The Alchemist’s Legend
They say he vanished in pine-scented hills,
with only the wind and the wolves for company,
a solitary figure tending ancient fires
where the lake mirrors soundless clouds.
They call him recluse, but at dusk
you can see the bears wandering near his porch,
an owl perched on his shoulder in quiet kinship—
each a confidant in his secret craft.
He falls to his knees by the water’s edge
and sings to the unseen depths,
pulling clear essence into his copper pot
with precious drops from wild hives
until steam rises in ribbons of memory
and the night grows luminous with possibility.
They swear he turned his back on humankind,
yet travelers, weary of city lights and loss,
sometimes find a glass bottle on their doorstep—
amber liquid glowing like a promise.
He is not the one they imagine:
lost, forlorn, untethered from hope.
He listens to echoes in still air,
to the whispers of roots and waves,
knowing he belongs to every living breath.
And one day, in some faraway place,
someone will taste that spark of the wilderness,
feel the warmth coursing through their veins,
and marvel at the sudden shift in their bones.
A sip of his alchemy
will set a soul right again,
though no one will remember
where it came from—
only that it burned like truth
and left them whole.
At times, our protective parts—whether a Firefighter urgently escaping pain or a Manager striving to prevent it—may want to lead us away from the world, convinced that isolation is the safest path. The Alchemist’s Legend tells the story of such a retreat, but also of what becomes possible in the presence of Self energy.
Though misunderstood by others—as is often the case with strong, devoted protectors—the Alchemist does not remain lost in the stillness of the wilderness. As trust in Self-leadership is gradually restored, his parts—aspects of personality—no longer burdened or forced into extreme roles, begin to return to their naturally valuable states.
No longer just a lone figure tending ancient fires, he becomes something more: a quiet force of healing. Through his alchemical craft, he offers his gifts to the world—not seeking recognition, validation, or fame, but simply allowing the wholeness he has reclaimed to ripple outward.
This is the essence of IFS: when Self-leadership is restored, everyone—internally and externally—benefits.
