Leadership Alchemy ~ Impressions of a Precious Book by Maiken Piil

Alchemy. Gold. Inner Work. Awakening. Purification. Essence. Intuition. Magic. Leadership.

Do these words affect you in any way? I am wondering here… Maybe you are curious and a little intrigued about how they are all interrelated. Maybe you are critical, doubtful, even skeptical, asking yourself “Is this about leadership development?” Maybe you are like me and just had the sense that this book would bring deep wisdom and had chills all over your body while reading the introductory pages ~ because they touched your soul and lit something inside that you had long forgotten about.

As I believe most of you are wondering about leadership development in some kind of way, I offer a spoiler before I begin to share my story and my impressions. Maiken does bring live examples of leaders to show how personal evolution determines leadership capacity.

I met Maiken through the SQ21 Community of Spiritual Intelligence Coaches in 2019. Her way of being caught my attention from the beginning and, one day during the pandemic, in a breakout room over a live call with other coaches, we connected. Months later, her book was released, and I had this crazy and ahead of time movement of letting her know I would be honored if I could translate it into Portuguese and find a way to publish it in my country of origin. Maiken replied in sweet gratitude, we exchanged emails and met a few times to envision how this could come about, and even though this is yet to become a reality, this reality is being created.

Do you believe you have an innate capacity to influence the field of reality and create flourishing outcomes for everyone? Well, I do believe so, and this is what this beautifully written book is about. According to Maiken, “The creative potential exists within us. Through the art of alchemy, we can serve infinite possibilities of reality” and it is by consistently looking inwards ~ our Inner Laboratory, as she calls it ~ that we begin to access our uniqueness to become an agent of change in the world.

Book Cover

Maiken brings her many years of experience coaching leaders & making use of a growth-oriented framework ~ the 21 Skills of Spiritual Intelligence, created by Cindy Wigglesworth ~ exploring this content in the first part of the book ~ Mapping Human Potential. Spiritual Intelligence helps expand consciousness.

Seen as an integrating line of development, SQ leads us in the direction of a greater capacity to hold complexity and accessing a different mode of meaning-making. In time, a deeper way of being with a different quality of presence emerges. It is the actualization of our “Golden Potential” as she writes.

This content in the first part is foundational to the next two parts ~ The Inner Journey Begins & The Ripple Effects of Alchemy Leaders.

I particularly appreciated the fluidity I found in the book. The ideas, concepts, and principles are enhanced by the author’s ability to both access her inner knowing and integrate different perspectives. This is immensely helpful to the readers, who may have their perspectives broadened. Maiken brings insightful questions, invites us to contemplate and be curious even if uncomfortable, besides suggesting the practice of journaling. No wonder I admire and highly recommend Leadership Alchemy. If you are familiar with my way of approaching transformational work, you will easily see the connection.

(…) pursuing an inner path of leadership is the only way to bring ourselves and the world into a reality where balance and thriving are central to our existence and where magic can unfold ~ Maiken Piil

The author will show you why the spiritual line of development is crucial for leadership development. The book integrates wisdom from mystical traditions, philosophy, and science, and it is also very down to Earth. Through the chapters in the third and last part, we come to learn the impact that spiritually intelligent leaders are making in the world. The concepts of The Limited Self & The Expanded Self permeate the whole book and shed light on how important inner work is for organizations. A leader, operating from the Expanded Self, unleashes the potential of others. Everyone thrives, inside and outside the organization, which reveals a more wholesome way of doing business. One that embraces meaning, purpose, and more loving relationships between human beings, organizations and the planet.

Maiken brings real life examples of contemporary business leaders who have been pursuing deep inner work and have begun to embody and enact skills that contribute to catalyze change in this Expanded Way of Being. The interviews show men and women who consciously choose to dedicate themselves to practices that help them be who they are every day. Inner wisdom becomes available through a life of practice, and this greatly influences all the systems we are part of, as well as our decision-making abilities, originating a different reality.

The Body and Intuition

According to Maiken, we are all born intuitive. Intuition is our first intelligence, with the entire body being an intuitive system. Yet, to easily tap into this kind of knowing, we must inhabit our bodies fully. Spiritual Intelligence development is an integrating way to foster this journey back to the body and towards interconnectedness with the Universe.

Intuition emerges when we operate from the Expanded Self, when we seek guidance from within, and when we are deeply connected to the Sacred. This changes the way we make decisions because we have a doorway to a different perception. We just simply know what to do, when to act, and what is right for the greater whole. Intuitive knowing is different from rational thinking, which is also valuable, yet, not efficient in complex environments with multiple and unpredictable outcomes at such a fast pace. In a few words, intuition leads to creativity, wholeness and serves the higher good. Intuition also asks us to be comfortable with the unknown, which may be rather challenging.

If you value growth and transformation, this book is a true “Call to Rise”. Everything in life is about choice. Who do you choose to become? Believe in your Light. When there is magic within, there is magic everywhere.

Deepen your way of being

I was awed by the poetry in the chapters’ titles and subtitles ~ so inspiring I chose to include them in the blog’s last section, where I offer a few practices, like some of the ones I invite my clients to. During their processes, all is sensitively tailored to meet them in their journey.

Inspiration for Growth and Self-Awareness

Pause a little and silence yourself. Breathe in and out in awareness and slowly read the lines below. Notice how your body responds without trying to cognitively explain anything.

You Are Whole

The journey back to wholeness

You Are Change

Purpose is who you are, not what you do

You Are Part of a Whole

The Universe has your back

You Are Wise

Know less and decide right

You Are a Creator

Doing through being

You Are the Student and the Master

The art of discipline

Did these words impact you? If so, can you describe the sensations in your body? Did they bring you ease and a sense of connection? Do you sense you believe them, based on the awareness that comes from your body?

I invite you to stay with what’s arising ~ in your mind, in your body ~ for a few minutes, and then write about it in your journal. If you notice resistance or discomfort, be with that too, not judging, just observing.

This is Leadership Alchemy's page, if you wish to pursue it and know more about Maiken. There you can also find video excerpts from her interviews with the leaders in the book.