Live Webinar Open for Registration

Course Description

This course is an exploration of Stanislas Klossowski de Rola’s The Secret Art of Alchemy, a landmark work that unveils the symbolic, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of alchemy as a living tradition. Far from a mere proto-science, alchemy is presented here as an art of inner transformation, where the opus (the Great Work) reflects both cosmic processes and the deep work of the psyche. Through close readings, visual analysis of alchemical engravings, and Jungian amplification, participants will examine The stages of the alchemical opus (nigredo, albedo, rubedo) as metaphors for psychological death, purification, and integration, the rich visual language of alchemical emblems, drawings, and mandalas as symbolic maps of transformation, the philosophical and mystical roots of alchemy, including Hermeticism and Renaissance esotericism, and an overview of alchemy as a mirror of individuation, in which the alchemical vessel becomes the container of psychic wholeness. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of alchemy as both an ancient spiritual practice and a profound psychological metaphor for creative and therapeutic transformation.

Curricular Notes

Within the AION architecture, this course provides a non-linear grammar of change—one that legitimizes dissolution, ambiguity, and psychic death as necessary conditions of integration. It counterbalances modern clinical pressures toward stabilization, mastery, and repair by situating transformation within a symbolic process that cannot be rushed, optimized, or controlled. At the advanced level, clinicians must learn not only how to intervene, but when not to intervene—to tolerate phases of unmaking without prematurely forcing coherence. AION 411 supports this maturation by offering a symbolic process model in which breakdown is meaningful, containment is imaginal, and wholeness emerges indirectly.

Please note that the instructor for this course is not a clinician, and this course is not eligible for CE credit.

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CE Value

This event spans 6 clock hours and is NOT eligible for Continuing Education credit.

Fees

$420 for course participation
$320 for students

course status

This course is a live webinar. It counts as Elective credit towards any of Aion's certificate programs.

faculty

Leigh J McCloskey

Prerequisites

None

Discord Link

Discord Link

If you’re curious about this course, or enrolled in it, please join our Discord Channel dedicated to it.

Event
details

This course is not eligible for CE credit.

 

de Rola, S. K. (1973). The secret art of alchemy. Thames & Hudson.

Jung, C. G. (1968). Psychology and alchemy (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 12). Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1944)

Jung, C. G. (1970). Mysterium coniunctionis (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 14). Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1955–1956)

von Franz, M.-L. (1980). Alchemy: An introduction to the symbolism and the psychology. Inner City Books.

Edinger, E. F. (1985). Anatomy of the psyche: Alchemical symbolism in psychotherapy. Open Court.

Aion Institute courses are open to all licensed mental health professionals, residents, interns, and graduate students in training, as well as members of the lay public who have an interest in psychodynamic psychology. Please use the following descriptions of our instructional level to gauge your own comfort level with the content.

✅ Introductory Level For those beginning the path or seeking reorientation. Courses at this level provide foundational knowledge in psychodynamic and integrative frameworks. No prior specialization is required—only a readiness to engage with depth-oriented psychological thought. These classes introduce core concepts, language, and philosophical underpinnings essential to the Aion curriculum.
Intermediate Level For those building structure upon the foundation. Intermediate courses deepen theoretical understanding and clinical application. Participants are expected to have prior exposure to psychoanalytic or Jungian concepts. These courses explore the evolution of major schools of thought, integrative approaches, and the emergence of relational and neurobiological paradigms, inviting greater complexity and case-based reflection.
Advanced Level For those prepared to engage with nuance, synthesis, and transformation. Advanced courses assume substantial familiarity with depth psychological theory and practice. Here, we move toward integrative models, complex case formulation, and contemporary theoretical frontiers. The focus is on synthesis, symbolic analysis, and the practitioner’s evolving stance as both healer and theoretician.
Hard Mode For those willing to be changed. Hard Mode courses are not merely advanced—they are initiatory. Designed for highly motivated participants, these offerings require deep reading, active participation, and a willingness to engage psychologically, imaginatively, and ethically. They are immersive, demanding, and transformational. These courses may involve longer sessions, seminar-style discussion, original writing or creative response, and the expectation that participants contribute to a shared field of inquiry. They are suited for those who seek to embody the work, not merely study it.

The Aion Institute reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any event, for which registrants will receive a full refund or credit. Refunds for payment processed online via electronic means will be refunded back to the credit card within 2 weeks after the cancellation.

Participants who wish to cancel their registration and paid registration fees online may be eligible for refund.

Participants may cancel their registration through the self-serve page accessed via the link included in the confirmation email sent after registration.

Please keep in mind that canceling a registration on the self-serve page does not automatically process a refund. Aion will refund cancellations made at least 24 hours prior to the start of this event.

The Aion Institute is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants.

This event is conducted online using a virtual meeting platform (Zoom). We encourage all attendees to ensure that their technological setup—audio, video, internet connection, and device settings—meets their individual accessibility needs prior to the event.

If you require any additional support, accommodations, or accessibility considerations in order to participate fully, please don’t hesitate to contact us through one of the contact forms on this website. We will make every reasonable effort to ensure your learning experience is welcoming, respectful, and attuned to your needs.

There is no commercial support for this Aion Institute program, nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Approvals

The Aion Institute is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Aion Institute (AIO279) maintains responsibility for this program and its content.