Imagination is a core feature of consciousness, whether we regard it in psychological, aesthetic, or esoteric terms. Imagination is how we dream ourselves into the world with others, human and nonhuman, earthly and cosmic. Without the richness and surprise of the imagination, our practice is also likely to be dry, dogmatic, and not much fun. A commitment to the imagination means a commitment to creative innovation, to the arts, and to cultivating and expressing our own visionary capacities.

Perhaps our favorite term for the path is inquiry. Inquiry implies a curious and courageous enjoyment of experiment and investigation, whether we are probing our feelings, assessing claims made by spiritual teachers, deconstructing the self, or encountering the world around us. Inquiry respects both the mystery — the koan of reality — and the amazing fact that sometimes we get answers and know stuff. Inquiry is open, but it is also discerning.

Our approach to meditation is largely rooted in Eastern traditions but makes room for Western contemplative practices, contemporary innovations, and discoveries drawn from neuroscience. We know that meditation can provide healing and pleasure, and even a distinct cognitive edge in our increasingly complex world. We understand these gifts within a deeper framework that embraces awakening, insight, visionary encounter, and transformative compassion. 

Alchemy teaches that spirit and matter are deeply intertwined. At the Alembic, physical movement is as important as meditation, and our programs aim for variety and experiment. So while we offer popular practices like vinyasa yoga and qigong, our program stretches to include dance, somatics, energy work, and interactive movement practices.

The Alembic leads the conversation about the skillful means of psychoactive use. We have partnered with the University of California Berkeley’s Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program, which runs their classes in the space. We have also hosted the California Institute of Integral Studies for some of their trainings, as well as the Polaris Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Training Program, Medicinal Mindfulness, and other educational programs in the space. We continue to host lively talks and conversations that explore psychedelic culture, including the Chalice (a monthly salon) and the Sunday Night Dinners, a gathering of thought leaders in the psychedelic community.

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