Alchemy
Metaphor for process of transformation
Children natural alchemists e.g. sandtray
Mainly pre-personal process. Because we are trying to get them to form
an ego, and to allow their sense of self to emerge in developmentally
appropriate way.
Metaphor from Sufism: I was a hidden treasure and I yearned to be
known, then I created creatures in order to be known through them.
Hadith
Oneness and duality: almaas undifferentiated state of beingness
emerges into essence (or sufi into divine qualities)
Structures start to overlay our connection with divine (Almaas)
Inayat khan shell
Almaas: ego identity can be felt as a dry empty shell, if you go very deep
inside yourself youll see what you take yourself to be is not real. One way
of experiencing this is feeling your are an empty shell with nothing of
significance inside. The ego idenit, the core of personality with a sense of
self, can be felt as a dry, empty shell. When you become aware of the dry
empty shell, you become aware of the worthleness.usually feel this
emptiness in vague ways, rather than directly.
Link to winnicots true and false self. False self doesnt serve the unfolding
potential of individual. It can preserve, it protects the true self. (real
being, authentic, allows for creativity, relationship not based on defences)
Alchemy process of breaking shell down, to enable new growth, new
life.
Almaas: mind perpetuates ghosts: to throw away your mind means to
throw away .when you want something because you have experienced it
in the past what you are wanting is a corpse
Basic premise of alchemy: dissolve that which has become fixed, rigid,
limiting, in order to coagulate (redefine oneself in connection with ones
authentic self/innate potential.
o With child dissolving old unhelpful patterns, so child can be more
resilient and able to cope with ego developing.
Alchemy began with Egyptians experiments with embalming
Chinese, Indian alchemy, greek alchemy, Islamic alchemy,
True alchemists ( as opposed to lead into gold) were about inner
transformation. In middle ages huge purge, Spanish inquisition.
Jung: picked up on alchemy whilst doctor in hospital in zurich. Egan to
see drawings and ramblings and dreams which linked to alchemical
symbolism.
Edinger: anatomy of psyche
First stage: nigredo when client really starts engaging in work, material
encountered often dark, heavy difficult, may be conflict. This is seen in
sandtray in chaotic scenes. Figures left dying. struggle
Second stage: albedo whitening. Feel very sensitive in this stage. Need
to be in a protected zone in order not to be too heavily impacted. Process
wont last very long with children, as it requires a lot of strength. Soul has
become receptive again. Helping client develop defenses that are not self-
destructive. Therapist feels protective and tender towards child.
Third stage citrinas. Yellowing: not a conscious experience. Soul
rediscovers itself and conjunctio with spirit, alchemical marriage. Soul is
reinvested. Images of weddings may appear. Impulse to go back into life
emerges.
Rubedo reddening go back into life, rebirth, fire gets very hot here.
New qualities coming through, new resilience. Task as therapist is to help
child embody changes they need to make. Adults, can need cognitive work
at this stage. Goal-setting, develop new way of thinking, choices. See this
in children when they start to feel more confident. Concentrate better in
class. More present and open to learning. Felt security to go forward from.
Coagulation..make solid.
The alchemical operations:
o Salutio imagery water retreating back to maternal waters
drowning bathing floods melting rain crying baptism
Have to back into watery of unconscious to dissolve and be
reborn again.
o Calcinatio fire dries up tears new emotion needs to be
expressed instinctive desire unleashing of urges holy fire
fire of purification fire of holy spirit appearance of primitive
animals annihilation rebirth experimentation
o Mortificatio death corpses old unhelpful structures need to be
broken down decomposing mould sewage lavatories that
dont flush (technique dialogue with death)
o Separatio chaos fights battles then out of chaos emerges some
kind of order groupings of animals of same family adults
beginning to discriminate children ego development = me/not
me, separating from mother, hero enables that process heroes
(coagulating ego)
o Sublimatio ascending air element rising this is more adult
development balloon birds eye view witness disassociation
figure stood on edge of tray ladders flying
o Coagulatio forming ego also negative, forming unhelpful
structures unhelpful sense of self-worth
o Conjuntio symbiosis womb sexual images, images of
marriage, out of this comes separatio, something connected with
love relationship negative is gluey
o Concupisience sexual desire
