Jeffrey Raft illustrates the spiritual nature of Jungian psychology and the debt it owes to the tradition of esoteric religion. Unlike other books on Jung and alchemy containing psychological interpretations of alchemical material, this work uses alchemy to understand three cornerstones of Jungian spirituality -- the self, the transcendent function, and active imagination. Raff explains the nature of these three concepts and illustrates how they form a new model of contemporary Western spirituality and he presents two new concepts -- the ally and the psychoid realm. Through the addition of these ideas, it is possible to apply alchemical imagery to transpsychic experience. By including this realm in the study of alchemy and Jungian thought, it is possible to gain insights into the nature of visionary experiences that form part of the path of individuation -- the road to completion.
Jeffrey Raft illustrates the spiritual nature of Jungian psychology and the debt it owes to the tradition of esoteric religion. Unlike other books on Jung and alchemy containing psychological interpretations of alchemical material, this work uses alchemy to understand three cornerstones of Jungian spirituality -- the self, the transcendent function, and active imagination. Raff explains the nature of these three concepts and illustrates how they form a new model of contemporary Western spirituality and he presents two new concepts -- the ally and the psychoid realm. Through the addition of these ideas, it is possible to apply alchemical imagery to transpsychic experience. By including this realm in the study of alchemy and Jungian thought, it is possible to gain insights into the nature of visionary experiences that form part of the path of individuation -- the road to completion.
