Hellboy was never a conventional hero.
He was a philosopher in flesh and stone, a symbol of the eternal struggle between what we are and what we may become. … More Hellboy and Inner Alchemy Through Three Stages
Snow White is far more than a children’s fairytale. When approached with the eyes of an initiate, it reveals itself as a symbolic narrative — a map of inner transformation, where every step reflects an alchemical stage of spiritual evolution.
This ancient tale aligns with the four cardinal elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) and the four seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn), each representing a threshold in the metamorphosis of the soul. Snow White’s path is an archetypal journey of individuation, where the ego must die and the true self must awaken. … More Snow White’s Alchemical Journey through the Four Elements
The Cars trilogy follows an alchemical journey through the three stages of the Great Work: Nigredo, Albedo, and Rubedo.
In Cars 1 – Nigredo, Lightning McQueen starts as an arrogant racer obsessed with fame. After a crash that leads him to Radiator Springs, he loses everything and undergoes ego dissolution under the guidance of Doc Hudson, learning humility and the value of genuine connections.
In Cars 2 – Albedo, McQueen has matured, but the real transformation occurs through Mater, who represents purity and wisdom. In an international spy conspiracy, Mater proves that true intelligence comes from sincerity and experience. The false promise of alternative fuel symbolizes the illusory Philosopher’s Stone, showing that there is no shortcut to real transformation.
In Cars 3 – Rubedo, McQueen faces his inevitable decline as a racer. His final transformation is complete when he embraces his new role as a mentor, passing his knowledge to Cruz Ramirez. No longer just a champion, he has become the true alchemist, guiding others to their own enlightenment.
The Cars trilogy follows the path of ego destruction, purification, and mastery, turning McQueen’s journey into an initiatory transformation that reflects the deepest themes of alchemical wisdom. 🚗🔥 … More The Alchemical Journey of Cars: Nigredo, Albedo, and Rubedo
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is often regarded as a whimsical children’s tale, but beneath its surface lies a deeply symbolic structure rooted in alchemy and inner transformation. Alice, the protagonist, embodies the soul seeking self-discovery, while Wonderland becomes a projection of her unconscious, populated by shadows, archetypes, and alchemical symbols. … More Alice’s Alchemical Journey: The Hidden Symbolism in Wonderland
The tale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, famous worldwide thanks to One Thousand and One Nights, is not merely a story of adventure and magic. From an alchemical perspective, this narrative transforms into an extraordinary allegory of the inner journey of man, a path of spiritual transformation and self-realization. Each symbol and character in this tale can be interpreted as a stage or essential element of the alchemical process. … More Aladdin: An Alchemical Interpretation of the Tale
Reinterpreted through an alchemical lens, Cinderella reveals itself as a powerful metaphor for the inner journey we all can undertake. From the ashes of oppression, through the fire of purification, to the light of illumination and the gold of realization, her story illustrates how chaos can be transformed into order and suffering into beauty. … More Cinderella: An Alchemical Tale
The Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most fascinating and mysterious symbols associated with alchemy. It does not merely represent a material goal but symbolizes the culmination of an inner transformation journey. It embodies the image of perfection and wholeness that can be achieved through profound self-work. While alchemists sought to transform lead into gold, in psychological and spiritual terms, the Philosopher’s Stone represents the realization of our true self, the union of opposites within us, and the balance among the different aspects of our personality.
… More The Forge of Being
Alessio Puppi's 