Discover Alchemy as a Symbolic Language of Transformation

Alchemy is not only an abandoned science or an esoteric curiosity

Alchemy was one of the great symbolic discoveries of Jung’s later work. In the strange images, operations, vessels, substances, colors, and transformations of the alchemists, Jung found a symbolic language for the psychological process he called individuation. In this self-paced course, we explore Jung’s understanding of alchemy as a symbolic system that bridges matter and psyche. We will examine how the alchemists projected unconscious contents into their work with matter, and how their images of transformation can help us understand dreams, psychological development, inner work, and the movement toward greater wholeness. The course introduces students to alchemy from several perspectives: the history of science, the history of religions, and Jung’s depth psychological interpretation. Along the way, students will study the opus, the prima materia, the alchemical vessel, Mercurius, the philosopher’s stone, the coniunctio, and major operations such as calcinatio, solutio, coagulatio, sublimatio, separatio, and coniunctio.
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Jung and Alchemy is a Course on Transformation.

Explore the Architecture of the Collective Unconscious

Jung spent more than twenty-five years studying alchemy, and his work with alchemical symbolism became central to his mature psychology. Alchemy is a field of study that allowed Jung to connect psychological transformation with a rich Western symbolic tradition. Jung saw parallels between the transformation of substances in the alchemist’s vessel and the transformation of the psyche in the individuation process. This course helps students understand why alchemy became so important for Jung. We will consider alchemy as a historical practice, as a religious and mythological symbolic system, and as a psychological language of transformation. Students will explore how alchemical images illuminate the relationship between conscious and unconscious life, the redemption of spirit in matter, the transformation of psychic energy, and the difficult work of integrating opposites. This course gives students a practical foundation for symbolic amplification. Alchemical symbolism can help us recognize movement in dreams, active imagination, and inner work. The course notes emphasize that alchemical operations are not simply static symbols, but symbolic movements of psychic energy. These operations can offer insight into the direction in which the unconscious may be moving.
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Jung and Alchemy is a Course on Transformation.

Who This Course Is For

This course is well suited for therapists, counselors, educators, clergy, spiritual directors, artists, writers, and serious lay students interested in Jungian psychology, alchemy, symbolic interpretation, dreams, individuation, religion, mythology, and the unconscious.

Students who have completed or begun the Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology will be especially well prepared. Completion of Jung 105: Jung and Mythology and Jung 106: Jung and Fairy Tales is also strongly recommended, because this course moves into a more complex symbolic tradition. However, experienced students who already have a working knowledge of Jungian psychology, symbolic interpretation, dream work, and active imagination may also be ready to begin here.

This course is especially appropriate for students who want to deepen their understanding of:

  • Alchemy and Jungian psychology
  • The individuation process
  • Projection and symbolic interpretation
  • Dreams and alchemical imagery
  • Psyche, matter, and transformation
  • The opus, prima materia, and alchemical vessel
  • Calcinatio, solutio, coagulatio, sublimatio, separatio, and coniunctio
  • The union of opposites
  • Jung’s mature writings on alchemy
  • The relationship between alchemy, Christianity, science, and modern culture


This language reflects the course-map notes, which describe Jung 107 as advanced work with symbolic process, transformation, opposites, unconscious material, and mature Jungian theory.

What You Will Study

In this course, we explore:

  • Alchemy from the perspective of the history of science
  • Alchemy from the perspective of the history of religions
  • Jung’s major writings on alchemy
  • Alchemical symbolism as a language of projection and individuation
  • The historical alchemical paradigm of psyche, matter, and the rejected feminine
  • The opus, prima materia, Mercurius, the alchemical vessel, and the philosopher’s stone
  • The psychological meaning of alchemical operations
  • Calcinatio, solutio, coagulatio, sublimatio, separatio, and coniunctio
  • Jung’s use of alchemical symbolism in dream interpretation
  • Wolfgang Pauli’s dreams in relation to alchemical symbolism
  • Alchemical symbolism and the union of opposites
  • Alchemy as the shadow of modern science and a symbolic critique of modernity


The goal is not simply to learn about alchemy as an historical curiosity. The deeper aim is to understand why Jung found alchemy so psychologically important, and how alchemical symbolism can illuminate dreams, inner work, transformation, cultural life, and the difficult process of making the unconscious conscious.

Your instructor

  • James R. Newell, Ph.D.

    Senior Instructor

    James R. Newell, Ph.D.

    James Newell is an educator, counselor, personal coach, professional musician, and the director of the Depth Psychology Alliance. James earned his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and Theology from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, with a focus on Jungian psychology. He earned his doctorate in History of Religions from the Vanderbilt University Graduate School of Religion. James has taught online and face to face courses for Central Michigan University, Western Kentucky University, Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State University, and other institutions.

What others are saying...

Bonnie Bright, PhD, founder of the Depth Psychology Alliance

Dr. James Newell is a gifted teacher

Bonnie Bright, PhD, founder of the Depth Psychology Alliance

Dr. James Newell is a gifted teacher and scholar who has effectively organized an impressive amount of detailed research and information into a series of powerful classes and courses on Jung and Jung’s psychology, now available on Depth Psychology Academy. Students at all levels can gain a depth of understanding about how Jung’s ideas can change our lives and our world as Dr. Newell explains each topic very clearly and at exactly the right pace for students of all levels to take it in.
Monica Flores, Ed.D

Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology

Monica Flores, Ed.D

Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology. I learned so much from him about Jung and Jungian psychology when I began taking courses in depth psychology from the Depth Psychology Alliance online courses. Dr. Newell is open-minded and consistent. He has a smooth voice that can hold anyone’s attention. I enthusiastically recommend taking these courses through the Depth Psychology Academy.
Ann Amberg, MCS, Transpersonal Leadership Consultant

James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style

Ann Amberg, MCS, Transpersonal Leadership Consultant

I highly recommend Dr. James Newell’s courses. Upon completion of my certificate in Depth Psychology I had gained the confidence, focus and knowledge to support my success in my current PhD program in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute. James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style. All of the Depth Psychology Alliance courses I took: Introduction to Jungian Psychology, Active Imagination, Fairy Tales, Dreams, and many more, were phenomenal and I am most grateful for the opportunity to study with James.
Nirlap Bettenhauser, student

The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis

Nirlap Bettenhauser, student

This is an outstanding educational program where one can learn multiple areas of Jungian Psychology. These courses are very well structured with an appropriate course load and high quality texts. Plus the price is incredibly reasonable. The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have been intellectually engaging and have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis. Not something I expected to receive from the academy, but very grateful I did.

Course Format Note

This course is based on recordings from an earlier live Depth Psychology Academy class. The recordings preserve the full teaching content of the original course, but students may hear occasional references to live discussions, earlier assignment structures, or a previous course platform.

For the current self-paced version, students should follow the materials as they appear on the Academy site. Each module includes the current course materials and quizzes. Completion is based on the current lessons, quizzes, readings or materials, and lesson completion steps inside the course.

Course curriculum

  • 1
    Welcome to Jung 107: Jung and Alchemy!
  • 2
    Module 1: Alchemy from the Perspective of the History of Science
    • Start Here: About These Recordings and Current Course Requirements
    • M1/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M1/2: Video Lesson: Alchemy from the Perspective of the History of Science
    • M1/3: Video Lesson Quiz
    • M1/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on pages 1-24 and chp. 1, p. 44-59 in the textbook)
    • M1/5: List of Additional Resources
    • M1/6: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M1/7: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M1/8: Additional, Optional Video
    • M1/9: Additional, Optional Video
    • M1/10: Reviewing Module 1
  • 3
    Module 2: Alchemy From the Perspective of the History of Religions
    • M2/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M2/2: Video Lesson: Alchemy From the Perspective of the History of Religions
    • M2/3: Video Quiz
    • M2/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 5, pages 116-138, in the textbook)
    • M2/5: List of Additional Resources
    • M2/6: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
    • M2/7: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
    • M2/8: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
    • M2/9: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
    • M2/10: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
    • M2/11: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
    • M2/12: Reviewing Module 2
  • 4
    Module 3: C.G. Jung's Work with Alchemy
    • M3/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M3/2: Video Lesson: C.G. Jung's Work with Alchemy
    • M3/3: Video Quiz
    • M3/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 8, pages 180-216 in the textbook)
    • M3/5: List of Additional Resources.
    • M3/6: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M3/7: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M3/8: Reviewing Module 3
  • 5
    Module 4: The Historical Alchemical Paradigm: Psyche, Matter, and the Rejection of the Feminine
    • M4/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M4/2: Video Lesson: The Historical Alchemical Paradigm: Psyche, Matter, and the Rejection of the Feminine
    • M4/3: Video Lesson Quiz
    • M4/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on pages 25-41 in the textbook)
    • M4/5: List of Additional Resources
    • M4/6: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M4/7: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M4/8: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M4/9: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M4/10: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
    • M4/11: Reviewing Module 4
  • 6
    Module 5: The Basics of Alchemical Symbolism
    • M5/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M5/2: Video Lesson: The Basics of Alchemical Symbolism
    • M5/3: Module 5 Video Quiz
    • M5/4: Module 5 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on Jung’s Psychology and Alchemy, p. 227-241; and Edinger’s Anatomy of the Soul, intro, p. 1-15.)
    • M5/5: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M5/6: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M5/7: Reviewing Module 5
  • 7
    Module 6: Dreams and Alchemical Symbolism
    • M6/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M6/2: Video Lesson: Dreams and Alchemical Symbolism
    • M6/3: Module 6 Video Lesson Quiz
    • M6/4: Module 6 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 2, p. 60-75, in the textbook)
    • M6/5: Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M6/6: Reviewing Module 6
  • 8
    Module 7: Alchemical Symbolism and Individuation: Transformation and the Union of Opposites
    • M7/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M7/2: Module 7 Video Lesson: Alchemical Symbolism and Individuation
    • M7/3: Module 7 Video Lesson Quiz
    • M7/4: Module 7 Readings Quiz (All questions are based on chapter 4, p. 99-113; and chp. 7, p. 156-172 in the textbook).
    • M7/5: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M7/6: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M7/7: An Additional, Optional Reading Resource for Study
    • M7/8: Reviewing Module 7
  • 9
    Module 8: The Cultural Significance of Alchemical Symbolism
    • M8/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
    • M8/2: Module 8 Video Lesson: The Cultural Significance of Alchemical Symbolism
    • M8/3: Module 8 Video Lesson Quiz
    • M8/4: Module 8 Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on chapter 2, chp. 2, pages 60-75, in the textbook)
    • M8/5: Additional, Optional Resource for Study
    • M8/6: Reviewing Module 8
    • M8/7: Course Completion

How This Course Fits into the Advanced Certificate

Jung and Alchemy is the recommended third course in the Advanced Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology.

The Advanced Certificate in Foundational Depth Psychology continues foundational Jungian study through four major areas of symbolic and historical depth:

  1. Jung 105: Jung and Mythology
  2. Jung 106: Jung and Fairy Tales
  3. Jung 107: Jung and Alchemy
  4. Jung 200: History of Depth Psychology


This course is the third course in the recommended sequence. Jung and Mythology opens the pathway through large collective stories, archetypal patterns, sacred narratives, and the symbolic imagination. Jung and Fairy Tales then narrows the symbolic field into more compact narratives of conflict, development, and transformation. Jung and Alchemy moves students into one of Jung’s most difficult and important symbolic traditions, where transformation is imagined through matter, vessel, fire, water, dissolution, coagulation, separation, and union.

Jung and Alchemy also prepares students for Jung 200: History of Depth Psychology, which serves as the capstone of the advanced certificate by placing Jungian psychology within the wider history of depth psychology and the study of the unconscious.

Students may also take Jung and Alchemy as a standalone course. It is complete in itself and is especially valuable for students interested in Jung’s mature work, individuation, dreams, transformation symbolism, the history of science, the history of religions, Western esotericism, and the symbolic relationship between psyche and matter.

Continue Your Study of Jung, Alchemy, and Transformation

Jung and Alchemy offers a substantial introduction to one of the most important symbolic fields in Jung’s mature psychology.

Whether taken as a standalone course or as the third course in the Advanced Certificate pathway, Jung and Alchemy provides a rich foundation for understanding transformation symbolism, dream amplification, projection, psyche and matter, the union of opposites, and the individuation process. Enroll now to begin exploring alchemy as one of the most powerful symbolic languages in Jungian and depth psychology.
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