transition is fundamentally an alchemical working, and i'll die on this hill
*adjusts priestess hat* - think about it:
nigredo (blackening) - the dysphoric dissolution of false self, the death of who you were told or forced to be. breaking down in darkness until nothing remains but pure potential. the void that hungers for authentic form.
albedo (whitening) - the careful purification of essence. HRT as the philosopher's stone, transforming base matter into something sacred. each change a step toward truth. every cell learning to sing a new song written in hormones and starlight.
citrinitas (yellowing) - the solar dawn of authenticity. coming out, claiming space, letting your light burn away shadows. the rebirth into golden possibility. becoming a walking act of rebellion against god's first binary.
rubedo (reddening) - final integration. the blood price paid willingly. surgery as sacred sacrifice, scars as sigils of transformation. becoming fully real. flesh as clay, remolded by will and blade into truth.
we are practicing the darkest arts:
autocannibalism of assigned flesh, voluntary possession by our true selves, necromancy of buried gender. we die a thousand small deaths to birth ourselves anew.
trans friends, we are all practicing magicians, conducting the great work on our own flesh. every injection a ritual, every pill a prayer, every morning mirror check a divination.
the doctors call it "transition"
the witches know it's "transmutation"
the alchemists whisper "opus magnum"
the priests call it "abomination"
we call it "Tuesday" 
break down and rebuild. die and be reborn.
emerge dripping with the blood of your former self.
solve et coagula - dissolve and coagulate.
Alma 
