The Alchemist In Search of the Philosopher’s Stone painted by Arthur Hacker in 1771
Alchemy is defined as:
- A miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious. Alchemy sought to transform base metals like lead into gold through a process known as chrysopoeia, a central goal in medieval and ancient alchemical traditions.
Alchemists believed gold was the most perfect metal, and other metals were “impure” or “sick,” needing transformation through mystical or experimental means. - In spiritual contexts, alchemy refers to the transformative process of inner purification and self-realization, symbolizing the journey from ignorance and suffering to enlightenment and spiritual wholeness.
Transforming a Discarded Artwork into a Beautiful Work of Art.
Notice below the astonishing synchronicities and/or the mental creative process of turning ordinary situations and events into meaningful experiences, a healing perhaps and an actual beautiful work of art.
My most recent painting, Group Ascension has a light of its own. Its light shines in the room regardless of the room’s changing lighting over the course of the morning, afternoon and evening. I’m looking forward to having it framed in a beautiful gold frame.
Curious Blue Light Effects
Look at the blue lighting effects on the walls beside and behind the lower part of the painting. I didn’t notice this when I took the photograph. Though here the effects may be exaggerated due to the digital camera photography, nevertheless here we see it. It’s worth mentioning that in design and psychology, blue light is associated with calmness, clarity and tranquility and often used in wellness spaces. Spiritually, blue light is seen as a symbol of higher consciousness, spiritual guidance, and divine connection.
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Group Ascension is a 30″ X 40″ oil painting by Leslie M. Taylor
The title is inspired in contrast to the phenomena of groupthink which I learned about in the 6th grade from a visiting German language teacher. He was a German refugee who had survived being imprisoned in a concentration camp and told us children that the tragedies of the holocaust, and WW2 in general, was the result of groupthink. I vowed then and there that I will never succumb to groupthink, though I really didn’t understand at that young age what groupthink was. Yet, now I better understand the behavior and have kept to that vow ever since.
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Our Mind’s Creative Powers
My learning about the mind’s creative powers has further developed as a result of my painting Group Ascension. More specifically involving the effects in our lives due to our generally careless and fearful, repeated thoughts, feelings and imaginings; particularly if visualizing and physical sensations are included. I would also include where we place our attention on the world (seemingly) outside ourselves.
Here’s an example of a series of events (not brief but please bear with me) starting with a repeated daydream I indulged in occasionally over a period of a couple of months: I imagined finding a rock, roughly rounded, not jagged and 5″ to 6″ in its bulbous and varied diameters. In my daydream I noticed it lying on the ground next to the bike path while riding. Though quite ordinary looking and covered in the ground’s dirt, my eyes caught a sparkle of golden light reflecting off of it. I stopped, back tracked, found the rock and with my hands brushed off much of the dirt only to discover that it was actually pure gold. During the daydreams I’d ‘feel’ its weight, texture and how it felt to brush off the dirt and further visualized placing it in my bike bag to take home with me. Also thinking, or imagining, what I might do with it once I got it home. I fantasized about this several times, eventually visualizing finding the rock in the landscaping next to my garage driveway rather than several miles away from my home along the river biking and pedestrian path I frequent.
During this period of time, a young sales woman came to my home wanting to discuss my telephone service type and coverage. While at the front door we got into a pleasant conversation about other things, including my work, and I invited her inside to view my oil paintings. She happily did so and exclaimed during our viewing and discussions of my work, “This is the best house I’ve been in yet!” We spent forty minutes or so discussing the artwork during which I told her of a couple of my miraculous experiences, showed her my book The Prophet and told her how the book miraculously came into my life over the course of a bike ride among other extraordinary occurrences.
Please go to the link at the bottom leading to the page on this website titled (D) Renowned Prophesies – How Accurate Are They? for a description of the event.
We went to my book case with its numerous books on miracles (ESP, telekinesis, synchronicities, etc.), philosophy, spirituality and metaphysics. I mentioned to her that Dr. Larry Dossey’s books were quite good (I had ten that I had read in the book case) and stated that for some reason, during the times that I had read his books I would experience more than my typical amount of synchronicities, all kinds and many not directly correlated with the written material in his books. She had never before heard of synchronicities so I described to her what they were then gave her two of his books to take with her.
Synchronicities as described online:
“A synchronicity is a ‘meaningful coincidence’ – when two seemingly related things (incidences) happen apparently by chance and without a logical, causal connection, but it holds meaning for the person experiencing it.”
“The term was coined by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung in the 1920s. Jung believed that there was a deeper meaning in nature than the way we typically think of things, a deeper underlying connectivity to events and circumstances.”
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Representational Artworks
There’s little appreciation or commercial value in modern western culture for representational artworks, or better stated, the artworks created by exceptionally talented artists. So, during our conversation and art tour we went into the garage to see all of the oil paintings I’ve stored there covered in bubble wrap and stacked up on an elevated wooden platform, placed closely together upright. There are others stored in the garage as well; smaller oil paintings in a large cardboard box. All together perhaps thirty five oil paintings. Separated from the rest and leaning against a wall, was Silent Flight, also covered in bubble wrap. To show it to her, I removed the bubble wrap that’s covered the painting for over ten years now. To my surprise, I discovered a forgotten painting of a sunset wrapped together with Silent Flight that I started many years ago then quit (before applying the brilliant light, golden colors to the clouds) for I didn’t think it was very good and worth finishing. At this time I had no other works in progress so after she left I brought the painting indoors and placed it on my easel.
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Silent Flight a 36″ X 36″ oil painting on canvas by Leslie M. Taylor.
Removing the wrap and discovering the dark unfinished seemingly worthless and unattractive painting, then later painting the brilliant gold colors of the sunset is analogous to my mental imagery of brushing the dirt off of the rock and discovering that it was actually pure gold and not at all a worthless rock. Fortunately, the photograph that I worked from was attached to the back of the painting enabling me to complete the work. I need to point out that I was not trying to sell any of my paintings to her. The effort and expense of trying to sell my work has not been fruitful, so I’ve long since given up trying.
Additionally, during our visit she had mentioned that she had a cousin who lived in Kuna, Idaho, twenty miles from Boise, who was a tattoo artist. For the consideration of the privacy of my cousin, I did not mention that he too was a tattoo artist also living in Kuna. Nor did I mention this coincidence, or synchronicity to him for we are not close.
Reference photograph and finished painting:
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“Group Ascension” and the Finale – a Gold Frame
Now framed in a beautiful gold frame. I leave it on the easel and along with listening to beautiful instrumental music (example below) I stare at the painting, in particular the eight mallard ducks and think of what they could represent: that ducks mate for life, any sentient individuals, families, communities, all of humanity, eight billion humans no less, and contemplate their Group Ascension.
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The Armed Man – A Mass For Peace: XII Benedictus
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A Request for Healing and Edgar Cayce
She also mentioned that she had been in a car accident not long before we met and had no apparent injuries as a result of the accident, but had ever since experienced back pain and asked if I could somehow heal her. That very morning I had read the paragraph below in The ESP Enigma by Diane Hennacy Powell, M.D. and read it aloud to the young woman.
“Edgar Cayce lived from 1877 to 1943 and is considered to be the most famous of all clairvoyants. He initially wanted to be a photographer but because of his hobby of his ‘readings’ while under trance and successful medical diagnosis and treatment recommendations, after ten years he did this full time without ever charging anyone. His fame became widespread in 1910 when a reputable homeopath decided to get a reading for himself. He had severe nerve pain that was thought to be appendicitis and was scheduled for surgery. Cayce gave him the diagnosis of a spinal condition that was impinging on a nerve and this condition was confirmed by a successful spinal manipulation.”
I added that her spine may be jolted a bit out of alignment due to the impact of her car accident thus causing her back pain and suggested that she might want to consult with a chiropractor. I don’t know what followed not having seen or heard from her since.
Alchemy: Notice the astonishing synchronicities, the mental creative processes above turning ordinary things, situations and events into meaningful coincidences, a healing perhaps and a beautiful work of art.
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From A Course In Miracles – Manual for Teachers:
The teachers of God have trust in the world, because they have learned it is not governed by the laws the world made up. It is governed by a power that is in them but not of them. It is this power that keeps all things safe. It is through this power that the teachers of God look on a forgiven world.
When this power has once been experienced, it is impossible to trust one’s own petty strength again. ²Who would attempt to fly with the tiny wings of a sparrow when the mighty power of an eagle has been given him? ³And who would place his faith in the shabby offerings of the ego when the gifts of God are laid before him? (ACIM, M-4.I.1:5–2:4).
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Soaring a 36″ X 48″ oil on canvas painting by Leslie M. Taylor
Also in ACIM: God’s teachers have learned how to be simple. They have no dreams that need defense against the truth. They do not try to make themselves. Their joy comes from their understanding Who created them. And does what God created need defense? No one can become an advanced teacher of God until he fully understands that defenses are but foolish guardians of mad illusions. The more grotesque the dream, the fiercer and more powerful its defenses seem to be. Yet when the teacher of God finally agrees to look past them, he finds that nothing was there. Slowly at first he lets himself be undeceived. But he learns faster as his trust increases. It is not danger that comes when defenses are laid down. It is safety. It is peace. It is joy and it is God. (ACIM, M-4.VI.1:1-15)
An exultation of spirit:
Joie de Vivre’ a 36″ X 36″ oil painting on canvas by Leslie M. Taylor
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Click onto link below and scroll down to pages (13) and (14) for a description of the miraculous manifestations of two books including photo documentation:
by Leslie Taylor artist and author, Boise, Idaho on February 10, 2026
I can be emailed at leslietaylorpaintings@gmail.com