My Alchemical journey
My first connection with Alchemy (and maybe also yours), was looking into fire as a child. Wood being turned into smoke, ash and heat. Some say that fire gazing was what got ancient humans into meditation. I still find it captivating, I can look at a fire for hours! The first alchemical process I consciously participated in was making wine with my father when I was 10.
outer alchemy
In high school I was scientifically oriented and I was enchanted by chemical reactions changing one substance into another, sometimes in spectacular, colourful and even explosive ways. I was fortunate enough to study Chemistry in the Netherlands (my motherland), getting to spend a big part of my studies in laboratories, conducting experiments, synthesizing substances, isolating enzymes, measuring, weighing, studying properties, working hands on with exotic chemicals and expensive machines. I even got to publish an article!
After graduating in Quantum Chemistry I got into IT and forgot about chemistry for some years. But when I moved back to Corfu I took up the winemaking again and eventually also started distilling wine into “tsipouro”, the Greek version of grappa. With this alcohol I am also making elixirs, tinctures and other healing potions. But, enough about Outer Alchemy…
Inner Alchemy
Coming back to my village on Corfu, my personal transformation journey in Inner Alchemy started. I met some beautiful Osho sannyasins, started singing mantras and overthe years I engaged in many different practices, yoga, qigong, music, dance, meditation, clowning, tantra, plant medicine... Anything that was offered in festivals and retreats in my village, I tried out, always trying to find ways to get out of my comfort zone!
What I have achieved through all these practices is to face some of my shadows, peel off some of the protective layers we all build around our pure, innocent heart, and get to a point where I am grateful every day for the life that I am living. I am enjoying the journey through this beautiful reality, knowing that I am the captain of my ship and I choose what the next episode will be!
This gratitude and optimism makes we want to share my gifts with all of you!
