Seeing Beyond the Surface: A Shamanic Reflection on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025)

As a Shaman Alchemist, I am guided to see beyond the illusions of the physical world, to witness the subtle currents of spirit that pulse beneath the surface. Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein invites us to do just that. The creature, brought into existence through science and human ambition, is often judged by his outward form - but the film challenges us to perceive his inner truth, his soul’s vibration.

One of the most profound moments comes from the lady who sees the beauty in this creation. She recognises not only his vulnerability but his essence - the alchemical spark that animates all life. In her gaze, we see the reminder that true perception comes not from the eyes alone, but from empathy, attunement, and heart-level knowing.

​This theme is echoed in the figure of the blind man, who can “see” the creature’s beauty in ways the sighted cannot. It is a striking lesson: real vision is not bound to physical sight. As in spiritual practice, the deepest understanding arises when we attune to energy, to soul, to the luminous presence within every being.

Del Toro’s Frankenstein resonates with timeless stories like Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera, where the power of love and recognition transcends the superficial. Just as Belle sees the humanity in the Beast, and Christine glimpses the soul beneath the Phantom’s mask, the lady in Frankenstein sees the sacred, the luminous, and the life within a form that others fear or reject. These narratives remind us that true connection and transformation happen when we learn to perceive the unseen.

A Shamanic Exercise in Seeing Beyond Appearances

Take a moment to consider someone in your life whom you may have judged, even subtly, based on how they look, speak, or behave. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and allow yourself to sense the energy of this person beyond the surface.

Ask yourself:

• What might I be missing by focusing only on appearances?
• Can I sense their essence, their soul’s vibration, beyond what my eyes perceive?
• Can I "see" their source existence?
• Would my interaction with them change if I truly “saw” them as they are?

Spend a few minutes in quiet reflection, imagining their inner light, the qualities that make them uniquely themselves. Notice how your perception shifts.

This is a practice in alchemy - transforming perception into deeper understanding and compassion.

Sometimes, once you truly understand where someone is coming from - their pain, fear, or limitations, you are able to release the need to carry judgment or resentment. Seeing their essence allows you not only to connect more deeply but also to let them go with love and clarity, freeing both yourself and them.

And yet, even as you perceive their essence, it may be clear that they are not all “good” or virtuous; their flaws, choices, and shadow aspects remain.

True alchemy is not about denial; it is about understanding, compassion, and the freedom to release without illusion.

In del Toro’s Frankenstein, we are confronted with our own tendency to judge based on appearance.

The film is a mirror for our culture: so often we mistake the surface for the complete person.

​True alchemy - the transformation of perception - happens when we learn to honour the unseen, to recognise the sacred in every form, and to awaken to the beauty that resides even in what others may fear or dismiss.

This story reminds me that the greatest magic is the ability to see fully, to witness the divinity in all life, and to meet every being with reverence and compassion.