The invention concerns a method for separating a racemic compound-forming chiral substance by a cyclic crystallization process which is conducted in at least one first crystallization unit (10) and in at least one second crystallization unit (18), wherein in a first process cycle an enantiomer is crystallized in the first crystallization unit (10) and a racemic compound is crystallized in the second crystallization unit (18), wherein in a second process cycle the enantiomer is crystallized in the second crystallization unit (18) and the racemic compound is crystallized in the first crystallization unit (10), wherein during each process cycle in at least one process sub-step (B→C, F→G) a mother liquor (12) being contained in the first crystallization unit (10) is mutually exchanged with a mother liquor (20) being contained in the second crystallization unit (18). An auto-seeding process sub-step is applied at the beginning of a process cycle.