“The action of changing or the state of being changed into another form”
So here we are again friends! As I was brewing this blog post, SO MANY words came to my head – change, envy, empathy, transformation, growth, path, bigger picture…and I couldn’t put my finger on it. What was it that I wanted to articulate so badly?
*Enter Epiphany Here*
TRANSMUTATION. It’s much like a change, but so much more! Change is simple – stimuli occur and the response to it is change. It can be temporary or permanent, but it is simple in it’s entirety. However, transmutation brings alchemy and magic into the mix, transmutation implies a complete change from one state to another.
I digress… The reason for me wanting to talk about transmutation is that I have recently went through this process myself, and OH BOY! has it been an eye-opener. Going through the process I didn’t realise how deep will the changes be, and how the process is influenced indirectly by the state of mind of those around you.
So much like the stages of grievance (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance), transmutation happens in much the same way.
Denial
At first, you deny that there is anything wrong. You look around and see that you are comfortable (or not…but you convince yourself that you are), because you are scared of change/transmutation. What-if’s, but-why’s and how-can’s take a hold of your consciousness, so you start denying the need for change. But you know what they say…
“The only constant is change” (Heraclitus)
so you get…
Anger
You wake up each morning, brush your teeth, get ready, do what you do…all the while lacking the greatest thing in life – happiness. Instead, you’re like the grumpy old Uncle Joe down the road – bitter, grumpy, forever muttering under your breath, despising happy people and smileys in your text messages. And then you get angry with yourself, because you are stuck. Same routine, same environment, same, same, same… But inside, your soul is craving for you to pack a backpack full of Pringles and climb Mount Everest!
Then you start the process of…
Bargaining
And this is where the real journey to transmutation begins…
You barter with the Universe – you promise you will work out EVERY DAY for the next three lifetimes, just so you get to do what your heart desires. You make deals with yourself, about what you will give up to gain some extra Karma points on some imaginary scale, that you have created yourself. You deconstruct all your past actions and thoughts and promise you will learn from your past, and will do differently in the future.
And while you’re busy doing all of this…
Depression
sets in… You think you have begun losing it. Every plea deal you’re posing to universe is going unanswered, but to you it seems it goes by unheard. You think the Universe has given up on you, or Karma has too many “bad” points on your scale. The actions you have taken in the past, the bad words you’ve said to the asshat that cut you off at the roundabout the other day have somehow blocked your path to transmutation.
And at this point you have two options – you roll back to step one, start denying there’s anything wrong, because you slowly convince yourself that the current way is the right way. Or you move on to…
Acceptance
You shake yourself up. Make a to-do list. Re-evaluate your goals. Set up a plan. And make it happen.
Why?
Because you have accepted that transmutation comes from WITHIN. The Universe listens (and wants to help you) and will respond, but only if YOU take the necessary steps to put your life into motion. Kick-starting yourself is the ONLY sure way to make a change/transmutation and reach your soul’s potential, fulfill your dreams and goals.
Final thought – live in the moment, enjoy it. Accept every experience and learn from it (be it good or bad), and pass it on, for you do not live forever…
Blessed Be!