I have always been an enthusiastic student of Jung and Alchemy after reading “The Astrology of Personality”by Dane Rudhyar. Alchemy is a heady sort of knowledge and sometimes difficult to understand. However I came across an article in the June/July 2019 Mountain Astrologer by Dena DeCastro, “Pluto Transits: Alchemy and Initiation.” It was fantastic!
DeCastro’s summation is so well written and in a single paragraph she does a wonderful summary of the interface of astrology and alchemy. I want to share it with you on my blog:
“The integration of astrology and alchemy is a strong one. Alchemy like astrology links the natural world to principles of spiritual enlightenment,and both have followed parallel paths over the centuries. Just as astrology originated with the observation of the physical planets, alchemy began as the physical study of the combinations of elements and chemical compounds. But as both sciences evolved they became potent of symbolic meaning that could point the way to an awareness of one’s own unconscious material that is necessary for deep psychological transformation.
As an astrologer learning of these concepts of how modern astrologers might incorporate the language of astrology in their work, it seemed to me that these two sciences of the psyche could provide a powerful combination, offering new ways of viewing the most difficult of astrological seasons.
DeCastro also quotes Liz Green “The perspective of alchemy turns the horoscope into a map of process rather than a static character traits.” Green’s thesis is that knowledge of the alchemy process can supply astrologers with another set of tools which link the birth chart to work with transit and progressions.
While it is too difficult to give a long analysis of the alchemy and astrology, I think these comments by DeCastro show that the use of symbolism between these two sciences is a great boon to the study of deeper elements of the psyche.