What Even Is an Alchemist, Anyway?
If you’ve wandered into The Live Alchemist and thought, “Cool name… but what even is an alchemist?” don’t worry. You’re not alone. Let’s clear that up.
Alchemist (noun):
/ˈal-kə-mist/ — One who turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Okay, maybe that’s not the dictionary definition, but it should be.
Historically, alchemists were part scientist, part magician, part philosopher. They lived in a time before chemistry was a thing, and they were obsessed with transformation. Their greatest dream? Turning basic metals — like lead — into gold. Literal gold. (Economists today call that “hyperinflation,” but hey, dream big.)
But the real, deeper meaning of alchemy has always been this:
- Taking something raw, messy, imperfect — and transforming it into something rare and beautiful.
- Finding hidden potential where others only see what's ordinary.
- Believing that slow, patient change can lead to real magic.
In stories like The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, alchemy becomes a metaphor for the personal journey. It's not about making gold bars, it's about turning your life into something rich, meaningful, and uniquely yours.
Modern-day alchemists?
They’re not wearing wizard hats (well, some might, no judgment). They’re the people chasing dreams. Starting new chapters. Growing potato plants (Tater Not Tots, I’m looking at you).
They’re transforming not metals, but themselves.
Why THE HELL is this Blog is Called The Live Alchemist?
Because life itself is a living experiment, one where we’re all figuring it out, one messy transformation at a time.
Planning a trip to England? Alchemy.
Listing your entire rental portfolio on a whim? Alchemy.
Trying to grow a single potato on your balcony and calling it a life metaphor? Pure, unfiltered alchemy.
So if you stick around here, expect a lot of experiments. Some will work. Some will be beautiful disasters. But all of them will be part of the process of turning life into something a little more golden.
Welcome to The Live Alchemist, gold not guaranteed, but good stories definitely are.