There is no escape from the fires of Calcination until we are able to identify with what psychologists call the transpersonal Self, which in alchemy is known as the Philosopher's Stone.  Only the Stone can survive the Dragon's Breath, The fires of hell we all make for ourselves.  There is no room for two rulers of the personality, and only by destroying the ego can the Stone manifest itself.  Calcination is truly the "death of the profane," the sacrifice of specious ego concerns for a higher level of being that is a necessary condition for spiritual advancement and understanding.   

During this initial stage of personal alchemy, the extravagances and illusions we have built up over the course of our lives are eliminated.  This is the first step a mystic takes when he gives up all his possessions or goes to a mountaintop to meditate.  Physical possessions, however, are not the real problem  Rather, it is the significance we give them and our attitude toward the world that is in error.  By burning away all that is not relevant, we get a better picture of our true situation in an existential sense.  In simplest terms, the purpose of personal Calcination is the suppression and taming of the ego.

The ego is a parasite on one's life force and has nothing to do with the real Self.  We should ask ourselves how easily embarrassed we are or how much effort is put into covering up our mistakes.  Are others blamed when things go wrong?  How upset do we get when things don't go our way?  All are ego reactions. Do physical appearance or material possessions add to the character of a person?  They are merely physical accouterments that can disappear overnight.  Our egos interfere with the expression of our true Selves by focusing attention on physical attributes and material possessions.  How can we hasten the natural process of ego annihilation and move on to a genuine life?  What will it take to burn us up?  The answer is very simple:  we must do whatever it takes to get in touch with the individual essence that each of us has suppressed to make room for ego.  Ignore ego and pay attention only to essence.  That essence is the source of life that must grow like a fire and consume all traces of ego.  Out of those ashes grow the true Self.    

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