Psychological Methods

Alchemical Circulation of the Light

Chinese alchemists became proficient at spiritual Distillation thousands of years ago. In a discipline called “Circulation of the Light,” the aspirant is taught to concentrate on the light of the inmost region and, while doing so, to free himself from all outer and inner entanglements. The basic practice in the Circulation of the Light is known as “The Microcosmic Orbit” or “The Lesser Heavenly Cycle” (as opposed to the greater cycle of the rotation of stars and constellations). The “light” that is circulated is the chi (or lifeforce), guided by thought and imagination through three inner cauldrons or vessels (known as tan tien or “elixir fields”).
The first of these inner cauldrons is the Lower Tan Tien, which is situated in the abdomen between the pelvis and navel. It is where the alchemist gathers, blends, and cooks their sexual, vital, and spiritual essences. In Western alchemy, the operations carried out there are Calcination, Dissolution, and Separation, which are equivalent to energizing the Tantric chakras muladhara (or base), svadhisthana (or genitals), and manipura (or solar plexus) or the Wheel of Emanation in the Buddhist tradition.
The next cauldron is the Middle Tan Tien, which is between the solar plexus and diaphragm. The energies there are associated with the heart, lungs, and throat. This is where the essences from the purification in the Lower Tan Tien are stored and where the soul finds expression. The Tantrists saw this vessel as activating the anahata (or heart) and vishuddha (or throat) chakras. In Western alchemy, it is where the operation of Conjunction takes place.
The final cauldron is the Upper Tan Tien, which is known as the "Crystal Palace." This precious cauldron at the center of the brain is also called the Sacred Square Inch, the Heavenly Heart, the Mysterious Gate, or the Cavity of Spirit. It is where the higher self or spirit from Above dwells. Sufi alchemists call this spirit the “ruh,” while Jewish alchemists refer to it as “ruach.” Tantrists see the Upper Tan Tien as an activation of the ajna (or brow) and sahasrara (or crown) chakras. In Western alchemy, it is where the operations of Fermentation, Distillation, and Coagulation take place. In the cabala, this spiritual center corresponds to the Sefirah " Daat ," located on the Middle Pillar (or spine) between Binah (at the back of the head) and Hokmah (in the forehead area).
In physiological alchemy, the Upper Tan Tien is associated with the center of the brain where the light-sensitive pineal gland is located. When this gland is activated, it is said to become illuminated like thousands of shining crystals, able to receive light (as energy and knowledge) from the universe. In Tibetan Buddhism, this is the source of the “White Drop” that descends from Above to the heart center, where it mixes with the ascending “Red Drop” of condensed sexual energy from Below to coagulate a Body of Light or subtle body.
All this activity is seen as a cosmic sex act in the head. The phallic-shaped pineal gland releases a pure white liquid light that impregnates the nearby bi-lobed pituitary gland, which then releases hormones in the blood that inaugurate a Second (or Spiritual) Puberty in the body.
This final stage is not accomplished in just a single round of operations but must continue until all impurities have been eliminated, and the light is in its most concentrated form. The overall operation is alchemical Distillation, which purifies and transforms the energy. The vapors of the boiling sexual energy in the lower Tan Tien are directed up the Governor Channel along the dorsal side of the spine or back of the body. The Chinese call this solar channel of ascending masculine yang energy the “tu mai,” while Tantrists refer to it as the “ida”.
The vapors condense or sublimate in the Upper Tan Tien, and any unpurified remains are returned to the Lower Tan Tien down the secondary Functional Channel along the ventral spinal cord on the front of the body. The Chinese called this descending lunar channel of feminine yin energy the “jen mai,” which is called “pingala” by the Tantrists. So, essentially, the Circulation of Light is a Distillation process in which the mercurial light of the life force is progressively concentrated. This purified energy is eventually directed inward to the center of the body, where it can be stored in the heart or chest area.

A Basic Alchemical Meditation

This is is a Basic Alchemical Meditation compounded from meditative techniques used by alchemists such as Paracelsus, Basil Valintine, and Jakob Boehme. Each phase is a separate meditation and can be practiced separately from the others.
There are three general steps in the full meditation that correspond to the three phases of alchemy. The first phase is the Nigredo (darkening, death, and putrefaction of the ego), which consists of two operations in which one attempts to Disengage Physically and Disengage Mentally from the world. The second phase is the Albedo (whitening and purification) in which one achieves original innocence or Zero-state Consciousness. The third phase is Rubedo (reddening or empowered integration into a new level of being) that is found in continued Meditation in the Pure Light.
Overall, the first two phases represent a progressive resurrection and purification of the light of consciousness to prepare for the transformative, one-pointed “Meditation in the Pure Light” phase. In that phase, alchemists feel they are working with the logoic light to transform reality in not only the inner lab or soul but also in the objective material reality of their “laboratory” or outer world.
Whether you are a novice meditator or experienced, the following instructions should be helpful in achieving Meditation in the Pure Light. But feel free to follow your own path in meditation or customize these steps to fit your regimen. The most important lesson is to grasp is the dual nature of our reality—the spiritual and material realms in which we exist. The bridge between those two realms can only be found in the Pure Light—in what Paracelsus called the “True Imagination.”
From my new book, "How the Alchemists mMeditated: The Ancient Roots of Spiritual Alchemy."

Art Bell Show with Dennis William Hauck

This installment of Art Bell's "Dreamland" show was titled "Alchemy and the Paranormal Reality.  "Dreamland" was part of Art's "Coast to Coast AM" franchise, and his unique radio show captured over 10 million listeners a week.
Art Bell (1945-2018) broadcast from the isolated town of Pahrump in desolate Nye County, Nevada. Art saw himself not as an authority, but as a fellow explorer with his guests. First broadcast November 8, 1999.

#1 Introduction to Podcast Series on the Emerald Tablet

The Emerald Tablet—an ancient document that contains the essence of the alchemical teachings—has had an important influence on many Western spiritual and religious traditions. Ostensibly concerned with turning base metals into gold, alchemy was in fact dedicated to transforming the lead of self into the gold of spirit. This brilliant history of alchemy traces its sources back to ancient Egypt, and presents alchemy as a useful, practical system of self-transformation. Each of the seven steps of alchemical transformation is explained, with hands-on techniques and exercises, treating alchemy as a living discipline for achieving a spiritual awakening.
from The Emerald Tablet: Alchemy for Personal Transformation (Penguin 1999). Paperback and Kindle editions available on Amazon.

The Thoth Tapes: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World

This is actually an audition tape for the “Oprah Winfrey Show” when my book The Emerald Tablet: Alchemy for Personal Transformation was being considered for Oprah’s Book Club. Unfortunately, the producers thought it was a bit “over the top” for Oprah’s viewers, and listening to it today, I would have to agree. But it is one of my best efforts to explain the origins and power of the ancient teachings of Hermes and how they evolved in alchemy, literature, religion, and science. Topics include the Emerald Tablet, the history of Balinas (Apollonius of Tyana), the seven operations and the Emerald Formula, the planetary archetypes, and how they apply to personal transformation. There is also an active imagination session with Thoth in which he explains the nature of the universe.  However controversial the ideas expressed in this reading are today, they represent the historical view and “One True Philosophy” that inspired the alchemists to so ardently pursue the Great Work. I have continued to research Thoth’s teachings in more recent books, including In the Mind of the Universe: The Monad and You! on Amazon at https://amzn.to/489vk5H

The Monad in Philosophy

We live out our lives in the Mind of the universe, and for thousands of years, philosophers, theologians, and scientists have called that unitary source of reality at the beginning of time—the Monad. In philosophy, it’s the etheric Substance at the root of both mind and matter. For theologians, the Monad is the logos or Word of God. In science, it’s the Big Bang singularity from which the physical universe emerged. In mathematics, the Monad is defined as the zero-point origin of all numbers.
In your life, the Monad is the singularity in your own consciousness, the point of view from which you experience the world. The commonplace experience of being a single point of awareness in your own mind—of being impeccably whole in your own little world—is a reflection of the Monad in you.
This is Chapter 2 of the book In the Mind of the Universe: The Monad and You! by Dennis William Hauck. Read by Peter Simmons. More information on Amazon at  https://amzn.to/489vk5H

Circulation of the Light Meditation

This is a new version of a guided meditation with Dennis William Hauck on the Circulation of the Light from the Taoist alchemy tradition. It includes meditation music based on a mathematical algorithm of the original Phoenician language of the Emerald Tablet. This is one of the most powerful meditations in alchemy and is practiced around the world by those seeking personal transformation.  

How Alchemists Meditated

Ever wonder how the alchemists meditated? It was an important part of the Great Work in which they combined spirituality and science. In this podcast we review the actual meditations used by alchemists and work through a few of the most popular ones.