The Alchemical Lens on Storytelling and Biology
"Junk" DNA as the Library of Unwritten Stories
Our stories are more than memories; they’re blueprints of transformation. Within every narrative we tell lies the code to who we might yet become.
The Alchemical Lens on Storytelling and Biology
At the intersection of biology and storytelling lies a transformative practice I’ll call Bio-Alchemy—a framework for exploring how narrative and biology are intertwined, each acting as a canvas for human potential. In traditional alchemy, base metals are transmuted into gold, symbolizing a journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Bio-Alchemy takes a similar approach but with a twist: it treats our biological potential and personal stories as “base materials” waiting to be refined and elevated. This process of transformation, both in our narratives and in our own biology, reveals hidden possibilities in what it means to be human.
Imagine if our personal narratives didn’t just define us psychologically but actively shaped our biology. What if the stories we tell ourselves, our emotional landscapes, and our life experiences influenced our physical and genetic makeup, much like how a writer’s plot choices define the course of a novel? Bio-Alchemy offers us a toolkit for viewing our bodies and stories as two parts of a co-evolutionary process—where evolving one helps evolve the other.
The Body as Story
Our bodies are more than physical vessels; they’re archives of our experiences, encoded through memories, traumas, and patterns of thought. Even on a genetic level, studies show that trauma can be transmitted across generations, with epigenetic markers signaling inherited stresses and survival mechanisms. From a Bio-Alchemy perspective, these genetic markers are like narrative artifacts, residual stories passed down from our ancestors that inform who we are today.
By understanding our biological inheritance as a series of “chapters” we’ve been handed, we can start to question: What narratives do we want to keep? Which do we want to reframe? And which ones do we need to release altogether?
Bio-Alchemy invites us to engage in a process of editing these biological narratives, rewriting inherited “scripts” through intentional experiences, emotional healing, and even lifestyle choices. We start to see that our bodies, much like stories, are dynamic and responsive, capable of adaptation and renewal when given the right “alchemical” inputs.
The Alchemical Process of Self-Transformation
Just as traditional alchemy is often broken into stages—calcination, dissolution, separation, and so forth—Bio-Alchemy proposes stages for transforming both our personal narratives and biology in tandem. Here’s how a typical “Bio-Alchemical Process” might unfold:
Calcination (Breaking Down Old Stories): This is the stage of confronting limiting beliefs, harmful narratives, and inherited traumas. It involves breaking down any self-concepts that hinder growth. Think of it as the intense phase of burning away impurities—allowing us to see our stories and bodies in a raw, unfiltered state.
Dissolution (Letting Go): Here, we dissolve the rigid structures that shape how we view ourselves. This is the emotional work of releasing old wounds, rewriting our narratives, and allowing aspects of ourselves to “dissolve” so that new potential can emerge.
Coagulation (Integrating New Stories and Biology): In this final stage, the stories we’ve rewritten and the insights we’ve gained begin to solidify in our lives. This is where our biological responses start to align with our new narratives—stress markers diminish, creativity increases, and our physical resilience aligns with our mental clarity.
As we go through these stages, our narratives act as templates for our biological experiences. Studies in psychoneuroimmunology, for example, suggest that reframing stress as a challenge rather than a threat can reshape physiological responses, reducing stress-related wear on the body. This is Bio-Alchemy in action—using a narrative shift to directly influence biological outcomes.
"Junk" DNA as the Library of Unwritten Stories
One of the most intriguing frontiers in Bio-Alchemy is the concept of "junk" DNA, the 98% of our genetic code with no clearly understood function. Much like Borges’ Library of Babel—a library filled with every possible book, most of which appear to be nonsensical—our "junk" DNA may seem chaotic or unused. But new research is beginning to reveal that these sequences might play roles in gene regulation, cellular functions, or even influence cognitive and emotional capacities.
From a Bio-Alchemy perspective, this "junk" DNA represents the hidden, unactivated stories within us. What if these dormant genetic sequences are actually a reservoir of latent potential, waiting for the right narrative or environmental catalyst to activate them? Just as a story might go unread for centuries until someone sees its value, these genetic sequences might hold abilities, traits, or states of consciousness we haven’t yet tapped into.
In practice, this means approaching our lives as though we’re already filled with latent stories, waiting to be activated. Emotional experiences, meditative practices, even sound or vibrational therapy might serve as keys to unlock this genetic library, revealing new capacities or insights. Bio-Alchemy asks us to consider that by exploring new experiences and reshaping our personal narratives, we may be activating parts of ourselves that have lain dormant for generations.
Practical Bio-Alchemical Exercises for Writers
For writers, Bio-Alchemy can be a way to deepen character development, enhance creativity, and even tap into personal transformation through storytelling. Here are some exercises to begin practicing Bio-Alchemy in your writing and life:
1. Character Transmutation Exercise
Take a character you’ve developed and identify one core wound or limitation they carry. Imagine this wound as a “genetic marker” within them—a metaphorical scar they’ve inherited.
Now, craft a transformative journey where they undergo an “alchemical process” that rewrites this wound, turning it into a source of wisdom or resilience.
This isn’t just about creating a strong arc; it’s about seeing character development as a biological and spiritual evolution, exploring how personal transformation might actually “rewrite” their core essence.
2. Narrative DNA Mapping
Think of a story or life event that you feel has “shaped” you. Reflect on what beliefs, habits, or emotions this narrative has embedded in you.
Rewrite this event from a new perspective, focusing on what it might look like if it activated a latent part of you—a strength or insight you didn’t know you had.
This exercise encourages you to explore how reshaping a single story might unlock hidden qualities, much like activating dormant genes in DNA.
3. Junk DNA Story Prompt
Write a scene where a character “activates” a part of their DNA they didn’t know existed. What new abilities, memories, or perspectives emerge?
Use this as a metaphor for how we might tap into “untold stories” within ourselves. Explore how this activation changes their sense of identity, worldview, or purpose.
This helps to create characters who are not only growing but unlocking layers of themselves that connect them to something beyond their immediate experience.
The Philosophical Takeaway—Reclaiming the Alchemist Within
Bio-Alchemy invites us to reclaim our role as co-creators of our biology and stories, blending ancient practices with modern insights. This approach respects the idea that within each person lies an entire “library” of potential experiences, much of it untapped or hidden. Just as alchemists of old sought the philosopher’s stone to attain inner and outer transformation, we too can explore how our narratives and biology are in a dynamic, transformative dance.
In practical terms, Bio-Alchemy provides a model for healing, growth, and creativity, inviting us to treat our bodies and stories as works in progress, ever open to reinterpretation and renewal. Writers, in particular, have a unique power in this process, as they’re already familiar with shaping narratives that move, transform, and inspire. By applying Bio-Alchemy, they can begin to use storytelling not just as an art, but as a tool for personal evolution.
Conclusion: Storytelling as Biological Evolution
In the end, Bio-Alchemy teaches us that the narratives we carry have the power to influence and even transform our biology. Just as cells respond to changes in the body’s internal environment, our own storylines can reprogram our mental, emotional, and even genetic landscapes. Bio-Alchemy and storytelling merge in a shared quest: to unlock our fullest potential, explore our dormant depths, and continually rewrite what it means to be human.
Whether you’re a writer, a seeker, or both, the journey of Bio-Alchemy invites you to approach your life as a story in perpetual transformation—an alchemical work in progress. As you refine and elevate each layer of this narrative, you may discover not just who you are but the vast, untold possibilities you carry within.
