Aion Institute

This course is an exploration of Stanislas Klossowski de Rola’s The Secret Art of Alchemy, a landmark work that unveils the symbolic, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of alchemy as a living tradition. Far from a mere proto-science, alchemy is presented here as an art of inner transformation, where the opus (the Great Work) reflects both cosmic processes and the deep work of the psyche. Through close readings, visual analysis of alchemical engravings, and Jungian amplification, participants will examine The stages of the alchemical opus (nigredo, albedo, rubedo) as metaphors for psychological death, purification, and integration, the rich visual language of alchemical emblems, drawings, and mandalas as symbolic maps of transformation, the philosophical and mystical roots of alchemy, including Hermeticism and Renaissance esotericism, and an overview of alchemy as a mirror of individuation, in which the alchemical vessel becomes the container of psychic wholeness. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of alchemy as both an ancient spiritual practice and a profound psychological metaphor for creative and therapeutic transformation.