An interview with Chad Everette, founder of The Alchemist Papers

The world “alchemy” is very buzzy right now, but have you ever met a real life Alchemist? I know that you have, actually.

Alchemy is everywhere right now, because collectively, we are going through it, honey. But of course, when things go “mainstream,” we get disconnected from the root of the practice itself.

It’s like when you hear a word too many times, and it starts to sound weird or fake — like it loses its meaning. The difference with alchemy though, is that it doesn’t care what you call it, because it’s a process that happens over and over, to us and within us, throughout life whether you’re aware of it or not.

So, when I say you’ve met an alchemist, it’s because you are an alchemist.

No matter who you are, in life, you have had and will have experiences that changes you. They fundamentally alter your reality, the way you see the world, and the way you move through it.

So often – too often – we experience this internal turmoil as a problem, something to rush through, avoid, stop, change, fix or heal. But the secret, my little alchemist, is that the experience itself is the alchemy.

When I (virtually) walk through a home with someone, we’re not just discussing paint and curtains and throw pillows. We’re shifting the identity of a home and its inhabitants based on your relationship between your internal and external worlds, because we know that one does not change without impacting the other.

When Alchemy of Home first came to be, Chad Everett, a practicing alchemist, clocked it right away. We met via Instagram, and immediately resonated with each other content for all the aforementioned reasons and more.

And can I tell you, reader, I take that as a compliment of the highest order. You see, Chad does not just talk the talk — he alchemizes the alchemy. His account, @thealchemistpapers is one of the most potent and beautiful accounts I’ve ever connected with.

Chad has a way of taking these really deep, potent and complex human experiences, and navigating and explaining them in ways that make you feel seen. He absorbs everything from the moments of identity rupture to the ho-hum moments of mundane everyday life that don’t “feel” magical, and transmutes it back to us in ways that make us feel not only seen and understood, but actually equipped with knowledge and power to move forward.

He makes the inner turmoil not so scary — in fact, he makes it beautiful.

And that is why I’m so drawn to the alchemy of Chad’s work, and why I was delighted when he agreed to let me interview him for this month’s Alchemy Transmission.

I asked Chad seven questions, and no surprise to me, his responses were filled with golden nuggets and pearls of wisdom that we can all apply to our lives right now.

Enjoy this interview with Chad Everett of The Alchemist Papers.

Question 1:

This is really perfect timing since you’re moving The Alchemist Papers to a new platform. What a great opportunity for a fresh start. We both work in the realm of Alchemy, and we happened to find each other on Instagram because of it! I’d love it if you could tell us who you are and what you do, but also what is Alchemy to you and what drew you to this work?

Liz: Well first of all, thank you! What high compliments coming from you— I mean that sincerely. You made me miss the posts I made when we first met — I need to get back to creating those because I loved it. Funny, I too went through EMDR therapy, but for me, it clicked right away, and I think that’s because the “internal alchemy” was missing for me for so long. I process in my head, and usually leave my body out of it, so it was life-changing for me.

And I couldn’t agree more with your definition of alchemy — you explain things so eloquently, and that’s something I admire so much about you and your work. You take these really rich and potent ideas and make them not only simple to understand, but beautiful to take in. Your work is really palpable for me.

Question 2:

It’s said that you cannot practice Alchemy without living Alchemy — tell us howyour life has changed since you’ve begun this work… and what was unexpected?

Liz: Thank you for such a vulnerable response. I have a lot of thoughts.

The Matriarchs of Chad’s family: His grandmother, Rosie and great grandmother, Stella

Question 3:

When you talk about this work, what do people misunderstand the most, in your opinion, what are the hidden parts of Alchemy that would change lives if people only knew the truth?

Liz: YES, YES, YES. It’s the tiny, private, almost mundane shifts that have meant the most to me, and have actually shifted my life because they’ve come from that work you talked about: the consistency, the contemplation, the coming back and trying again.

I want to add a neurodivergent take: I think this is paramount for neurodivergent people who struggle with wanting to take the action or make the change, but it feels too big — that tiny thing you do over and over again will turn into the big thing. This is a lifelong practice for me.

Question 4:

I don’t think anything can be created in a vacuum – everything has to come from a co-creation somewhere. Who or what has been most impactful on your creativity? Your content is so rich – where does that spark come from?

Liz: I love that. I am a book starter and jumper, as in I’m currently reading about 15 different books, so thank you for sharing your recommendations. I’m huge on following trails, too. You might relate to this, but I’m one to pick up a book and not even open it for months or years, but when I do, it’s always the right time. AND I’ve found that re-reading some of my favorites several years apart is like reading a brand-new book because my perspectives and attitudes are always changing and evolving.

Question 5:

Ok, now you have to tell us, what’s absolute fucking bullshit?

Question 6:

We’ve talked about this before, but I’d love if you could tell us about your home and the impact your work in Alchemy has made on and in it – or how your home has impacted your work – or both.

Everyone lock in for this response!! How absolutely beautiful. What a practice. I can relate to you in how connected you are to your home as a sacred space. I am absolutely the same way about the energy I curate in my home, and I think a lot about how I want others to experience it too, in the way that I want them to feel just as safe, cozy and welcome here as I do.

I am borrowing your key practice and holding onto that. Thank you.

Question 7:

Give us the tea: where are we finding you now that you’re leaving Substack? Where can the good people connect with your work?

You can find Chad’s work on Instagram @thealchemistpapers and soon, his website thealchemistpapers.com — go sign up for his coming newsletters!

I cannot wait to see your website. Your day job and your night job are colliding in the best way, and I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful. Please let me know when you are ready to share a community update because I’d love to share it here.

Thank you again, Chad. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your responses and getting to know you better. I’m excited to see where this magical work takes us both. 🪄🏠

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