The grandest symbol of coagulatio is the Christian myth of the Incarnation of the Divine Logos:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” ( John 1 : 14, RSV ).This subject requires a separate treatment of its own. However, a few aspects of the life of Christ can be noted as particularly relevant
AOP ¶ 0Christ was born of a virgin; that is, he was incarnated by means of pure earth. The Virgin Mary corresponds to the alchemical notion of the “white-foliated earth”
AOP ¶ 0PURIFIED MATERIALITY PRINCIPLE
Alchemy says, “Sow your gold in white foliated earth” (fig. 004.10) . White earth corresponds to the ash that has survived calcinatio. It is a contradiction because earth is typically black. As we have noted, the principle of materiality that promotes coagulatio has a bad name. This is black earth. But in the symbolism of Christianity, and more explicitly in alchemy, there arose the symbolic image of white earth, a purified materiality principle. Psychologically this means the possibility of a new and purified attitude toward materiality. It means the discovery of the transpersonal value of the ego. What purifies is consciousness. The black earth of ego desirousness becomes the white foliated earth that incarnates the Self
AOP ¶ 0AOP Pg 104 (c) FigNo004.10
“Sow your Gold in White Earth”
Maier, Atalanta Fugiens (1618)
BEING CONCRETELY REAL
The lowly circumstances of Christ's birth corresponds to the ordinary and commonplace aspects of being concretely real. The events of the Passion also apply. Christ's condemnation and execution with criminals present him as a willing carrier of evil. His carrying the cross represents the realization of the burden of one's being. The outstanding image is the crucifixion itselfbeing nailed to matter (fig. 004.11) . In alchemical terms, the cross represents the four elements from which all manifest being is made
AOP ¶ 0AOP Pg 105 (d) FigNo004.11
“Crucifixion.”
Drawing from Ramsey Psalter, c. 980. London, British Museum
SYNONYM FOR
Fixatio is one of the synonyms for coagulatio, and the alchemists had pictures of the mercurial serpent fixed to the cross or transfixed to a tree (fig. 004.12) and (fig. 004.13) . The Manicheans universalized this image to the greatest extent in their doctrine of Jesus patibilis, the suffering Jesus “who hangs from every tree,' `is served up bound in every dish,' `every day is born, suffers and dies,' and is dispersed in all creation.” The uncoagulated spirit is free, it can entertain any image without consequences. But to be a concretely realized ego means one is nailed to the cross of the created world
AOP ¶ 0AOP Pg 105 (e) FigNo004.12
The Mercurial Serpent Crucified
Alchimie de Flamel, MS. Francais 14765. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale
PURPOSE OF THE
AOP Pg 105 (e) FigNo004.13
Transfixion of the Mercurial Serpent and the King
“Speculum veritatis,” Cod. Vaticanus Latinus 7286, 17th century. Biblioteca Vaticana
CHRISTIAN INCARNATION MYTH
Of particular interest concerning the Christian incarnation myth is the stated purpose of the whole drama. The purpose is redemption or rescue of the sinful human race. There is a parallel Gnostic incarnation tale that states a similar purpose
AOP ¶ 0In the apocryphal Acts of Thomas is found the so-called “Hymn of the Pearl” or “Hymn of the Soul.” It describes how the royal son is required to leave the heavenly palace of his parents, take off his robe of glory, and descend to the land of Egypt in order to recover “the one pearl which lies in the middle of the sea which is encircled by the snorting serpent.” After helpful reminders from heaven, the royal son accomplishes his rescue mission, returns to his heavenly home, and dons his heavenly garment
AOP ¶ 0In both the Christian and Gnostic myths, incarnation or descent into flesh is for the purpose of rescue. In the one case the endangered value is humanity lost in sin; in the other case it is a pearl in the possession of a serpent. These myths hint at the idea that egohood serves a redemptive function for a lost value. In alchemy it is made more explicit that the value to be redeemed is an aspect of deity
AOP ¶ 0DIAMOND AND THE
MEANING OF EGOHOOD
A curious variant of this image of the rescuing power of flesh has become part of the lore associated with the diamond. In India or Ceylon there is supposed to exist a deep valley of diamonds infested with deadly serpents. In order to acquire the diamonds, pieces of flesh are thrown into the valley. The diamonds adhere to the flesh, and vultures carry the flesh back to the top of the gorge where they are retrieved. This legend is a quaint variation of the theme “incarnation for the purpose of redemption.” The essential feature of the story is that diamonds adhere to flesh. We have here, I think, a tantalizing glimpse into the meaning of egohood. The diamond in its hardness is the supreme representative of the “flesh” principle in its incorruptible state and is one of the symbols of the Self. A parallel image occurred in the dream of a woman eight weeks pregnant. The dream:
AOP ¶ 0Dream:
Diamond of Pregnancy
I am on the lower level of the subway system. A young black woman hands me a diamond. I put it deep within my pocket, not wanting people to know for fear they will steal it. When I reach the upper level I feel safer
AOP ¶ 0DREAM COMMENTARY
The association to the diamond was her pregnancy
AOP ¶ 0