“The essential secret of the art lies hidden in the human mind
— or, to put it in modern terms, in the unconscious.”
– C.G. Jung, CW12, par. 361
The understanding and interpretation of alchemy holds a central place in the writings of C.G. Jung. In its unique, and often bizarre, imagery, Jung found a symbolic language that reflected the activity of the psyche. His work on the psychological dimensions of alchemy, however, can be dense and difficult reading. Edward Edinger’s classic book Anatomy of the Psyche does a great job of bringing clarity and understanding to this area of Jung’s writings and to his essential insights into the symbolism of alchemy.
In this class we will read through Anatomy of the Psyche together. Using Edinger’s text as our guide, we will explore the challenging, but immensely rich subject of alchemy and its psychological meaning. We will discover the relationship between alchemical symbolism and dream imagery, discuss the relevance of alchemy to Jung’s concept of individuation, and understand how the operations of the alchemical opus translate into a contemporary spiritual or psychological practice.
7-9pm UTC-5 | 8 weeks | All sessions will be recorded.