Tarot Alchemy
The suit of Wands represent the idea of alchemy - ideas, energy, transformation.
Alchemy is the art of transformation—both of materials and of the self.
Alchemy is a mystical practice dating back thousands of years, where ancient seekers aimed to turn base metals into gold, discover the elixir of life, and unlock hidden wisdom. More than just chemistry, alchemy is also a symbolic journey, a dance between spirit and matter, light and shadow.
It’s about finding magic in the mundane and seeing potential for change everywhere—much like how each Tarot card holds the power to shift perspectives and reveal new paths.
In Tarot, alchemy is the process of turning challenges into growth, confusion into clarity, and everyday moments into golden insights.
Here’s a spread to use for accessing your own power of creation.
Alchemy Tarot Spread
This spread helps you turn your experiences into opportunities. Tap into the elements to ignite transformation. Choose a card deck that feels earthy or transformative. For this reading I have chosen The Unveiled Tarot by Jesse Lonergan
Draw 5 cards and lay them out like this
How to Use It
Shuffle your deck focusing on the question: “How can I transform my experiences into my gold?”
Lay out 5 cards in a line. You can place them in order you have drawn them or decide which card best fits each slot, whatever sparks your magic.
These 5 Cards represent your Elements of Transformation
Card 1. Lead (Current Challenge)
What heavy weight or obstacle do you need to recognize?
This card reveals the "base metal" in your life begging for transformation.
Card 2. Salt (Grounding)
What keeps you stable and anchored?
Salt symbolizes your foundation—what you stand on while you’re evolving.
Card 3. Sulfur (Passion & Drive)
What sparks your fire?
This card keynotes your inner flame, the energy that fuels your transformation journey.
Card 4. Mercury (Flexibility & Change)
How can you flow and adapt?
Mercury is fluid and quicksilver—this card shows where you need to embrace change.
Card 5. Gold (The Outcome / Transformation)
What golden result awaits when the alchemy is complete?
The final card reveals the pure gold of your efforts.
Reflect on how each element interacts. Where does your Lead turn into Gold? What lights your fire? What’s blocking the flow of Mercury?
Here is a sample reading I have drawn for myself.
Card 1 is the Three of Wands which reflects my current path. Trying to figure out a financial hurdle, what to do? How to stay focussed in working towards growing my Tarot business and achieving my technical goals.
Card 2 is the Queen of Pentacles - the earth mother, reminding my to spend time in nature and stay grounded in the physical world to maintain my health and prosperity.
Card 3 is the Ace of Wands, just looking at this card fires up my ideas, and inspiration. It send me a message to keep the flame burning that I have lit and to keep following my passion and joy.
The 4th card is the Wheel of Fortune, a reminder that unseen elements will always influence my journey in ways I can not predict. This one suggests to stay flexible in the face of changes, open to new ideas. All the Tarot Animals have come together on this card. They are all at the table. playing together. Reading this one to suggest I should always incorporate different elements together, never knowing which one will win.
Card 5 is the Two of Wands as the outcome or transformation, This one feels exciting, showing two doors, each holding an unknown prize. because sometimes the outcome is a surprise. One that may be even better than can be imagined. So keep open to new horizons and possibilities that arise.
I love how this reading has come full circle, the last card leading me right back the beginning of the spread (Three of Wands)
Why We Love This Spread
The Alchemy Tarot Spread combines symbolism, psychology, and mystery—all the stuff that makes Tarot magic. It encourages you to see your struggles and passions as vital ingredients in your personal transformation recipe. Plus, it’s super fun to imagine yourself as a mystical alchemist, turning the ordinary into extraordinary.
Ready to brew your own magic? Grab your deck, dive into the Alchemy Tarot Spread, and watch your life transform from lead to gold!
What is Alchemy?
Alchemy is an ancient practice that blends elements of science, philosophy, and mysticism. It is traditionally known for its goal of transforming base metals into noble ones like gold, but it also symbolizes personal and spiritual transformation. Practitioners of alchemy sought not only material wealth but the deeper quest for enlightenment and the secrets of life itself. This tradition bridges the gap between the physical world and the metaphysical, offering rich symbolism and insights.
Tarot Cards for Alchemy
The Magician
The Magician is the alchemist of the tarot deck, weaving together the elements of earth, air, fire, and water with a playful flick of his wand. He’s the master of manifestation, reminding you that the power to create magic lies within your hands. When The Magician appears, it’s a call to channel your skills, focus your intentions, and transform ideas into reality.
On his table, you’ll spot the four Tarot symbols representing the classical elements:
🜃 Earth: Stability, practicality, and material matters.
🜁 Air: Intellect, communication, and ideas.
🜂 Fire: Action, energy, and passion.
🜄 Water: Emotion, intuition, and flow.
These symbols correspond to the tools the Magician wields—cup, wand, sword, and pentacle—and suggest his mastery over all elements. He holds the power of transformation and creation, and the ability to channel universal energies to manifest dreams into reality.
“With his gesture the Magician reminds us that what we seek to create in the world is an inspiration that comes from the Higher Self. He is a visual expression of his axiom but it might be more correct to change it to, “as above, do below.” He represents skill—both physical and verbal. He is agile, athletic, eloquent, and confident. He is a messenger of the divine but also a trickster. Alchemically, he represents the initial unity of the elements with the spirit hidden inside. ”
Wands - Alchemizing the Fire Within
The suit of Wands is the blazing heart of the Tarot deck, embodying pure, alchemical fire. This fiery energy represents the spark of creation—thoughts, ideas, and emotional passion—all waiting to be harnessed and transformed.
Wands invite you to tap into your inner flame, where inspiration flickers and motivation burns bright. They urge you to take that first step, to fan your ambitions into a roaring blaze of action.
Imagine your mind as a crucible where raw thoughts become powerful forces, fueled not just by logic, but by the emotional heat of your desires and dreams.
When you draw a wand card, think of it as your call to ignite the creative furnace. It’s about harnessing scattered energy into focused intention. Whether that means brainstorming new ideas, lighting a fire under a stalled project, or connecting deeply with your passions, Wands push you to become the master of your own fiery element.
Wands from the Tarot of Curious Creatures deck
Harness this energy wisely.
At times events in our lives can stir up the fire within, causing anger or frustration to rise. Alchemizing this energy into a chosen direction can fuel positive growth and energized us to tackle challenges that may otherwise seem daunting or overwhelming.
Passion without direction can burn out fast, but a well-tended flame can illuminate new paths, warm your spirit, and forge your unique destiny. The suit of Wands reminds you that your thoughts and emotions are powerful catalysts—when aligned, they alchemize the fire inside you into unstoppable momentum.
Alchemy symbols on tarot cards add a rich layer of meaning that ties the mystical art of tarot to the ancient wisdom of transformation and creation. They are visual cues that deepen your understanding of the card’s energy and message.
The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune card displays the sigils of sulphur, mercury, and salt nestled within its inner circle. These three symbols represent the primary substances—think of them as the cosmic bricks—from which the universe builds all matter. also included is the sigil for water, completing the 4 elements.
Sulphur stands for the fiery, active essence—the spark that ignites passion and drives action. It’s the blazing energy urging you forward.
Mercury embodies fluidity and transformation, like a shimmering river flowing through the landscape of your mind. It’s the quicksilver messenger, bridging gaps and opening portals to new possibilities, helping you shift gears when change is the only constant.
Salt anchors things with its stabilizing power. It’s the grounding force, the pinch of reality that keeps dreams from floating away like dandelion seeds. Salt preserves wisdom, balances the elements within, and ensures your fiery passions and transformative insights have a solid foundation to grow.
Water is the solvent of life, the emotional ocean where all elements mingle. It cleanses, nurtures, and connects, flowing effortlessly between states—liquid, ice, steam—mirroring our own waves of feelings and intuition.
Together, Sulphur’s fire, Mercury’s adaptability, Salt’s steadiness, and Water’s fluidity create a beautifully balanced dance of energies. A mystical recipe that fuels cycles of change, transformation, and evolution symbolized by the ever-turning Wheel of Fortune. So, when this card shows up in your reading, prepare for a cosmic spin where forces of creation and transformation are at play—alchemy in motion!
Using these alchemy symbols in reading tarot invites you to connect not only with the card’s immediate meaning but also with the ancient cycle of transformation that underpins the universe and your personal growth. So, the next time you see these shapes on your cards, think of the magic happening beneath the surface—alchemy in action!