Alchemical Psychology: Old Recipes for Living in a New World

by Thom F. Cavalli

Book Overview

Alchemical practices have been reborn in our contemporary world under the rubric of Jungianism, transpersonal psychology, or depth psychology. But in Alchemical Psychology , Thom F. Cavalli, Ph.D., takes us directly to the source - and on a wonderful adventure into the true nature of our hearts and minds. In a book that sparkles with verve, life, and practicality, Dr. Cavalli explains how alchemy was one of humankind's earliest efforts to transform...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585421405
• ISBN13: 9781585421404
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.5" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent Springboard for those considering the Alchemical Path.

"Old recipes for living in a new world!" An old practice which has helped bring humanity to where it is today: Alchemy. "Psychological Alchemy" helps give an understanding of the basics of alchemy and how it can be used to assist in your psychological development. The alchemists' use of psychology, symbolism, astrology, their practices and utilization methods assisted them greatly in the attainment of their goals. This work will give you a look at alchemy and foster an insight concerning how to become your "true self," and face whatever is holding you back from reaching your true potential. Psychology is an art of science which is a very recent development, historically speaking. It was developed to give us a better understanding of ourselves and our psyche. Two of the most famous practitioners of this field, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, are mentioned in this literary work. The use of dream interpretations to assist in understanding the human psyche is a Jungian technique. Symbols helped alchemists protect their secrets and assisted in providing more insights into the human subconscious mind, which understands symbols on a higher level than does the conscious mind. Jung saw the importance of symbolism as symbols are the language of alchemy, causing him to conclude that dreams are many times symbolic of events or issues with which our subconscious struggles. Using symbolism, alchemy, and the combined product [psychology], the alchemist maintains the great balance and remains in balance and in touch with his/her higher self. Therefore, psychology is not only an integral part of alchemy, it is also a by-product of alchemy. For many ages, different cultures have studied the stars to see where they were going in life, and to determine latitude and longitude at sea. Astronomical objects affect people all throughout their lives, yet many take no notice of them. Alchemists use the stars to direct energies and to strive for different states of consciousness. The solar system represents the mind, the outer shell or the orbit of Saturn is the conscious mind. As you do more work on yourself and go deeper into meditation, you progress deeper into the subconscious mind. The experiments of alchemists were used to gain a better understanding of nature and by doing so, gain a better understanding of themselves. In so doing, they worked through different levels of consciousness or through each orbit until they reached the center of their consciousness, and thereby transformed lead into gold. There have been two documented cases of this occurrence: Glenn Seaborg, 1951 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, succeeded in transmuting a minute quantity of lead (possibly en route from Bismuth, in 1980) into gold and an earlier report of 1972 in which Soviet physicists at a nuclear research facility near Lake Baikal in Siberia accidentally discovered a reaction for turning lead into gold when they found the lead shielding of an experimental reactor had chang

Easy to Read Book on Alchemical Psychology

This book takes the complex language of alchemy and alchemical processes and translates it into easy-to-understand language. The author guides you step-by-step through alchemical symbolism and alchemical operations as they relate to different psychological processes. The alchemical recipes expressed through different alchemical operations presented in this book are intended to help you create desired psychological transformation - whether you desire to apply them in your therapeutic practice or to gain further insights and effect the desired transformation in yourself. Understanding of alchemy is based on practical application and as the author points out "Unlike medical prescriptions, alchemical recipes require full engagement of the mind, body and soul, as well as active participation of the imaginative faculty to make them work." [As a hypnotist, I may add, that this truth applies to successful work with hypnosis, too]. The author does quote excerpts from Corpus Hermeticum - and this particular excerpt is the jewel of the Corpus Hermeticum: "Rise up above every height: descend deeper than any depth; Concentrate into thyself all the sensations of created things Of water, fire, dry and wet. Think of finding yourself simultaneously everywhere in the Earth, sea and sky; Think of having never been born, Of still being an embryo; Young and old, dead and beyond death, Embrace everything at the same time; All times, places, things, qualities and quantities." The author also at times draws parallels from the world of quantum physics, and other spiritual and esoteric traditions, to ellucidate specific points he desires to make.

Going for the Gold...........in your Self

This is a great read. Anyone interested in the transformation of the soul, the refinement of their base nature into pure golden light and transparency should read this book. Thom Cavalli has poured an enormous amount of love into this work and clearly shows. Not a work is wasted. You read a paragraph and have to walk away to ponder it. A book to return to time and time again as your understanding grows. It is rich with symbols, ancient alchemical art and mystery. I absolutely love this book.

Alchemy From a Psychological Perspective

Reviewer: Diana L. Klimek, Ph.D. student, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, Calif. Reading the first few chapters of Dr. Thom Cavalli's book, Alchemical Psychology, is a bit like listening to Bill Moyers interview Joseph Campbell as they meander and weave myth, religion, history and culture into a labyrinth of discovery. There is a powerful background in the field of alchemy spanning thousands of years and for some, it is still steeped in the mystical mixings and stirrings of elixirs and potions. To bring these mysteries into a modern world where demands for logic and reason overwhelm our sensibilities, Dr. Cavalli is indeed his own brave alchemist. Stirring a pot with ingredients as diverse as ancient drawings, Carl Jung's notion of the Individuated Self, the four elements and a little quicksilver, Dr. Cavalli keeps the fire turned up. His determination to let alchemy speak for itself and to let alchemy find its natural connection to psychology is commendable, especially in doing a comparative analysis such as this. The subtitle of this book is "Old Recipes for Living in a New World" and although each ancient recipe (there are ten in the book) is interesting and helpful, one struck me as unique to the symbolic nature of alchemy. It is important to understand that taking the ingredients literally loses the point of the experiment. For example, in recipe seven "the rose gives honey to the bee" which we all know is impossible in logic and in nature because roses do not give honey. However, as Dr. Cavalli walks us through the steps of the alchemical recipe drawing on his own personal career and Jungian psychology, we are encouraged to accept the immediate significance to the personal psyche and the power of collective symbolism. Although it is helpful to have some background in Freudian and Jungian psychology, this book holds potential interest for both the novice and the professional. Dr. Cavalli has succeeded in bringing alchemy out of the archives and within focus of the modern world. This book is richly educational but it is entertaining as well because Dr. Cavalli still manages to pay homage to his archetypal muse, the Trickster.

Psychological and Alchemical Gold

The heart of this book is ten ancient alchemical recipes. Cavalli interprets this recipes in terms of Jungian psychology, showing how they can be used to transform the ordinary elements of everyday life into gold. Until reading "Alchemical Psychology," while I was intrigued by alchemy, I was also confused by the esoteric imagery. Cavalli's clear explanations and practical advice have shown me a path for using this perennial wisdom in my own process of integrating my psyche, creating alchemical gold!Every time I return to this book, I find something new, both in the text and in the beautiful reproductions of alchemical woodcuts.