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What is the relationship between Jung’s Alchemical Psychology and the Hermetic Tree of Life? The study of alchemy as elucidated by this ancient glyph offers a deepened understanding into Jung’s of archetype, image and symbol, bridging the collective and the personal psyche as it reflects the Soul’s initiatory journey.When circuits between the archetypal, imaginative and physical realms are open, an understanding of paths leading towards Individuation or wholeness is revealed. Entering into the realm of liminal spaces between the worlds, quickening the cosmic dance between force and form, above and below, masculine and feminine, macrocosm and microcosm, alpha and omega, we evoke a synthesis wherein the dancer and the dance become one.Join depth psychotherapist, Eva Rider, MFT, in conversation with Bonnie Bright for Depth Insights(TM). Depth Insights is a media affiliate Depth Psychology Alliance.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Randy. I am not a student of Buddhism but all systems that are based in real truth overlap and resonate in is on a cellular level. The Qabbalistic Tree of Life is also an image of DNA. Isn't it extraordinary that the ancients had this knowledge so long before our scientific understanding could even begin to find empirical methods or proofs? Perhaps, we are fortunate to live in a time wherein the old mysteries can be revealed as we are learning to look through forgotten and new lenses that the scientific Newtonian paradigm has neglected for hundreds of years.
Eva, I appreciate all this information. These subtle distinctions are hard to grasp, yet I can integrate them into my consciousness when I compare the idea to my experience, or other systems whose character is mirrored in another system.
In studying dzogchen buddhism, I can compare these four worlds to the spiritual planes and the distinctions hold. Yes, in all these systems are the roots that take off into the realms of the metaphysical if taken too far, yet one will not find the real truths if they are not studied. I understand why Jung was wary of the theosophical and new (age) spiritual paths, which did not linger near the realms of science at all.
If I even mention the word alchemy in casual conversation, it is taken to be a metaphysical statement; fairy tales illicit the same responses, yet we know there are psychological truths to be found in these places. I will look up the works you referred to- thanks for that and the syzygy comments, too.
The roots of the word syzygy come from the Late Latin, syzygia, and from the Greek word syzygos meaning "conjunction." Syzygy literally means to be "yoked together."
In Psychology, C.G. Jung used the term to denote "an archetypal pairing of contrasexual opposites, which symbolized the communication of the conscious and unconscious minds, the conjunction of two organisms without the loss of identity." He used syzygy to liken the alchemical term albedo with unconscious contrasexual soul images; the anima in men and animus in women.
Hi Randy,
The above is drawn from the Mythic Imagination Institute on the Syzgies. It is an interesting word, isn't it? It seems to have some roots in turkish and certainly refers to a conjunction of the opposites.
I apologize for the delay in responding. I was away at the wonderful Synchronicity: Matter and Psyche conference last weekend (synchronistically).
The tree is an archetypal/universal symbol and does appear in all cultural mythologies, as you point out. I think what makes the Qabalistic/Hermetic tree valuable to us is that it describes and incorporates 4 worlds and includes a bridging of the above, so below, the macrocosm and microscosm, the polar opposites that Jung refers to as the "tension of the opposites" and addresses the Cosmic, the mental, the imaginative and the material worlds. It is particularly well suited to the western mind and imagination because of its complexity and that it hold the key to our cultural roots. What Jung refers as to as the "psychoid" is the place where these overlaps appear between these realms and we experience them in dreams, telepathy, art and synchronicity.
Color symbolism and its connection to sound and vibration can be found in works such as "The Kybalion" which was reportedly transcribed from Hermes Trismegistus, the mythical Hermes. It was not published until 1911 and Jung shied away from associating with the Theosophists in order to establish and solidify his role as a scientist. However, there are certainly profound overlaps.
I resonate with what you are saying about being up to your neck. It is wonderfully overwhelming!!
Keep the conversation going! Thank you!
Hi Eva, I really liked it for the show that it was, but if I were to ask for more about this topic (I would like to hear other topics, too) I am interested in the tension of opposites as well as syzygies, which I don’t understand that well, at least as far as they relate to the symbolism of individuation. I can look them up in Jung and M.L. Von Franz but haven’t yet.
Is the “tree of life” glyph itself the same as say, the cross of christ, the Yggsdrasil, the bodhi tree of the buddha? The tree is a symbol of the self, of course, but is that the same symbol in all these cases, or are there dramatic differences? Would the connection here be the “realm of liminal spaces between the worlds” that is spoken of in the introduction?
I am trying to understand color symbolism and would like to learn more of this. I don’t get as much of that in the Jung I’ve read but may have missed the detailed references (if anyone can point me to that in the collected works, I would appreciate that).
So far, I’m up to my neck in so many new avenues I’ve found that depth alliance has, including, Kleinians, Hillman, transference, Freud (the pleasure principle) and Adler (will to power) and the like. It is wonderful.
This is wonderful and a great help as i have been thinking of similar things, though more often through astrology. I have also been thinking about the connection between spirit and matter and the interconnection of soul in everything. Also the alchemy of Mercury, which i have been thinking about more through astrology, as well as Saturn and the lead- i really see the black as the Mother too- that is great. and the path through the abyss. i also really love the spiral as part of all this. Thank you so much, i realize i need to get deeper into this now as i have been aware of it but not studied it deeply.
Thanks Bonnie and Eva for an interesting talk about alchemy and individuation.