We are all giving birth each moment. We manifest a new idea or inspiration with every breath. There is little we need to do for this creative act to move through us. We merely need to listen more to hear a deeper voice and respond accordingly. The creative act is constantly trying to express itself as we walk our unique life path.

The ancient study of alchemy, defined as a power or process that changes something, offers lessons into this realm of transformation. It’s 12th century beginnings involved finding a chemical way to change base metals into gold. The philosophers of alchemy posed the deepest questions as to how all precious substances came into being. Their studies were the beginning of chemistry and the precursor to science and medicine as we know them today.

From Plato to Aristotle, ancient thinkers transformed ideas by shaping the four elements of the earth (earth, fire, air and water) and other ingredients such as salt, lead, tin, rust and sulfur to find “the philosopher’s stone,” which they believed would grant immortality and cure all disease. Even though alchemy was initially formed to create precious findings, the ancient study delved into philosophy.

To create one’s personal elixir, one must utilize a symbolic personal holding vessel with ingredients which need to be nurtured to encourage this path to flourish. The path is not something we make; it is something that moves through our lives. If we reflect upon our life path, we may see manifestations that were the result of our efforts while other life developments reveal the soul expressing itself in mysterious ways. All the ingredients of our life yearn to come to light and express this embodied experience through our own personal creativity.

We might feel at times that we are the least suitable person to create a work of art, a new idea or even be associated with the word creativity. But we all have creativity within, and expressing it keeps the channel open to greater creative power.

In 1943 Agnes de Mille, a famous choreographer, was sitting with a well-known dancer by the name of Martha Graham at a time of feeling uninspired. Martha reassured Agnes, “There is a vitality—a life force, a quickening—that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it.” Martha urged Agnes to keep the channel open to her creative force. She expressed to Agnes that it did not even require that she believe in her herself. She merely needed to keep the channel open to potential.

In ancient alchemy, Earth’s ingredients were placed inside a vessel with a little piece of the mystical. This ancient practice from the sages of past can teach us to welcome the current of creativity, and allow it to manifest and express itself. Our vital life force is destined to shine. We simply need to keep the channel open.

Jennifer Di Francesco is a wellness explorer and desert adventurist and can be reached at www.coachellabellaboho.com.