The Alchemical process is a Psychospiritual process that occurs within the individual. This occurs over many years, through many cycles. It is a vibrational shift, on all levels. The initiation from Dark (Ignorance) to Light (Knowledge of Soul / Self). This spiritualization of matter, the accumulation of astral light that lifts the individual to a  higher vibration, occurs as the Mind / Body / Soul connection is unified. The consciousness of the individual is raised, from Lead (the base / carnal state) to Gold (the higher state of virtues.) 

The Alchemist refines and works with the elements on all levels, Body, Spirit, Soul i.e. Salt, Mercury & Sulphur.

All are capable of attaining to this Great Work, what all the Mystics, Seers & Sages have always alluded to. There is a process, by successive steps, in which we can raise and awaken our consciousness and latent energies / powers / faculties. It is Hermetics, the ancient wisdom passed down since the beginning, what can also be termed Mystic Christianity, Gnostic in nature - the ancient teachings that have influenced many religious & spiritual movements. 

 The Hermetic Art, which when truly applied, can not be turned into Dogma, corrupted, made into "organized" religion used to manipulate or to control others, etc. It brings us into direct union with the ALL, with universal MIND, the Spirit of Nature & the Universe, i.e. "God". It teaches full personal responsibility for all thoughts and actions we allow to manifest. This means self governing human beings, as understanding, knowledge of these Divine Laws do not allow us to go against another. It is the Law of Karma in action, the Law of Laws, Golden Rule. It nourishes the Spirit, feeds the Soul. Brings us into communication & co-operation with Nature, with God.

Through direct steps, we can Transmute the lead within our being, that is the Ego, the pain, the fear & doubt. We can heal our MIND on all levels, the trauma and pain we all carry from the battles of life, both this & previous lives. Ignorance is That which poisons our own well. By Transmutation, the refining & raising of Consciousness, We can come into alignment with our true nature, our Higher Self. We can learn to control our emotions, our RE-action to things. In coming to this through the work, in cycles, through many years, we come to the ancient axiom, KNOW THYSELF. For if we come to know this fully, we come to know all things, All obscurity will flee from thee. All the Secrets of the Gods & of the Universe.

We strengthen our connection, when we apply visualization & concentration techniques, meditation, especially the deeper meditative & shadow work. We also have access to natures allies, the keys to the secret doors of perception & dimensions - entheogenic plant medicine used safely for centuries, for ceremony / healing. Through this work we integrate this understanding & awarenesss into right thinking & action, i.e. take full inventory in order to "get our house in order", and truly apply the Hermetic principles. When successful, we come into a more objective state of self awareness.

The steps of Alchemy

1 - Calcination
This is the recognition of our faults, our LEAD, our Ego, our preconceived ideas and outlooks on the world based in low vibration thought forms & constructs. Ignorance. Carnal & Base desires. Immersed purely in the world of MATTER

2 - Dissolution
This is where we come into awareness. Begin to shift & examine our thoughts, beliefs, engaging with our Ego to break down views that do not serve us. Awareness of our Cognitive Dissonance to the life we were / are living. Breaking down, dissolving those things that do not serve us for forward growth.

3 - Separation
This stage is where we release these things we have come to understand in Calcination & Dissolution. Forgiving ourselves & others, coming into higher awareness / understanding of who we are, our spiritual nature, etc. During this stage, the Old world crumbles, falls away, Our illusions being shown in the light, and we are faced with the Chaos of the Abyss. This stage is called by many "The Dark Night of the Soul"

4 - Conjunction
This is where we extract the Gold from our Lead. We combine the higher nature / virtues as the result of the previous 3 steps. The "saved" elements from the early work, from successful Separation we must now integrate that into our new BEING. Purifying MIND & SPIRIT to awaken, to become Soul Conscious. This step is very important. We must avoid the Ego traps and other false lights. We must be Born again in this new Light & Wisdom. When this is successful the Alchemist enters into a higher state of intuition, a new higher energetic vibration occurs on the psychological & spiritual levels, as well as the Physical. When Transmuted properly this is the attainment of the "Lesser Stone"

5 - Fermentation
This is the Initiation stage of the Work, having purified the lower nature, the carnal & base desires, now a permanent state of Higher Virtue & Being is brought into being. The Child within born again into a higher state of being, The Peacocks Tail. This is experienced in deep Trance like meditation, as spinal fluid ascends and chemical release within the brain occurs at the level of the Pineal & Pituitary glands. In many ancient cultures & spiritual practices the mysteries were revealed utilizing sacred substances : Psychedelic / Entheogenic plant medicines, such as Mushrooms & DMT / Ayahuasca, etc were used to Show & allow the Alchemist to enter the Transcendent state, to interact with the other dimensions of consciousness, intelligences, Nature directly.

6 - Distillation
A deep period of meditation, contemplation of the previous work. This is where we come into our Being if the work is successful. We draw and accumulate the Astral Light / Chi / Prana, and through internal process raise the energies within that also have chemical reactions within the glandular systems, specifically the spinal column & the Pineal / Pituitary Glands. This distillation, brings in and purifies Mind so that, "the higher self" is in the drivers seat, the Psychic & Spiritual forces are purified and no traces of the lower nature / Ego / Poison are carried forward into the final stage, the production of the Stone of the Philosophers, the Water of Life.

7 - Coagulation
This, is the attainment and projection of the Philosophers Stone, the Holy of Hollies, the Secret of Secrets, A permanent state of Enlightenment / Nirvana, in which the Alchemist has successfully transmuted and raised his consciousness, along with the energy centers of the body in order to accumulate the Astral Light and manifest through deep meditative work, the projection of the Light / Astral Body in order to leave this vessel / reality and gain deep spiritual understanding of all things. ONENESS with the ALL, in the here and NOW. In this life. BEHOLD the Stone. SEE BEYOND.
This is when we come into contact with higher powers, faculties, the Invisible brotherhood, union with God & Nature. If this step is mastered many glorious things are spoken of indeed.
This is Christ Consciousness, universal understanding, the Mystery of Life. 

Solve et Coagula

Peace is found within. Meditate on that. No outer change occurs without the transmutation of the inner state first. Thought / Consciousness, directed by will + intent (Heart & Third eye) This is how we manifest peace in our lives.

It must first occur on the individual level, this also has a profound effect on the collective consciousness. If you still are at "conflict" with certain aspects of this world, or with other people, Ego driven, etc, then you must resolve those conflicts within yourself first. This is how we cultivate & utilize our higher faculties, intuition, critical thinking, controlling the emotions, etc, tapping into those flow states, "abundance", Health, etc.

Everyone can manifest the lives they dream about, but it is all relevant to the inner state. The hard work to resolve old pain and transmute it to free ourselves from projecting that pain into the world. Ego / Higher Self, The Goal is the union, 2 into 1. Not the suppression of one over the other. Spirit \ Matter. Yin \ Yang. Light \ Dark. Whatever way you perceive it, balance is the key to integrating the higher knowledge and putting it into action. This is "faith without works is dead" , when all effort is taken to achieve the goal. All things are aligned with the goal, the work at hand. Because when this is truly perceived it is understood, "One way to do all things".

Now I'm rambling....