In other words, alchemy was a type
of “asana,” or outer work, with a greater,
spiritual purpose. “Both Western alchemy
and Eastern yoga have much in common
in the way they approach personal and
spiritual transformation,” says Dennis
William Hauck, the San Jose, California–
based former president of the Interna-
tional Alchemy Guild and author of The
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Alchemy. “They
share the basic mindset that you can be
your best self through a series of specific
steps or operations. They also share
the fundamental principle of achieving
divine perfection [a state of nirvana] by
the union of the personality with the
soul, then eventually with the spirit or
universal life force. And in both disci-
plines, this union takes place on the
physical as well as spiritual level.”
Because alchemy directly connected
people to the divine without the aid of
Christianity, the church in Europe out-
lawed the practice in the 15 th century.
Throughout the continent, alchemy was
forbidden because forgers and con artists,
called “puffers,” faked having special
powers and pawned inferior metals
lightly coated in gold. Still, many true
alchemists risked their lives and careers
to continue studying alchemy in secret,
and today we have their texts, mostly
written in code. In terms of symbolism,
The Da Vinci Code has nothing on alche-
my! Although these esoteric practices
were left behind in favor of the practical
industrial age, modern scientists like
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung became
interested in alchemy and have since
translated the ancient texts, and in so
doing have uncovered the benefits of
the practice in today’s world.Brewing matters
Now free from the confines of secret labs,
alchemy is surging into the modern culi-
nary and wellness scene. Case in point:
new and popular recipe books, such as Al-
chemy in a Glass: The Essential Guide to
Handcrafted Cocktails and Natural Beauty
Alchemy: Make Your Own Organic Cleans-
ers, Creams, Serums, Shampoos, Balms,and More. Indeed, crafting your own cura-
tive tonics is a great way to get the gains
of alchemy and create a deeper spiritual
practice. The herbal ingredients are be-
lieved to provide not only longevity, but
also vital energy, or a sort of natural intel-
ligence that improves the potency of the
plants’ meditative work.
Each elixir in the recipes in these pages
is infused with seasonal spices and edible
plant extracts designed to help you ener-
gize on dreary grey days, remain calm
during hectic family gatherings, ward
off seasonal sicknesses, or kick up your
late-afternoon concentration. To make
each herb-infused drink more festive, feel
free to add alcohol spirits. Either way, the
drinks come together quickly, taste amaz-
ing, and will have you ringing in the New
Year in good health. Cheers to that!A classically trained chef, certified yoga
teacher, and a graduate of the Institute for
Integrative Nutrition, Jennifer Iserloh is the
best-selling co-author of 50 Shades of Kale.
Turn to page 66 for more recipes. »Careers that Heal
Earn a graduate degree in natural health
that honors both ancient traditions and
contemporary science, and helps you develop
a healing presence.MUIH offers graduate programs in:
Yoga Therapy | Health and Wellness Coaching
Nutrition and Integrative Health | Herbal Medicine
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | Health PromotionOnline and on campus options
muih.edu 800-735-2968
65
february 2016yogajournal.comcontinued from page 62