Today brought about a monumental achievement. I finished a book I had been reading for three years. Lazy? Maybe. But, Mysterium Coniunctionis is far from an easy read. As if anyone truly understands what the hell the alchemists were talking about. But Carl Jung does a fascinating job of drawing connections between modern psychology and the old esoteric language to shed light on the meaning of alchemy.
What is Alchemy?
To Jung, it was quite clearly the process of individuation. This was his conclusion. That the alchemists of the past had formulated a way to bring their inner experiences of the unconscious into the conscious–not only to be recognized, but also integrated into the current consciousness as a means of bringing about an equilibrium between conflicting parts of character (ego, self, persona, and shadow). In the end, this would result in what Nietzsche foolishly aspired to make a thing–the Übermensch–which also, in turn, became the backbone of “will to power” ideas that inspired some of the most dangerous tyrants in history. The idea of a superman…. is where I’m going with this. Could one become better through this act of alchemical transformation? It seems many abuse the archetype.
A superman. The very idea of it has, as I’ve stated, inspired numerous power-hungry tyrants of the past–it’s not one to be taken lightly. The reason being, the source of this “almighty power” that these tyrants drink like they are all jacked up on Mountain Dew is simply the idea that by reaching the unconscious, they are reaching the source. They are drawing inspiration from the divine. Because deep within the unconscious is this idea of divinity–the collective unconscious–that acts as an archetype of our connection to the one. It not only inspires the individual but all.
Higher Self Makes an Appearance
These attempts to become an adept, to reach the collective unconscious, are an attempt to be closer to the soul of the world, or to be whole–without distinguishable parts into a Philosopher’s Stone–or acting and contemplating from one unopposed point of conscious initiation.
In bringing all conflicting parts of one’s consciousness into equilibrium, the alchemist has mastered his own ability to control the steady stream of thoughts that flow from the mind. This is quite important if you understand the nature of thoughts, as they are the very fabric of our reality. Therefore, the thoughts of the adept are no longer interrupted by the four separate elements (four conflicting parts of character) that pull in four separate directions, as the intent of both the conscious and unconscious is in agreeance.
Magnum Opus is Achieved
The final result is the alchemist’s true magnum opus. The ability to control the free flowing motion of total consciousness in such a way that the will itself resounds across great distances, so that the world is animated by and aligns with the alchemist’s original intent. To sound with a look. That is, the World bends at the will of the alchemist, because they have brought about the necessary conjunction to align themselves with the will of the collective unconscious. They most often bend to the will of the collective unconscious rather than siphoning its power and using it for their own ends.
And to simplify, going back to Harry Potter, those who desire the stone itself (the Philosopher’s Stone), will ultimately fail to obtain it. That is because they have yet to realize that one could never understand the nature of the collective unconscious without bending to the will of it. Because, after all, we are all only human. We cannot postulate what is the meaning of the universe in its totality, at least not through the singular lens of our eyes alone. In understanding this, the alchemist reaches the one, if only for a brief moment and long enough to remember the relation. It is the magnum opus because the alchemist is made better by gaining a deeper understanding of the collective unconscious. They have come to understand the meaning of wholeness.
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