Official Interview: Paul Kiritsis

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Paul Kiritsis author of The Riddle of Alchemy, an upcoming book of the month.

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View Kindle edition on Amazon

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1.Can you tell us a little about your background?

I am an Australian native with very strong ties to my ancestral land, Greece. My family and ethnic background have always been a source of great inspiration. Both my parents left Macedonia, in Greece, for greener pastures in Australia in 1970 and 1978, respectively, bringing with them a pastoral Hellenistic culture rife with metaphysical, folkloristic, and mythological ideas. My mother's family is descended from the mystical fire-walkers of pagan Thrace, and my maternal grandmother was at one time an active participant in the annual festivities connected to the modern-day cult; my father's family, on the other hand, is descended from the passionate, ebullient Greeks of Asia Minor, specifically Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

Even though my parents were not religious in the conventional sense, the culture-laden household emanated archetypal narratives, legends, and folktales by the tenfold–surrounded by such cultural abundance and wealth, life was bound to be exploding supernova right from the beginning. My mother and paternal grandmother would narrate popular Greek tragedies, myths, and folktales from imported books, and I would spontaneously fixate upon the pictures and point toward the protagonists. As early as five, I knew all about nymphs, vampires, the Christmas goblins (kallikantzaroi) and magical rituals aimed at de-potentiating their demonic and emasculating powers. Superstition was tantamount to normalcy in our household and was never scoffed at nor questioned.

My mother and paternal grandmother were great storytellers so immersion in the fantastical realms of Greek mythology came early for me. In hindsight what really fascinated me about myth at that time was the fact that they were actual stories that came embedded with morals, and philosophical/spiritual truths.

Vocationally I am a licensed medical psychologist. I hold postgraduate qualifications in four different disciplines – clinical neurophysiology (MScMed), clinical psychology (PsyD), history (MA), and English/professional writing and speech (Postgraduate diploma) My volunteer and service work has encompassed endeavors that are disparate and heterogeneous in scope and subject; from offering psychoeducation and counseling to US war veterans, to offering hands-on practical aid to giant pandas through the special volunteer program at Dujiangyan Panda Base in Chengdu, China, to serving as the Vice President of the Greek Australian Cultural League in Melbourne, Australia, which spearheads many literary endeavors. I am an avid reader of books in neuropsychology, neurology, philosophy of mind, history, esotericism, and mythology. I enjoy playing the keyboards, drawing, and exercising in my spare time. Something people might not know about me is that I am also a minister and attained my religious qualifications and ministerial status through the University of Metaphysics and Sedona.

2. Who's been most inspirational in your life?

Without a doubt my parents, because of their selflessness, unconditional love, and philanthropy. They have been an unwavering and enduring beacon of light for me at all stages and moments in my life.

3. Let us discuss your book The Riddle of Alchemy. Why alchemy?

Alchemy is loosely defined as the art and science of transformation. Etymologically it derives from the Greek chymeia, meaning "to cast or smelt" and the Egyptian kemet, meaning "black earth." More specifically, it is both a chemico-operative [physical] and spiritual discipline with philosophical and practical dimensions that first coalesced within the intellectual melting pot of Alexandria, Egypt, during the Ptolemaic Period (c.300 BCE) and late antiquity (c.200-600CE). Alchemy assimilated ideas from Eastern mysticism, the Hermetic, Neoplatonic, and Gnostic traditions, Aristotelian theories of matter, the Egyptian metallurgical crafts, astrology, and the ancient mystery schools. It subscribes to an animistic cosmogony where "All is One" and constituents of all natural kingdoms [mineral, plant, animal] have an animating force or "soul." Alchemists were chiefly concerned with replicating and augmenting processes they observed in nature in artificial settings, usually a laboratory (i.e., creating a diamond body from carbon). I have always been fascinated by metamorphosis and the concept of striving towards a state of totality or completion, whether physical or psychospiritual in nature. This idea is impeccably encapsulated by the philosophical term teleology. The caterpillar becomes a butterfly; a religious proselyte strives for unio mystica with the spiritual light, the ineffable divine. That process of coming-to-be is woven deep into the fabric of the cosmos on both a micro- and macro-scale.

4. How much research went into the book?

It is a veritable work of non-fiction, and it is safe to say a considerable amount. The book pulls together data from many other disciplines and subdisciplines, including the history of science and art history, mythology, religion, medicine (neurology and neurophysiology), biology, psychology, and physics.

5. What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

Probably the laborious and meticulous research that went into it. It can be very time-consuming to write a book with thematic content that is thematically heterogeneous.

6. What was the most rewarding part of writing and publishing the book?

This book was written over the course of many years and the writing process was nonlinear–the chapters were not written in a sequential manner and many of them underwent revision multiple times as I continued my postgraduate education in psychology and medicine. The ancient subject and discipline of alchemy is a longstanding interest and fascination of mine–I actually came to clinical psychology (my vocation) through exploration of Carl Jung's work and Western esotericism. Seeing the final product as a digital file after the entire editorial process was complete was immensely gratifying for me.

7. What audience would you recommend for the book?

Definitely adults (+18) who enjoy reading history, mythology, and analytical psychology, however, it will also hold appeal to individuals who are drawn to alternative medicine.

8. What's next for you? Any books in the works?

Well, I am currently working on an article called Alchemy: The Noetic Science for a scholarly journal. I also have another book ready for publication which has just gone through editing and will probably be released sometime in 2026. It took roughly 5 years to write. It is many things–literary travelogue, autobiography, adventure–that tells several interwoven stories of a man traveling through his ancestral land, the evolution of the archetypal Mother Goddess in Greece, and a fictionalized account of Aphrodite herself and the legend of the golden apple, the instrument of discord that caused the Trojan War.

I like to end with fun questions.

9. What was your favorite subject in school?

I assume we are talking about secondary school? Definitely English which was frequently touted by some teachers as the most important subject. I loved English literature and creative writing. I also really enjoyed science and history classes.

10. What do you do in your free time?

I have many extracurricular interests. I dedicate some of my time to fitness and general well-being; I like working out and playing racquet sports. I also enjoy playing the keyboards, traveling domestically and internationally, and drawing. I also really enjoy reading and my areas of interest are medicine and psychology, and Western esotericism. I occasionally read science, general history, and biography/autobiography.

11. What's the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

This is a difficult question to answer. In terms of physical beauty and nature's handiwork, probably the Great Barrier Reef–one of the seven nature wonders of the world. I have flown over Heart Reef near the Whitsundays in a helicopter, and enjoyed some stellar scuba diving off Heron and Lady Elliot Islands. The supernal Grand Canyon (which is also one of the seven natural wonders) and Crater Lake are also up there. If we were speaking about manmade structures or works of art, the beguiling death mask of King Tutankhamun housed in the Cairo Museum–a priceless relic we have inherited from one of the most progressive and powerful ancient mother civilizations.

12. Would you say you are more of an extrovert or an introvert?

I am not a huge fan of binary systems of classification, however if I had to choose, I would say I am dispositionally introverted but context matters. If I feel comfortable in a particular social environment, I can be extroverted. It depends on a whole host of external factors, like who else is present, my mood, the timing, and so forth. We are dynamic, multifaceted, and concurrently seamless when it comes to the nature of our inner lives.

[Judith Santo]

Paul Kiritsis l really loved your introduction to the world of alchemy. How you explained it is more than just turning metals into gold—it’s about changing both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. You covered the history of alchemy and how it influenced science and philosophy. The book is easy to understand and offers a good mix of science, mysticism, and history. It’s perfect for anyone curious about ancient ideas of transformation and how they relate to modern thought.

[Rean Relox]

Alchemy is such a cool mix of science, philosophy, and spirituality. It's not just about turning metals into gold, but also about transforming the soul. This ancient practice has influenced everything from medicine to psychology. Paul Kiritsis does a great job showing how alchemy connects to the human mind and the journey of self-discovery.^^ Exploring alchemy today can really help us see the link between the material and spiritual worlds.

[matovu v]

I just think the book is good if I may,

[Blessed Hope]

Good to hear about your background and your web of experience both academic and personal which you have weaved together to come up with a compelling book and congrats too for the many years you have spent in conducting research. As your experience shows , nothing ever comes easy and there we should be patient and persevering