metAlchemical Principles

before i begin, i want to explain why there are twelve principles of alchemy. the dozen is a sacred number, appearing over and over in history and art and even in science. i believe that the resonant frequency of carbon facilitates life by resonating energy, and each carbon atom has twelve subatomic particles (well, most of them; there is a carbon-13 isotope in nature, too).

also, this philosophy is still in development. the final number—and, therefore, symbolism—of the principles is in flux, but their purpose remains the same: to guide overall values and morals, similar to religious commandments without proscription on method. doing good is more important than how you choose to do it.

PROTECTION

the act of creation is a sacred transference of energy. that which has been created deserves to be preserved based on the principle of continuity, which we'll come to later. this will look vastly different for different people, but remember that all the principles (e.g. consent, context) play off each other to address more complex moral questions. in practice, protection means taking action to preserve the product of creation where such action does not violate another principle.

PROGRESS

all things serve the universal equilibrium and actively seeking such is evolutionary. as a species capable of personal equilibrium, we should seek progress towards such a state as the benefits include progress towards the universal equilibrium and personal reconciliation with the rhythm of the universe. this could mean taking up daily meditation, getting in shape, or learning a new skill—some manner of self-improvement that can be serialized into a long-term strategy for growth.

PROACTIVITY

with awareness comes the responsibility to act: to prevent harm, to protect life or the innocent, to preserve creation. to know and do nothing to intervene (safely! you deserve safety too) is to be complicit in the act of destruction. in practice, proactivity is much less crisis intervention and much more community support. volunteer at your local food bank, knock on doors for a cause, or be there for a neighbor in need. but speak up when you see something wrong, too.

NEUROSTIMULATION

making happiness chemicals in your brain is a sacred act of communion with the universe and there are many ways to do that. remember that context and protection suggest moderation is also important here. i want you to be safe, so choose healthy neurostimulants like delicious food, great music, safe sex, other miscellaneous exercise, charitable acts, meditation, or something similar, please? metAlchemy and i am not picky about how you get to equilibrium, i would just like to meet you when you get there.

NEUROPLASTICITY

negative emotions cause dis-harmonizing frequencies and need to be experienced, processed, and released as soon as safely possible to avoid rhythm syncing issues (Murphy's Law, a self-fulfilling prophecy). there are a number of techniques for doing this, but i obviously recommend mine. one, it's free. two, it's personalized. three, it's just a playlist you listen to while thinking through things. that, or EMDR.

NEURODIVERSITY

all neurotypes are necessary for our world, our universe, to function. we all play a role in the grand fabric of time and none of us is above or below the rest. this means building a more accessible world for all, from autistic artists to ADHD engineers to neurotypical dreamers. be proactive in your pursuit of a better, more equitable infrastructure and system in which to thrive and remember that all are welcome in metAlchemy.

CONSENT

in all things interpersonal, consent is required. this means ongoing, enthusiastic, informed consent. anything less than that is immediately suspect. coercion is not consent. silence is not consent. consent once given may be revoked at anytime, verbally or non verbally via hand gesture or other body language. this applies to everything from sex to your job. if you don't want to be there, don't.

CONTINUITY

energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed from one phase to another in a perpetual cycle of renewal and rebirth. this principle informs all others as it forms the basis of the value of life as a phase in the cycle. practice continuity by recycling, upcycling, reusing old containers, lowering your carbon footprint (yes! even though it's sacred, carbon emissions are bad for continuity), volunteering with children, or helping the elderly.

CONTEXT

the surroundings of a thing change the nature of that thing; to deny this is to deny the truth. words mean different things in different contexts; that's why precision of language is so important to avoid accidental lies. so, too, does context change actions. deeds do not exist in vacuums, you must be aware of all aspects of what you do and how it aligns with your principles.

INTENTION

mean to do the things that you do and mean to say the things that you say; that means thinking first. work out your intention before you open your mouth or lift your finger. this will reveal the words or the path most aligned with your goal to you and you can follow it to manifest those intentions on the universe itself. live with intention to live with authenticity.

INTERSECTION

not only do deeds not exist in vacuums, skills don't either. nothing exists in a vacuum. apply your expertise to areas where you think it doesn't apply. like, say, a writer starting a cult based on linguistic puns and multidisciplinary science. you'll be surprised what shakes out; i definitely was. this all fell together like a jigsaw puzzle.

INTROSPECTION

finally, no metAlchemist is above another. myself included, by the way. i am no prophet, i just see patterns across lines other people don't look past. it's nothing new, that's what's so beautiful about it. everyone got a piece of it, and i'm sure i'm missing something, too. at the end of the day, we are all just humans—think on that (with music, which is my $3 advanced technique collection).