Foundation
Alchemy, Inc. was established as a non-profit in 2003. Its programs, workshops and activities are designed to create a culture that nurtures the self-image, self esteem, educational aspirations of adolescent youth and adults.
Concept
The concept of Alchemy, Inc. is to create a safe environment to assist in human development through the telling, discussion, and interpretation of mythological stories and fairy tales told to the beat of an African drum.
Vision
Everyone becomes the hero in their own story.
Mission
Transforming lives through myth.
The Meaning of Alchemy
Alchemy’s name is derived from the ancient art of transformation in which medieval alchemists attempted to transform a lower base metal, or prima materia, into gold, called the Philosopher’s Stone. The alchemist’s work was known as the Opus and it required the alchemists to personally possess certain character traits in order to bring forth the gold. At Alchemy, Inc., we work in a similar fashion to enhance the positive character traits within ourselves and then transfer these traits to the individuals with whom we work.
Methods of Mythology
We have developed an intense, yet comforting curriculum specifically designed to address issues facing adolescent youth, fathers, professionals and parents. Via these stories participants uncover common themes and basic patterns of development and transformation.
Through dissecting the characters and their universal dilemmas within the myths, learners are provided with a plethora of interpretations designed to assist them in understanding their present situations and how to transform these situations. The stories are designed to increase the use to their imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
We take situations within the myths and determine how obstacles were overcome; we then relate these obstacles and situations to our lives. We offer a safe environment where youth and adults are allowed to heal their psychological wounds while being provided with the cognitive and emotional tools necessary to become self-sufficient.
The Alchemy Method™
Myths and fairy tales are more than timeless stories—they are living maps of the collective unconscious, revealing the deep architecture of the human soul. These age-old narratives carry the scaffolding of psychological growth: patterns that once guided entire cultures. Today, much of that scaffolding has been lost, leaving many of us wandering as our spirit longs for a positive and supportive environment, clarity, and purpose.
In this course, you will explore myth through both heart and mind. We will dive into mythic tales from a deeply psychological perspective, bringing to the fore not just what you feel—but how you think about what you feel. Through emotional thinking, you will connect with your inner responses—your longings, fears, and hopes. Through critical thinking, you will examine assumptions, patterns, and beliefs. You will hear myths, pause at turning points, tune in to what resonates, and ask probing questions: What touched you? What surprised you? What beliefs are beneath your reaction?
This method lets myths work through you, and you work through them. You will explore community, decision-making, priorities, listening, wounds, healing—and see how myth acts like a mirror: illuminating your life’s hidden currents. In engaging myth with emotional honesty and intellectual rigor, you deepen reflection, sharpen compassion, build discernment, and open pathways to meaningful action.
Course Goal
To help students deepen their understanding of Self through the integration of emotional sensitivity and critical awareness
Healing and the Dream Temples of Aesculapius
In the early days people went to be healed by sleeping and dreaming in temples. These temples were referred to as hospitals.
The technique for healing can be reconstructed by reading these early accounts. First a patient would come to the temple and be greeted by the priest-physician at the gates. There the patient would relate a brief history of the ailment, and he or she would be screened for admission. Probably the patient would then undergo a washing of the body in a sacred spring. This was for both cleanliness and purification of spirit. After this, he or she would make an offering to the gods and would then spend some time in prayer and sacred-song chanting.
During the day attention would be paid to diet and exercise. But at night the “real” work would commence when the patient would recline on a couch within the temple and sleep and dream. Dream healing was considered by ancient physicians to be the highest form and best therapy for the treatment of illness.
-The Dreaming Universe : A Mind-Expanding Journey Into the Realm Where Psyche and Physics Meet by Fred Alan Wolf.
Creating a
Safe Environment
We create a safe environment by following closely the rituals of many traditional cultures. We all learn from another not only from our discussions of timeless myths, but through our shared stories of triumph and defeat. What is said in our circle, remains in our circle. We usually sit in the circle by age, arranged from oldest to youngest, because it's up to the oldest to look out for the youngest; fostering community. Sitting in the circle by age also provides a sense of order in a chaotic world. Mostly all who have to leave our circle to return to the world, cannot wait to return to our circle . . .
The Healing Power of Drums
When Alchemy, Inc. was started, only our primary facilitator played the drum while telling a myth. One day, one of the students inquired, “Can I play the drum?” Then another asked, and another, and another. So we purchased a few drums at a minimal cost since it was more than apparent that the students enjoyed drumming. It also became obvious that drumming was an ideal means of having them work in cooperation with one another. We purchased a few more drums, a little more expensive than the original set. After some time, or maybe a lot of time, it became even more glaringly inescapable that our youth thoroughly enjoyed drumming. We utilized our recourses and purchased djembe drums from Africa and New York, NY.
Watch to Learn More
In 2014 Alchemy Inc and Six Alchemy Youth were the backdrop to Finding The Gold Within a feature-length documentary
by filmmaker Karina Epperlein
