The Alchemical Union
Feat. The Wild Unknown Alchemy
Hey there again friends,
I wasn’t expecting to be back to this newsletter so soon lol but I like to share particularly interesting readings, especially in a situation like this where I am trying out a new-to-me spread. I won’t get into my life as a card reader right now, but I'll just started delving into oracle decks sometime late last year and beginning of this year I think; I'll also say I don’t consider myself an educator! I share for a lot of reasons but ultimately this is just me and what I do. I read for others too but primarily these days for myself, and I approach pretty much any card reading with some Jungian background and astrological influence (which is also a pretty recent development).
[ID: a 5 card spread of honeycomb-shaped cards arranged in the shape of a bridge. Counterclockwise from the bottom, the cards are listed as such:
Unus mundus/Synchronicity
Coagulatio/Coagulation
Lux brumalis/Winter
Stibus/Antimony
Kheiron/Chiron]
The Wild Unknown Alchemy oracle deck is such a cool deck with an amazing concept; at first I was honestly overwhelmed by the size and scope of all the cards, not to mention attempting to shuffle with their hexagonal shape lol but I reach for it when I need a transformational moment beyond the spiritual journey of tarot. In fact, I had reached for it this morning to contemplate how a relationship I adore is currently changing for the worst, or is it?
I took that microcosmic question and thought…what am I really frustrated by? What has changed with me that may be affecting my surroundings? One thing that I know has probably alienated some people in my life (for better or for worse, who knows yet) is my seeking to understand conflict. I don’t wish to make conflict and struggle my personality, but I’m also tired of acting like it doesn’t exist just because something is a little hard lol. Conflict is alive, it breathes, it is both neutral and acidic, will erode what it touches but can be stopped with a little milk or honey.
I work/have worked with some social justice organizations in my area and, in a macro sense, I see the damage that conflict aversion does overtime. Simply looking away doesn’t mean it’s not there :/ and we wonder why things fall apart. I’m also hearing a lot that people see conflict resolution as an oxymoron or contradiction of some sort, which is shocking to me tbh. I don’t understand that mindset. I think it’s important to respect our feelings as humans, acknowledge that this is simply a part of life, and approach things with curiosity. That’s a humanist approach. There may be no gods above us but we do have ourselves.
And so rather than observe my role in an ultimately temporary relationship (as much as I love my friends and community I think it’s ok to say that part too!), I decided to observe my relationship to all things.
YOU - your current state, what you are bringing to the relationship.
Unus mundus/Synchronicity - one of the 22 mysteries as outlined in the guide. You may even think of this similarly to the major arcana of tarot — lifelong lessons, the overarching theme. When I see this I feel confident in my question, I know I’m healing a schism in myself, I know this is not about to turn into a me vs them situation.
The verbiage of this card says that we are all seeking answers to age-old questions, a reminder that nothing is truly new under the sun. Rather than feel dismissive I view that as a comforting thought. I don’t have to pretend to know what I do or don’t know, other people are walking this path with me and we must now pay attention to the signs along the way. Those signs are the old knowledge. I sat with this card alone for such a long time and felt the hope it brings.
THEM - their current state, and what they bring to the relationship.
Kheiron/Chiron - if you like astrology, you may think oh OK, here we go. The wounded healer. If you like Greek mythology at all you’re probably familiar with the story of the Centaur — rather, there are many versions of his origin but to me Chiron ultimately represents the pain and hurt we are able to spin into strengths, our shadows, and sacrifice.
The other side to me, though, is we live in a society that will romanticize pain in a minute lol so it’s important to not let it become your defining factor. It’s possible to sit with pain and sit IN pain. The Wild Unknown gives a great shadow and light view of this; in this relationship context I see people who have very valid reasons for being conflict averse. This very likely is a childhood wound. It’s important to acknowledge that and not try to “fix” it right now. It’s even possible for them to use that as support. Thatmay be why they may keep joining situations that are already in flux or where conflict is inevitable. Do they make the issues with their avoidance? I also wonder what they are seeking. This suggests to me someone who is either ready and on their way to shedding the victim mentality that leaves us stuck all the time so that they are able to work with others…or someone unaware and unsure how. In my mind, my goal is to give the most amount of space to those folks for honest and transparency. What do they want, I wonder? How can it be connected to what I want? How can we help each other? That curiosity drives around the spread.
[ID: tilted photo showing a spread of 5 honeycomb shaped cards connected in a way that resembles a bridge. A candle and coffee mug can be seen in the background.]
YOUR LESSON - the resistance, or what must be learned in order for openness to flow between thr two. It may,be a hesitation, a negative thought for, or a resentment (against them or someone else from your past) that prohibits you from showing up fully to the relationship.
Coagulatio/Coagulation - an operation, an archetype. Like Synchronicity one can see this too as an overriding principle or theme similar to major arcana. This actually makes me thinking of a couple things: a couple weeks ago, I slid into a conversation some friends were having about being overly focused on making correct choices in life. In my mind, our fixation on moralizing every damn thing makes us inflexible over time. Which also reminds me of a cute quote from the Phineas & Ferb Christmas special lol. Due to some plot inconvenience the residents of Danville have all been deemed naughty. Someone suggests that maybe somehow everyone did something bad, but one of Santa's elves confirms that everyone does “naughty” things throughout the year, but that’s different from being a naughty person.
That’s how I view most people and things.
This is MY lesson, however, and knowing myself I think of the stuckness of Earth. I think of where I’m hindering myself, especially where I've deluded myself into thinking I'm making progress. I’m afraid of making certain associations and think of how they'll reflect on me. It seems I can never fully separate myself from the whole and thus I take on all responsibility. The verbiage that struck me here was that Coagulation must happen with intention — when all parts are joined without thought and care they become inseparable. You lose ingredients, lose yourself. One of my fatal flaws is the ability to shrink myself and disappear into the sea for sense of belonging. When I’m supposed to be bringing my authentic and my whole self.
How do to that? That’s what I need to learn and practice more consistently. Such as doing these conflict exercises, I have to practice this on an individual level. I must raise my own questions. I must be critical. I must stop hiding behind the veneer of “sure”. Even I can acknowledge staying in a fluid state provides no progress and sooner or later I must start solidifying in so many areas. Where have I joined up alliances without care? I can think of many places and that bothers me.
THEIR LESSON - the resistance brought to the table by the other person. It is important not to use this card against the person, or try to “teach” them about it. Those attempts will fail. It is simply information that if used alchemically, will allow you to increase your compassion and patience for another human, to create space for the truth between you.
Stibus/Antimony - a beautiful prompt that, to me, ties the true work of alchemy all together. And psychoanalysis. There are no lessons, no morals, just the ways in which we do and don’t relate. Even just in trying a spread like this shows that we are trying and trying HARD by summoning the very forces of time and space itself lol.
Antimony is an old timey substance. Even the spelling looks medieval lol, and we know it causes damage to the lungs and stomach for example.
It is also one of those materials capable of corroding almost anything. When I see this as a “lesson”, I think of destruction both good and bad. I think of the common desire to uproot harmful systems, maybe your passion comes from being marginalized yourself. Burned. Maybe this is your way of dealing with all life has dealt you, a place for your trauma. Very much like transforming the Chiron wound. There is a will there and maybe my hesitancy is in the way, maybe it’s theirs. Maybe the destruction is internal coming out. But I am not a teacher, I am a reflector. I can mirror this pain and make you aware, but I can't work you out of it. But perhaps we can together.
THE UNION - this card is the magnum opus of the relationship. It reveals the great work, the karmic force that pulses between the two. Think of it as the single image that emerges as a result of your knowing each other. Even if it’s not the image desired, the Alchemist will someday come to appreciate its wisdom.
Lux brumalis/Winter - a somber conclusion but not a hopeless one. I think of A Man for All Seasons here, a movie I’ve always related to on a weird level. I think of the people and causes I’m loyal to almost to my detriment. I think of all things I must see through until the end. But there are many endings and beginnings to the year, culturally and seasonally. In astrology, the year begins with the ram in March and ends with the fishes; for witches it begins in October. In alchemy, winter is the first season and autumn the last. This denotes the passage of time. I see this as a future date with no time stamp to be returned to over and over as we will repeat these exercises over and over, alone and together. In my mind, we should. There should be a point where we reach a conclusion but will it be a perfect end, are we “done”? Absolutely not.