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Starr
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14 Feb 2007, 6:47 am

Does anyone know of any good books on alchemical symbolism? I am really after one with a Jungian approach, but it's not vital, just a general alchemical one would be very useful.



Prof_Pretorius
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14 Feb 2007, 8:16 am

Starr, dear, what are you up to these days ????


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Starr
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14 Feb 2007, 8:40 am

I'm trying to turn lead into gold :lol: No, you know me Prof, still struggling with Jung and trying to understand my dreams...as usual :)



ixochiyo_yohuallan
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14 Feb 2007, 8:41 am

Try Jung's "Mysterium Coniunctionis". It's among my favorite books of his, though I couldn't make it to the end because it triggered feelings that were too strong. It's about the symbolism in alchemy and what it stands for in psychological terms. He goes first through the main symbols, then through the whole transformation process that is supposed to turn other elements into gold, and explains how it corresponds with the inner transformation the adept will be going through (or rather, how the chemical transformation, illusory as it is, actually brings about the psychological one, because the symbols used stir up the collective unconscious). I thought it was fascinating.



Starr
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14 Feb 2007, 8:47 am

Thanks ixochiyo_yohuallan! May I ask...have you still got the book? Is there anything about a peacock's wing in there? I'm pretty sure it's an alchemical symbol but I'm not 100% sure. I think I will get Mysterium Coniunctionis. (Amazon is my second home, LOL)
Have you read Von Franz's "Alchemy"? That is an interesting description of the individuation process using alchemical symbolism, but there is not much about the peacock in there.



ixochiyo_yohuallan
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15 Feb 2007, 8:37 am

Yes, I have the book now. This is interesting - I also recall having read something about a peacock or a peacock's wing, but I can't remember exactly what it was. I'll have a look. :)

I haven't read Von Franz's book, but now that you've mentioned it, I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion. :)