Re-Visioning Alchemy: Archetypal Elements of Transmutation

Abstract

Despite contributing to Alchemical studies, Jungian psychology has not yet sufficiently explored the vast diversity of Alchemical disciplines, across world cultures and epochs, from prehistory to modernity. Furthermore, Jungian psychology might be taking too much credit for “discovering” Alchemy’s psychological relevance without giving enough credence to Alchemy’s metaphysical insights. Yet many of Jungian psychology’s basic tenets stem from these same traditions that it sometimes undermines or overlooks. This dissertation updates Jungian psychology’s understanding of Alchemy within the context of historical and global diversity, and with respect to Alchemy’s awareness of psychology and reality. Honoring the sophistication of humanity’s Alchemies, this dissertation acknowledges how profoundly they inform both Jungian psychology and human civilization in general. To synthesize a new, inclusive definition for Alchemy, this dissertation researches the archetypally recurring themes and defining commonalities of Alchemical disciplines throughout world history, attending to their views of psyche and cosmos. It finds that the classical Alchemical Elements provide a particularly poignant point of connection among these diverse disciplines and make those disciplines inherently Alchemical by relating them to Transmutation. Thus, this research hermeneutically extracts the Quintessence of Alchemy to formulate a Quintessential outline—one fresh model encompassing many prior versions, without diminishing their distinctions. By redefining Alchemy in this way, any discipline employing the Elements of Transmutation could become considered a form of Alchemy. This dissertation studies how various cultures represent those Alchemical Elements of Transmutation. It aims to expand psychology’s view of Alchemy to be more accurate, inclusive, and respectful.