Alchemy is the science of transformation and refinement, when crude material is turned into pure. While it is understood by most to be the turning of lead into gold, the spiritual significance is, in fact, the refinement of the spirit through understanding into a state of awareness approaching Divinity and the knowledge of Eternal Life. Alchemy from a psychological perspective is a philosophy of the cosmos and of mankind?s place in the scheme of things. It is the refinement of thought, having the key through the Archetypes to unlocking an understanding of the innermost and unconscious part of the psyche. As an agent for change it has a relevance in dreams through both its symbolism and processes. Alchemy began as a rudimentary form of chemical technology, exploring the nature of substances, and in so doing developed a series of semi-scientific procedures in order to find the essence of those substances. It has that significance in dreams of a mundane nature when we are trying to get to the bottom of problems and situations.