The Stages of the Alchemical Opus

02/09/23 • 29 min

In this episode:
I continue with the third part of a four-part series on alchemy, this time looking at the stages of the alchemical opus and their meaning for the work of the symbolic life.

Let's make this a conversation:
Do you have a comment or question about this episode, or about something you would like me to address in a future episode? Please contact me on Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)
Or: Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)
For more on living a symbolic life:
Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life, available from Chiron Publications.
Sources for quotes and more:

Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung
'Alchemy' by Marie-Louise von Franz
Aion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. Jung
S3, Ep. 8: Alchemy: Mirror of the Soul
'C.G. Jung Speaking' edited by William McGuire & R.F.C. Hull
The Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. Jung

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Music:
"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Connect with me:
Instagram (@digital.jung)
Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst)
Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)
Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)
For more on living a symbolic life:
Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

Send us a text

In this episode:
I continue with the third part of a four-part series on alchemy, this time looking at the stages of the alchemical opus and their meaning for the work of the symbolic life.

Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung
'Alchemy' by Marie-Louise von Franz
Aion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. Jung
S3, Ep. 8: Alchemy: Mirror of the Soul
'C.G. Jung Speaking' edited by William McGuire & R.F.C. Hull
The Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. Jung

Music:
"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Support the show

Previous Episode

The Heart of the Matter: Alchemy and the Prima Materia

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In this episode:
I continue with the second part of a four-part series on alchemy, looking at the symbol and the psychological meaning of what the alchemists called the prima materia.

Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung
'Anatomy of the Psyche' by Edward Edinger
The Golden Tract in 'The Hermetic Museum' edited by A.E. Waite
Aion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. Jung
The Gnome in 'Grimms' Tales for Young and Old' translated by Ralph Manheim
Mysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung
Who Does the Work: Cultivating an Alchemical Attitude
'New Seeds of Contemplation' by Thomas Merton

Music:
"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by

Support the show

Next Episode

The Philosophers' Stone: Solid Ground of Wisdom

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In this episode:
I conclude this series on the symbolism of alchemy by looking at the all-important image of the goal of the alchemical opus: The Philosophers’ Stone.

Psychology and Religion in'Collected Works, vol.11' by C.G. Jung
Alchemical Studies in 'Collected Works, vol. 13 by C.G. Jung
'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger
Aion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. Jung
Mysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung
'Parzival' by Wolfram von Eschenbacch (translated by Helen Mustard and Charles Passage)
'Romance of the Grail' by Joseph Campbell
'The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha’s Path' by Addison Hodges Hart
'The Gnostic Scriptures' translated by Bentley Layton
S3, Ep. 8: Alchemy: Mirror of the Soul
S3, Ep. 9: The Heart of the Matter: Alchemy and the Prima Materia
S3, Ep. 10: The Stages of the Alchemical Opus