The alchemical Mercurius : Esoteric symbol of Jung's life and works

Foreword - Roderick Main. Introduction. Part 1 - Aurea catena. 1 Hermeticism. 2 Alchemy. 3 John Dee. 4 Carl Jung. Part 2 - Daimonic encounter. 5 Chthonic spirit. 6 A fish-snake synchronicity. 7 An alchemical transformation mystery. 8 Merlin. Part 3 - Magnum opus. 9 Synchronicity. 10 Aion. 11 Mysterium Coniunctionis. 12 The grail legend. Conclusion

''It is notable...that Jung's work tends to alienate both scientists, for whom it seems too dependent on religious assumptions and attitudes, and religious adherents, for whom it seems too naturalistic and psychologically reductive....(His) outlook is in fundamental tension both with mainstream theistic religion, in which the Creator is seen as separate from the creation and knowledge is obtainable only through faith and reason, and with mainstream science, in which the world is viewed independently of any supposition about the divine and knowledge is obtainable only through empiricism and reason....Against this background, it is timely that Mathew Mather has addresssed head-on the esoteric dimension of Jung's thought....[He] is careful to ground his researches in detailed critical scholarship, including close textual reading and some fascinating historical contextualisation. But he does not shrink from also empathically entering the thought-world of esotericism and advancing, on the basis of what he finds from that perspective, a bold case for Jung's own esoteric beliefs--on alchemy, on the legend of the Holy Grail and, most provocativewly, on precessional astrology and the imminence of a new Platonic month....(T)hat Jung's serious engagement with esotericism does play a role of considerable importance not only for understanding his psychological model but also for appreciating his place in the development of western culture is becoming increasingly difficult to dispute. Mather's book contributes substantially to illuminating this most occulted, discomfiting, yet potentially significant aspect of Jung's work.' --Foreword

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