Thom F. Cavalli, Ph.D.

Thom Cavalli is a practicing clinical psychologist, author and lecturer on Jungian psychology. His breakthrough book, Alchemical Psychology, has become a textbook for teachers and students on individuation and spiritual transformation. His latest work is receiving rave reviews and promises to become a #1 bestseller!

Its not called alchemy anymore. In fact, most of us believe that alchemy ended sometime in the mid-1600s when Newton and his colleagues of the Royal College threw out magic and ushered in the scientific method along with rationalism and empiricism. Few people are aware that many of Newtons central theories sprang from his secret alchemical work.

Alchemy today conjures up images of medieval nerds working in smelly, makeshift laboratories. We see them cutting, dicing and smashing up the foul ingredients that went into a steamy vessel beneath which blazed a constant fire. The aim of this weird experiment is to make gold out of crude, worthless metals; a lucrative trick if one could only pull it off!

In reality, the history of alchemy is at least 5000 years old and even a cursory review of its history shows that it was in fact the first laboratory science and is credited with a great many accomplishments. Porcelain, alcohol and mineral acids, even brandy were discovered by chance and ingenuity by these early chemists. There is no one single alchemy, but many different types practiced the world over, from Egypt and the Middle East to China, India and even the Americas. And, not only were its practitioners interested in transmuting metals, but perhaps more importantly, they advanced the development of medicine, chemistry, religion and psychology.

Written evidence of alchemical experimentation dates back to Bolos of Mendes (200 BC). A quick look at his texts and thousands of others look as if madmen wrote them. The words make no sense and accompanying pictures make surrealism look like a Norman Rockwell illustration! And yet, despite all the gibberish (a word coined after an alchemist!) this proto-scientific endeavor remains the Royal Art.

If we measure alchemys worth by todays standards, it does indeed look more like psychotic scribbling than anything to do with science - as we know it! We could easily dismiss alchemy were it not for the fact that many of its views are proving to be valid in modern laboratories. What the alchemists lacked in technology they made up for in prophetic vision and intuitive genius. They anticipated many of the theories that now form the foundation of quantum physics and genetic research. To take one example, rather than exclude (or minimize) experimenter bias - a requirement of the scientific method, they specifically included the operator as a crucial element to the success of their work. Consciousness was treated as a critical component, along with all those smelly substances, to be essential in their pursuit of the Philosophers Stone.

Alchemy involves mind and matter ones mind must be confronted, purified and resurrected in much the same way that physical matter is handled. Consciousness is not restricted to humans but to varying degrees is present in everything, from rocks to raccoons. Although there was no formal psychological science in alchemy's day, there were strict codes and procedures with which the adepts cognitive and moral behavior had to conform. (These recipes are invaluable psychological gems.) Even then, there was no promise of reward unless the gods favored the work. In fact, the last ingredient to go into the alembic was a prayer to Hermes.

In the last thirty years of his life, C.G. Jung devoted his entire research to the exploration of alchemy. He was fascinated by the idea that alchemy provided ample evidence to support his theory of individuation; what these madmen were really pursuing, however blindly, was the perfection of their own personality. Others, like Marie Louise von Franz, continued to develop his thoughts about alchemy and this work continues even today. Analysts like James Hillman, Stanton Marlon and Jeff Raff have taken Jungs work even further exploring endlessly fascinating psychoid connections between mind, body and soul.

For my part, Ive written two books (so far) on alchemical psychology. My aim is to distill the best of alchemy to a personal science that anyone who has a serious interest in furthering him or herself can use to facilitate their process. I want to unveil the mystery without diluting its numinous wisdom. Unlike magic, alchemy is intended to hasten natural processes by utilizing the inherent powers of the mind. Alchemical Psychology, my first book, introduces the basics of personal alchemy. In my latest work, Embodying Osiris, we go back to alchemys origins in ancient Egypt, and discover the core ideas embedded in the myth of Osiris. Each work presents us with voluminous information about the work as well as practices for developing consciousness transforming those places where growth has been stymied by abuse, addiction, trauma, accident, illness and the negative beliefs of a false self.

Alchemy is far from dead. In fact, I believe we are witnessing a renaissance of the Royal Art. Whatever its present name, the principles and many of its methods remain the same. More importantly, the love and passion that the alchemists had for Nature and its perfection have not changed in its long history. We are no different than our ancestors who sought to make peace with themselves and others, animals and spirits, rocks and minerals, gods and devils, heaven and earth. When we can open our eyes and see the infinite reflections of the One Thing, we have truly lifted the whole of humanity to a higher plane.

Reality Sandwich

Half-hour interview with Depth Psychology Alliance

Gnostic Radio

2 hour interview with Andrea Garrison