The Magnum Opus— the Great Work of Alchemy— is the work of becoming perfect. It is the work of Apotheosis.

Stage 1: Black.
You burn. You die. It is the dark night of the soul. You become as ash, and yes, it will hurt.

You are initiated. Reborn. Nothing is the same. You are not the same. For that, you grieve.

Stage 2: White.
You are silver now. This is purification. The pale moon in the black night. Finally, some light.

But oh, you didn’t think it would hurt? Think again. Purification implies removal. All that did not serve a purpose is stripped away. You will lose more. You will grieve more.

As the statue emerges from the marble chipped away, so you are emerging. Except that’s not stone under the chisel. It’s your soul, and every cut is agony.

Don’t resist it. You are being refined. Defined. Coming into focus. You are finding out who you are.

Stage 3: Yellow.
Now you are gold. The sun has risen. All that you are has become integrated, symbolized by the divine androgyne.

You are yourself. You see yourself. I think you might even like yourself.

Does it hurt? Probably. I’m not there yet. I don’t know. I can’t tell you much about becoming gold.

At best, I might be silver.

At worst, I am still ash.

Stage 4: Red.
The philosopher’s stone, something so perfect it perfects all things, so pure it purifies all things. This is you, now, I guess.

What is it like to be this? To be translucent and red and perfect beyond perfection? Who can tell you about it?

Ask the Gods, some of them might know.

And if you do, ask them for me:

Does it hurt?