Love, money and health are by far the most common reasons for folks to sit for a reading. These are classic questions that people have been going to psychics for answers for centuries. But what interests me with the folks who are primarily concerned with love, money and health is that after about twenty minutes when they have gotten their answer to their primary questions, they give me a look and say, "what else can I ask"? Indeed what else can you ask, except the much more important things. But what is more important than love, money, and health? How about aligning yourself in a way so you don't have to worry about those things again?
The Great Work
The "Great Work" is a central concept in Hermeticism, as well as Kabbalah (of course with different terminology). It's a spiritual philosophy that dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece, drawing from the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. Often shrouded in symbolism, alchemical allegory, and esoteric tradition, the Great Work refers to the spiritual process of inner transformation, ultimately leading to the attainment of divine wisdom, enlightenment, and unity with the divine. If you think this sounds a lot like "awakening" or "enlightenment", you'd be correct. I've talked about the steps of awakening before, but taking a much more hermetic approach, the Great Work can be translated into three steps: 1. The Stage of Dissolution
This stage represents the initial phase of the Great Work. It involves a process of dissolution, where the ego, the false sense of self, is broken down and purified. This stage is often described as painful or challenging because it requires confronting and transcending the darker aspects of the psyche, such as fears, desires, attachments, and illusions.
This phase can be likened to a kind of "spiritual death" or dark night of the soul, where the individual experiences confusion, despair, or loss of meaning. However, this destruction is necessary to clear away the old, unrefined aspects of the self, making way for renewal.
In Hermetic symbolism, this stage is often depicted as the breaking apart of matter or the death of the alchemical subject. The blackness is not merely the absence of light, but the fertile soil from which new growth will eventually emerge.
A great many people confuse this breaking down of the ego with getting rid of the ego. What is really happening is you are breaking down the ego so that it doesn't control the entirety of your life. This can be difficult for folks who identify life as being only one thing, or themselves as being only way of being. However, you aren't one thing, just as life outside of you isn't just one thing. Through this stage the seeker realizes that much like there is the motto "as above, so below", during this stage the motto "as without, so within" comes into focus.
The Stage of Purification
After the stage of Dissolution, this is where the ego undergoes purification and illumination. Here, the individual begins to reconnect with their inner divine nature and with the higher spiritual truths that were obscured by the ego. The soul, having been cleansed through the trials of Dissolution, now starts to shine with the light of spiritual awareness and purity.
The second stage is where one works to cultivate virtues, clarity, and inner peace. In alchemical symbolism, this stage is often represented by images of washing or whitening, such as a white dove or a baptism, signifying the purification of the soul. The mind becomes more attuned to higher realms of thought, and the individual experiences a greater sense of harmony with the divine order.
In terms of practical spiritual development, this phase often involves the cultivation of mindfulness, meditation, and ethical living. The seeker strives to live in accordance with the Hermetic principle of "The All is Mind," recognizing that their thoughts and actions create their reality. It is a time of nurturing spiritual growth and letting the divine light illuminate the path forward.
The Stage of Integration or Unity
The final stage represents the integration of the purified soul with the divine. At this stage, the alchemist achieves a state of spiritual wholeness and unity, often symbolized by the color red, representing vitality, life force, and the warmth of the spirit. This is the stage where philosophical gold is finally created—where the alchemist or seeker attains enlightenment and becomes united with the divine source.
The third stage signifies the completion of the Great Work. The seeker, having passed through death and purification, now reaches the highest state of being: the merging of spirit and matter, the unification of the self with the divine, and the realization of the divine order in all things. In Hermeticism, this is the fulfillment of the ultimate goal: to "know thyself" and, through that self-knowledge, to come into communion with the One Mind or the All.
This final stage is often depicted with symbols of the sun or gold, signifying illumination, eternal life, and divine wisdom. In practical terms, this stage reflects the life of a true sage or philosopher, someone who lives in perfect harmony with universal laws, embodying wisdom, love, and compassion.
Applying this to your daily practical life
The Great Work is not confined to esoteric rituals or alchemical studies; it is a path that can be walked in daily life. By embracing the principles of Hermeticism—such as seeking balance, purifying the soul, cultivating virtues, and attuning oneself to divine wisdom—individuals can integrate the Great Work into their everyday existence.
Through mindfulness, meditation, and self-reflection, the seeker undertakes a continual process of inner refinement, moving through stages of growth that correspond to the three phases of the Great Work. The ultimate aim is not just personal enlightenment, but a deeper connection with the divine order and an understanding of one’s place within the cosmos.
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