Transformation of the Psyche: The Symbolic Alchemy of the Spendour Solis

Written by Joseph L. Henderson, one of the first generation of Jungian analysts, and Dyane N. Sherwood, a practising analyst, this book is a striking and unique contribution to the resurgence of interest in alchemy for its way of representing the phenomenology of creative experience. Transformation of the Psyche is organized around 22 illuminated paintings from the early Renaissance alchemical manuscript the Splendor Solis, and is further illustrated by over 50 colour figures. The images of the Splendor Solis are possibly the most beautiful and evocative alchemical paintings to be found anywhere, and they are widely known to students of alchemy. Jung reproduced several Splendor Solis images in his works, yet prior to this book no one has explored the symbolism of the paintings as a series in relation to the process of depth psychological transformation. This book is the first scholarly study of the paintings in their entirety, and of the mythological and historical allusions contained within the images. Transformation of the Psyche does not simply explain or analyze the pictures, but invites the reader to participate in the creative and transforming process evoked by these images.Transformation of the Psyche is a truly unique book that will be of immense value and interest to analysts and psychotherapists, as well as scholars of mediaeval and renaissance intellectual history and students of spiritual disciplines. BOOK COVER......Page 1 HALF-TITLE......Page 2 TITLE......Page 3 COPYRIGHT......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 5 FOREWORD......Page 9 PREFACE......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 16 Alchemy and modern depth psychology......Page 17 The mercurial nature of symbols......Page 46 The author in historical context......Page 37 The illuminated paintings......Page 41 Paracelsus and the nature of the soul......Page 31 Alchemy in medieval and Renaissance Europe......Page 29 Islamic alchemy......Page 26 Alchemy in classical Greece and post-classical Alexandria......Page 23 The ancient roots of alchemy......Page 20 Plate I–1 A Sick Sun and a Healthy Sun......Page 48 Plate I-2 Setting Out on a Journey......Page 54 Plate I-3 The Inner Quest......Page 57 Plate I-4 The King and the Queen......Page 62 Plate I-5 Digging for Gold......Page 75 Plate I-6 The Philosophical Tree......Page 79 Plate I-7 The Drowning King......Page 85 Plate I-8 The Ethiopian......Page 94 Plate I-9 The Hermaphrodite......Page 100 Plate I-10 The Golden Head......Page 103 Plate I-11 The Alchemist in the Bath......Page 107 Introduction......Page 113 Plate II-1 The Heart of the Dragon......Page 121 Plate II-2 Three Birds......Page 128 Plate II-3 A Three-Headed Bird......Page 135 Plate II-4 A Three-Headed Dragon......Page 141 Plate II-5 The Peacock......Page 145 Plate II-6 The Muse......Page 150 Plate II-7 The New Sun as Inner Light......Page 154 The process in the Second Series......Page 157 Introduction......Page 166 Plate III-1 The Dark Sun......Page 167 Plate III–2 Children at Play......Page 169 PlateIII-3 Women Washing......Page 172 Plate III-4 The Journey’s End......Page 176 PREFACE......Page 177 THE FIRST TREATISE......Page 178 THE SECOND TREATISE......Page 179 And This Is the First Parable:......Page 180 The Other Parable......Page 181 The Fourth Parable......Page 182 THE FOURTH TREATISE......Page 183 The Third Chapter......Page 185 THE FIFTH TREATISE......Page 186 THE SIXTH TREATISE......Page 187 THE SEVENTH TREATISE......Page 189 THE PERFECTION OF THE WHOLE MASTERY DEPENDS ON THESE FEW POINTS:......Page 190 CONCLUSION......Page 191 ALCHEMICAL WANDERINGS AND ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE......Page 192 NOTES......Page 195 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 212 A NOTE FROM THE LIFE BALANCE INSTITUTE......Page 216 INDEX......Page 217 Behavioral Sciences BOOK COVER 1 HALF-TITLE 2 TITLE 3 COPYRIGHT 4 CONTENTS 5 FOREWORD 9 PREFACE 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 16 INTRODUCTION 17 The mercurial nature of symbols 46 The Harley Splendor Solis 37 The author in historical context 37 The illuminated paintings 41 Paracelsus and the nature of the soul 31 Alchemy in medieval and Renaissance Europe 29 Islamic alchemy 26 Alchemy in classical Greece and post-classical Alexandria 23 The ancient roots of alchemy 20 Alchemy and modern depth psychology 17 THE FIRST SERIES 48 Plate I–1 A Sick Sun and a Healthy Sun 48 Plate I-2 Setting Out on a Journey 54 Plate I-3 The Inner Quest 57 Plate I-4 The King and the Queen 62 Plate I-5 Digging for Gold 75 Plate I-6 The Philosophical Tree 79 Plate I-7 The Drowning King 85 Plate I-8 The Ethiopian 94 Plate I-9 The Hermaphrodite 100 Plate I-10 The Golden Head 103 Plate I-11 The Alchemist in the Bath 107 THE SECOND SERIES 113 Introduction 113 Plate II-1 The Heart of the Dragon 121 Plate II-2 Three Birds 128 Plate II-3 A Three-Headed Bird 135 Plate II-4 A Three-Headed Dragon 141 Plate II-5 The Peacock 145 Plate II-6 The Muse 150 Plate II-7 The New Sun as Inner Light 154 The process in the Second Series 157 THE THIRD SERIES 166 Introduction 166 Plate III-1 The Dark Sun 167 Plate III–2 Children at Play 169 PlateIII-3 Women Washing 172 Plate III-4 The Journey’s End 176 APPENDIX The Harley Text of Salomon Trismosin’s Splendor Solis and Alchemical Wanderings and Adventures in Search of the Philosopher’s Stone 177 PREFACE 177 THE FIRST TREATISE 178 THE SECOND TREATISE 179 THE THIRD TREATISE 180 And This Is the First Parable: 180 The Other Parable 181 The Third Parable 182 The Fourth Parable 182 The Fifth Parable 183 The Sixth Parable 183 The Seventh Parable 183 THE FOURTH TREATISE 183 THE FIFTH TREATISE 185 The First Chapter 185 The Second Chapter 185 The Third Chapter 185 The Fourth Chapter 186 ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FIRES 186 THE FIFTH TREATISE 186 THE SIXTH TREATISE 187 THE SEVENTH TREATISE 189 THE PERFECTION OF THE WHOLE MASTERY DEPENDS ON THESE FEW POINTS: 190 CONCLUSION 191 ALCHEMICAL WANDERINGS AND ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE 192 NOTES 195 BIBLIOGRAPHY 212 A NOTE FROM THE LIFE BALANCE INSTITUTE 216 INDEX 217 Written by Joseph L. Henderson, one of the first generation of Jungian analysts, and Dyane N. Sherwood, a practising analyst, this book is a striking and unique contribution to the resurgence of interest in alchemy for its way of representing the phenomenology of creative experience. Transformation of the Psyche is organized around 22 illuminated paintings from the early Renaissance alchemical manuscript the Splendor Solis , and is further illustrated by over 50 colour figures. The images of the Splendor Solis are possibly the most beautiful and evocative alchemical paintings to be found anywhere, and they are widely known to students of alchemy. Jung reproduced several Splendor Solis images in his works, yet prior to this book no one has explored the symbolism of the paintings as a series in relation to the process of depth psychological transformation. This book is the first scholarly study of the paintings in their entirety, and of the mythological and historical allusions contained within the images. Transformation of the Psyche does not simply explain or analyze the pictures, but invites the reader to participate in the creative and transforming process evoked by these images. Transformation of the Psyche is a truly unique book that will be of immense value and interest to analysts and psychotherapists, as well as scholars of mediaeval and renaissance intellectual history and students of spiritual disciplines. "Transformation of the Psyche is organized around 22 illuminated paintings from the early Renaissance alchemical manuscript the Splendor Solis, and is further illustrated by over 50 color figures. The images of the Splendor Solis are possibly the most beautiful and evocative alchemical paintings to be found anywhere, and they are widely known to students of alchemy. Jung reproduced several Splendor Solis images in his works, yet prior to this book no one has explored the symbolism of the paintings as a series in relation to the process of depth psychological transformation." "This book is the first scholarly study of the paintings in their entirety, and of the mythological and historical allusions contained within the images. Transformation of the Psyche does not simply explain or analyze the pictures, but invites the reader to participate in the creative and transforming process evoked by these images."--Jacket The First Series -- The Second Series -- The Third Series -- The Harley Text Of Salomon Trismosin's Splendor Solis And Alchemical Wanderings And Adventures In Search Of The Philosopher's Stone / Translated By Julius Kohn. Joseph L. Henderson And Dyane N. Sherwood. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 211-215) And Index.