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It is the function of perfection to make one know one’s imperfection.  Augustine

Throughout history gold has been the standard whereby wealth is measured. The ancient kingdoms of Ethiopia, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, and Rome each associated this metal with power and prestige. In these kingdoms, gold was not accumulated in stockpiles; it was acquired to be displayed and seen. Whether fashioned into royal thrones or crowns, elaborate jewelry or dinnerware, a man or woman’s possession of gold symbolized their elevated status.

Gold in its natural state is not so beautiful. The finished artistry of the goldsmith requires the arduous process of refinement. Gold is an ore which is a mixture of iron, silver, or other metals. The purification of gold involves the removal of those other metals. This gold refinement process is known as parting, metallurgy, or alchemy.

In ancient Greece, gold was retrieved from the rivers and streams where it was found in the sand. Prospectors would spread sheepskins on the rocks of the river beds. Next, they would pour the gold-rich sand over the sheepskin, letting the water wash away the sand. The heavier gold would get trapped in the wool (you might remember the tale of the Golden Fleece). But even with this method of prospecting, there had to be a process for refinement.

Several gold refinement processes evolved over the centuries, but it really “boiled down” to either a solid-state method or a chemical method. One early solid-state method involved the combination of the gold ore, salt, clay pottery shards, and urine. This mixture went in to the caldron which was then fired, skimmed, and cooled multiple times. The impurities in the gold formed chlorides and those insoluble salts were removed from the molten metal by skimming the surface. With each firing, skimming and cooling, the gold was refined to a purer state.

Along with those solid-state refinement methods, there arose chemical methods. In fact, the earliest dawning of the science of chemistry was centered on the study of the properties of gold and how to draw it out of base metals. This was referenced in the scholarly writings of nineteenth century chemist and gold assayer Sir Thomas Kirke Rose. In his 1898 book, The Metallurgy of Gold, he wrote, “From the fourth to the fifteenth century, chemistry, which was first called ‘chemia’, and then ‘alchemy,’ was defined as the art of transmuting base metals into gold and silver. Almost all scientific pursuit during that time was directed toward that desire. After that, chemistry took on a new goal. Its new aim was the investigation of the composition of drugs and their effect on the human body.”

Alchemy, the futile attempt to turn base metal into gold, which led to the true science of ore refinement, later evolved into pharmacology, the science of drugs. I find it fascinating that the science of gold refinement led to our modern science of drug production. Ironically, because of the misapplication and misuse of drugs (pharma), which has led to an epidemic of drug addictions, there is great need for the evolution of methods to effectively refine the human spirit. Today, many people are in desperate need for soul refinement, which can include the rescue of a precious human soul from drug addictions.

Whereas gold, in its natural state, is not very beautiful; the human spirit, in its natural state, is not beautiful. The beauty of the finished gold requires a process of refinement; likewise, the raw human spirit needs to be refined. The purification of gold involves the removal of other base metals. The refinement of the human spirit involves the removal of impurities such as bad habits, immoralities, and addictions. The human spirit left untreated, might lead a person into difficulties in areas of loving relationships, good physical and mental health, stable personal finances, and the attainment of short and long term goals.

The refinement of the human spirit is the basis for the book you now hold. The Refinery , Overcoming Drug Addictions Through The Supernatural Power Available To You , will take you on a life changing process of spiritual refinement. True, this Refinery is not a brick and mortar building, but it is the internal space where your soul can be rescued and refined.

The Supernatural Power Available To You

Supercomputer, Supersize, Supernova, Superhero, Superstar, Superhuman, Supermarket, Super Bowl – we use the word super so often as a descriptor that it has become common. But, there is nothing common about anything that is super. Super is so far removed from common that they are not even in the same league. The word super is synonymous with ultra, enhanced, augmented or elevated; superior or supreme. So how do we associate super with nature and arrive at supernatural?

The term nature is used in reference to the world around us. Many people attribute earthly forces and occurrences to Mother Nature. Nature encompasses the physical forces with which we live (the laws of nature). This concept of nature applies not only to the external world, but it also describes our inner being (human nature). This includes human instincts, tendencies, drives, appetites and character traits.

Supernatural combines that which is super and that which is nature. It does not change nature; instead, it interrupts and interferes with nature because it works on a higher plain. Therefore the results achieved through the supernatural far surpass what could be achieved naturally. This combination of super with nature results in power; it is synergy, a dynamic which is greater than the sum of the two parts (super + nature). It is an extreme enablement which operates beyond the limitations of nature.

Super-nature is the “over and above”. It is what we refer to as ‘outside the normal.” Super-nature exceeds the earthly physics of time, space, speed, or matter (substance). And yet, super-nature can be used to affect our physical world in ways that cannot be fully understood or explained.

Nature is beyond mankind’s control. Man cannot command the sun or moon; he cannot direct the rain or snow. Man cannot control the mighty wind, the raging rivers, or the powerful ocean tides. Nevertheless, he can harness these powerful forces for his benefit. Sailing ships, hydroelectric dams, and wind turbines are some examples of countless ways in which man harnesses nature and uses it beneficially.

Super-nature can also be is used to affect your inner world; your character, appetites and drives.

In The Refinery , Overcoming Drug Addictions Through The Supernatural Power Available To You , you will discover that you can have access to divine super-nature. You will see that it can be used to overcome and rid yourself of unhealthy human tendencies, character issues, bad habits as well as addictions. Just like nature, you cannot command or control super-nature. However, you can access the dynamic force of super-nature, which can forever improve your life. You, too, can overcome drug addictions through the supernatural power available to you.

I invite you to take the journey with me through The Refinery.