebirth)
- key element: Ether (Spirit)
- a mystical process where a new self begins to emerge, often accompanied by spiritual visions, synchronicities, and enlightenment experiences
- Creativity, divine inspiration, and deeper purpose unfold
- symptoms: profound insights, feeling connected to something greater, a surge of creative energy
- Distillation (Refinement of Wisdom & Mastery)
- key element: Quintessence (Refined Spirit)
- this stage requires repeated purification, deepening spiritual discipline, and integrating newfound wisdom
- the healer becomes the alchemist of their own energy, refining their ability to transmute challenges into wisdom
- symptoms: a desire for mastery, alignment with true purpose, attracting synchronicities
- Coagulation (Wholeness & Embodied Illumination)
- key element: The Unified Self
- the final stage is the embodiment of the Philosopher’s Stone—the integration of all experiences into a stable, awakened state of being
- the alchemist is no longer “seeking” but living their truth, fully present, grounded, and radiating wisdom
- symptoms: a deep sense of peace, fulfillment, unshakable inner knowing, the ability to help others transmute their suffering
If you’re curious to connect, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.