The collective unconscious

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Another similarity that they share (along with the pentagram, the swastika, etc, etc ) is dating back to Babylonian times. Not being specific to any denomination but illustrating a particular spiritual truth, they are truly archetypal symbols.

"The symbol of the 4-sided swastika is an archetype for the rotations of time and conscousness - moving cl ...[text shortened]... ity simultaneously".

Skywalker Red, what are your views on the Hermaphrodite?

well, the hermamprodite had a very important and interesting place in alchemy. in alchemy it represented the union of opposites obviously. It represented the heirosgamos archetype. the royal marriage. the consumation of King and Queen. the androgynous aspect of the hermamprodite would allow it to reproduce itself much like the uroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. so, in a sense it also represented the God-like ability for creation and procreation. the royal marriage was the ultimate goal in the alchemical process along with the creation of the lapis of course.

Originally posted by skywalker red
well, the hermamprodite had a very important and interesting place in alchemy. in alchemy it represented the union of opposites obviously. It represented the heirosgamos archetype. the royal marriage. the consumation of King and Queen. the androgynous aspect of the hermamprodite would allow it to reproduce itself much like the uroboros, the snake that ...[text shortened]... was the ultimate goal in the alchemical process along with the creation of the lapis of course.

Thanks. Are we talking about the Great Work? What is that, in lay terms?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Thanks. Are we talking about the Great Work? What is that, in lay terms?

if you mean by "the great work" is synonomous with the opus, then yes we are talking about the same thing. The philosophers stone was the ultimate goal of the opus. what this meant and the process by which it was accomplished had about as many different meanings as there were alchemists.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Thanks. Are we talking about the Great Work? What is that, in lay terms?

the great work(opus)was for the alchemists a personal transformation process as well as carrying out a transformation in the laboratory. basically, the artifex(alchemist) would start out with the prima materia which was considered the "massa confusa" , the initial chaos, the state of warring elements that the artifex would try to bring about a unity of.It was a process of separation and synthesis of not only the physical elements, but at the same time it was a separation and synthesis of psychic opposites within the psyche of the alchemist.It really was symbolic of the individuation process-the step by step development of the self from an unconscious state to a conscious one.

Originally posted by skywalker red
...the Magnum Opus....

Is it feasible to attempt this work today? How would we describe a person who'd achieved the opus in non-specialised language?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Is it feasible to attempt this work today? How would we describe a person who'd achieved the opus in non-specialised language?

we could probably describe someone who achieved the opus like this:
psychologically well balanced, has integrated his/her unconscious contents into consciousness.