IAS-SG Earth Grant Proposal By Ryan Thomas I am applying for this grant in order to do both ethnobotanical and entheogen

research. I am a member of the International Alchemy Guild. I am currently a student in their Alchemy Study Program and ill be completing the course ithin the ne!t couple months. As a "ertified Alchemist# I ould li$e to start a chapter of the International Alchemy Guild in my area. %or$ing ith the guild I ould further the research of using plants as allies in personal transformation ith a group of dedicated indi&iduals. Alchemy is the art# science# and ay of transformation. This is a complete holistic transformation encompassing all le&els of an indi&idual's being-in-the- orld. Alchemists or$ on all le&els of self including physical# emotional# mental# soulful# and spiritual aspects to name (ust one scheme of di&iding self perceptual reali)ation. The goal is to become a source of enlightening acti&ity in the orld to help bring about the change e need for lasting ellness ithin all of life. This is called the Great %or$. The current form of alchemy is an integral one. It includes isdom from di&erse cultural sources both East and %est. Incorporating elements of many traditions into a uni&ersal transformati&e practice is a goal that ould be ell supported by the guild. I ha&e been studying transformati&e practices and philosophies passionately for o&er *+ years no . I ha&e deeply immersed myself in e&erything from Shamanism# ,oga# Taoism# Buddhism# -ystical "hristianity# .udaic /abbalah# 0ermeticism# Sufism# Psychology# Physiology# Rei$i# -usic# -ythology# and -athematics (ust to name some ma(ors trends in $no ledge I ha&e co&ered. -y goal as to analy)e the orld's isdom and after distilling the pattern of the fundamental essence to synthesi)e a truly uni&ersal philosophical eli!ir. I ould further de&elop this pursuit ithin the conte!t of the guild. Indi&iduals ould be instructed and guided in traditional alchemical methods and encouraged in de&eloping there o n multi le&el transformati&e practices suited to their indi&idual essences. Alchemists or$ ith all the $ingdoms of life. Through the practice of Spagyrics the alchemist allies ith the spirits of the &egetable $ingdom to create &arious herbal tinctures# eli!irs# and other preparations for both ellness and illumination. Through the practice of entheogenesis the plants re&eal many of the mysteries of nature to assist the aspiring alchemist on the path of perfection. This is a &ast area of e!ploration and I ould li$e to add to our pool of e!periential human $no ledge ith ell documented clinical reports of ongoing in&estigation and research into the potential our fello plants ha&e to offer. This research done personally ith a group of dedicated e!plorers ould yield many ondrous findings. 1eepening our relationship ith plants ould enrich our ethnobotanical $no ledge in contemporary culture. %e ould become contemporary shamans. Basically# according to traditional alchemical philosophy plants are categori)ed according to planetary rulership out of the scheme of the &isible hea&enly bodies2 Saturn# .upiter# -ars# 3enus# -ercury# -oon# 4 Sun. The path of transformation $no n as the Emerald 5ormula is archetypically correlated to these planetary energies. So as e mo&e through the path of personal transformation from appearance to essence along these se&en steps there are many plants to ally ith to support our understanding. %hat I ould li$e

to do is lead groups of indi&iduals through these steps ritually and practically hile using planetary eli!ir formulas to support the unfolding. This practice ould be ell documented ith lots of responsible feedbac$ from the participants. I imagine a boo$ ould easily be formulated from the data collected. Additionally# I ould li$e to continue deepening by personal laboratory e!perience and study. Alchemy# Astrology# and /abbalah are the three branches of the 0ermetic arts and sciences. 6ne of the specific areas of research I am interested in is the de&elopment of constitutional eli!irs. Through the analysis of a person's astrological birth chart and using appropriate herbs and minerals an eli!ir is created to balance a person and thereby strengthen their constitution. I find this to be a &ery fascinating pursuit as ell as a beneficial ser&ice to be able to offer for others. The IAS-SG Earth Grant ould greatly assist in mo&ing this pro(ect for ard. The money ould be spent on lab e7uipment# plant materials# mar$eting# ad&ertising# &enue rental# and &arious other necessary supplies. This is a &ery e!citing opportunity to open a local chapter of the International Alchemy Guild and further the Great %or$. This organi)ation ould pro&ide an educational community ser&ice and carry on a great tradition. -any people ould find a &ery fulfilling beneficial acti&ity for personal gro th and nourishment. If I am a arded this grant I ill put the funds to good use ith great enthusiasm and appreciation. The generous sum ould be great $indling to initiate the fires of personal transformation and the spiritual illumination of our entheogenesis ould carry the pro(ect for ard to the great a a$ening. -ay all benefit from the ongoing and future alchemy of our planetary soul and spirit. Additional Resources and References2 International Alchemy Guild2 http288 .alchemyguild.memberlodge.org8 Alchemy Study Program2 http288 .alchemystudy.com8