Alchemy

= Alchemy: = C.G Jung became interested in Alchemy after he had a dream where he was walking around in an ancient library full of obscure books. Jung began to compare the symbolic forms in alchemy and his own practice in neurosis, psychosis, dreams and imagination. Jung firmly believed that the psyche could not be understood in conceptual terms, rather it could only be understood through living images or symbols, which contained paradox and ambiguity. Jung suggested that alchemy reflected the process of personal transformation in the metaphor of transmuting base metals into gold. In alchemy, the Philosopher’s stone came into existence due to the merging of two divine opposites. (Dark and Light). Jung believed that this was a symbol for the metamorphosis to the higher self. Jung believed that psychiatric analysis was a form of alchemy. He suggested that every alchemists ingredients had a psychological equivalent.

IRON – Courageous and passion. TIN – Truthfulness and superiority (lofty) MERCURY – Toxic and Deceptive.

Jung believed that mercury was the transformative element which was what made the union of opposites possible. He believed that this was representative of the collective unconscious.

“My studies of alchemy may seem obscure and baffle many people, but taken symbolically – the symbol of gold worth, or the transforming philosopher’s stone ‘lapis philosophorum’ hunted for centuries by the alchemists – is to be found in man” C.G.Jung.



Mysticism and Science-CG Jung - @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIDtE6s9v1w