Written by tricia linden

Alchemy of Intimacy.

I like to say I write paranormal, metaphysical, spiritual romance. So what the H* is; paranormal, metaphysical, spiritual romance? I think it can be anything I want it to be, but mostly I believe it’s about the Alchemy of Intimacy.

The dictionary definition of alchemy is; 1. a medieval chemical and speculative philosophy seeking to achieve the transmutation of base metals into gold – and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life, 2. any magical power or process of transmuting something common into something special.

I like the idea of speculative philosophy, at least I think so. I like the idea of changing something common into something special. I like the idea of having magical powers. Some of my favorite characters have magical powers.

I defiantly like the idea of transmuting romance into something special.

I believe romance writers use their creative powers to take every day love stories and transmute them into something special. They allow readers to believe they have reached across time and space to find a higher plain. Romance writers allow you to imagine everlasting love (HEA) and enjoy the journey along the way.

I also believe that some of the greatest risks are the risks not taken. Or, to put it another way, often the greatest risk is to take no risk at all. To play it safe and take no risks translates into dull, boring and a life not well lived, not fully experienced.

When we take risks we expand our experiences. I know what it feels like to sit in the comfort of my home and read an book about travel to Scotland, but how does it FEEL to actually take the necessary steps to board a plane and fly half-way across the world? What does it mean to land in a foreign country where people have a different culture, different food and drive on the other side of the road? It’s a risk, especially the driving part, but it’s also an experience rich with possibilities.

Take for instance the risk of falling in love. Now that’s a grand and glorious risk. It can contain the highest highs and the lowest lows. What else in our emotional experience presents as many opportunities for risk, success or failure?

I also believe that there are no bad romantic experiences and conversely, there are no good romantic experiences. Experiences just are. It’s our perception of them, and usually our expectations, that judges them to be bad or good. We expect romance to look and feel a certain way and when it falls short of our expectations, well that’s bad. When it fulfills our fantasies, I mean our expectations, it feels good – real good. Metaphysical, spiritual good.

I’m sure you could come up with a number of examples where the romantic risk you took, and the experience you had, was not at all what you expected.  But maybe, just maybe, what may have seemed bad at the time, become oh so good when viewed through the rear-view lens of time. Like whoa, glad I dodged that bullet. That’s the nice thing about time. Time lets us look back and enjoy.

And for you, my dear friend, I do hope you . . . Enjoy always, T

8 thoughts on “Alchemy of Intimacy.”

  1. Well, you are certainly right about risks. I’m afraid I tend to air on the side of safe. Although I do own a horse which is pretty risky (the first three years, I broke my wrist three times!) Other than that I’m pretty much the “belt and suspenders” type.

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    1. You broke your wrist three times…. owwie, owwie, owwie. I’m happy to say I’ve not broken any bones and like I said, I’m happy. Amoung other things, I’m a pain whimp. Here’s hoping your belt and suspenders are styling. I’m thinking electric blue. Enjoy always, T

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  3. Contemporary people are at the level of “changing metal into gold” as the understanding of alchemy. However, as you point out, it had more to do with changing something common into something special . I think it is a philosophy to maximize our potential to achieve things that would normally seem magical to the mundane. On the other hand, the gold part would be pretty cool. Thanks visit my blog.

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    1. I agree, it is all about changing something seemingly ‘normal’ into something magical, which I really like. However, the metal into gold part sounds nice too. Your blog is good fun. I look forward to visiting it often. T

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  4. If we choose to, we can make something ordinary become quite special……that is a gift, I think. As is the ability of a romance writer to write something that takes us to another place and time and way of thinking. Such a nice post–thanks.!

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