Book Meetup: Alchemical Active Imagination by Marie-Louise von Franz

📍 Christ’s Pieces Park, Cambridge
🕕 Wednesday | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📚 Goodreads link
Join us in the park for a deep dive into the symbolic and transformative world of alchemy through the lens of Jungian psychology. In Alchemical Active Imagination, Marie-Louise von Franz—one of Jung’s closest collaborators—guides us through the mystical writings of 16th-century alchemist Gerhard Dorn, illuminating how ancient alchemical practices mirror the modern psychological journey of individuation.

This is not just about turning lead into gold. It’s about the inner alchemical fire—the spiritual and psychological transformation of the self. Through Jung's technique of active imagination, von Franz explores how the alchemists’ symbolic language served as a profound dialogue with the unconscious.

We’ll also reflect on how this centuries-old quest captured the imagination of many great minds, from Paracelsus to Isaac Newton. Newton, though renowned as a scientific pioneer, devoted much of his life to the search for the Philosopher’s Stone—not just as a physical substance, but as a symbol of divine wisdom and personal wholeness.
Expect discussion around:

The symbolic meaning of alchemical imagery
Jung’s concept of active imagination as psychological transformation
Why so many brilliant thinkers pursued the Philosopher’s Stone as a spiritual ideal
✨ Bring your book, something to sit on, and your curiosity. All are welcome—no prior alchemical experience required.

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