This month’s paid member workshop explores a Jungian and archetypal approach to alchemy, focusing on the nigredo —a stage associated with confronting the shadow and descending into the unconscious. If you’re interested in watching at the reduced member rate, you can upgrade now (and gain access to the full archive of Artemisian workshops) or purchase the class at full price directly here. Check out the free preview to get a sense of the content of the class.
How can we engage with the alchemical operations of the nigredo to explore the shadow, navigate difficult experiences and foster personal growth?
In the alchemical opus, the initial work is characterized by a destruction of the prima materia - a stage called the nigredo. This relates back to psychological experiences such as encountering the shadow, descending into the unconscious, and undergoing a dark night of the soul. In this class, we revisit and expand upon the Alchemical Inner Work technique, this time with a focus on three operations (mortificatio, putrefactio, and separatio), examining their depictions in manuscripts, the symbolic and archetypal themes they encompass, and their connections to mythology and daily life. We close with an exercise that utilizes the operations and deepens our inner work with the alchemical imagination.
Topics include:
A Jungian and archetypal approach to alchemy
The nigredo stage in alchemical transformation
Overview of three operations: mortificatio, putrefactio, and separatio
Symbolism, psychological meaning, and archetypal themes of each operation
How to apply the Alchemical Inner Work technique for personal growth and self-development
