Saturday, June 5th, 1982

Philosophical Tree Outline

by Paul Damiani

Paper V09M

3-LETTER CODE: ALC

TOPIC: Alchemy

SUBJECT: Philosophical Tree

SUBSUBJECTS: Jung, Anthropos, Christ, Active Imagination

ORIGINAL LOCATION & FILE NAME (of PDF used for typing): 1982 0605a V12ap. Alchemy - Philosophical Tree.DOC & PDF

CONTENTS:

Multiplicity of tree elements refers to development and differentiation of psyche

Directionality of psychic development symbolized by growth of tree

Connections between different levels of self

Active imagination reestablishes relationships with thwarted aspects of self

References to treasure or Christ's birth within the tree; the work reveals the hidden elements

Alchemical tree as living thing of Nature

Tree symbolism vs. mandala imagery

BOOKS QUOTED FROM OR REFERENCED:

• C.G. Jung, CW 13, Alchemical Studies, "The Philosophical Tree"

AD HANDWRITING: The version retyped below only exists as embedded in the verbatim class transcript

COMPLETENESS: Full Paper

PUBLISHABILITY: No, just an outline

DATE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PAPER: 1982 0605

RETYPED AND REFORMATTED by IT 2022

NOTES:

• RETYPED PD PAPER presented in class (V09M).

• This is 1982 06/05b, Philosophical Tree Outline, and the second entry associated with this date. 1982 06/05a = Alchemy; Philosophical Tree Class.

• This outline is read and discussed in WG Class 1982 0605a Alchemy; Philosophical Tree.

PHILOSOPHICAL TREE OUTLINE

[Paper as read by PD in WG Class 1982 0605a Begins]

1) In the tree symbolism, the multiplicity of (its) leaves, branches, fruit and roots can be seen as referring to the development and differentiation of the psyche or mental being, the planetary spheres, this being the unfoldment of the meaning that the individual psyche is endowed with or constituted of. 2) The directionality inherent in the developmental processes of the psyche is also being symbolized by the tree. The tree is growing from somewhere towards some complete form. 3) Through this development, pathways and channels of communication occur between the different levels of oneself reaching up to heaven and down to earth, or our innermost meanings and our outermost activities and involvements. 4) In a sense, this becomes the level that the active imagination exercise is employed at to reestablish a nexus of relationships to those aspects of oneself which have been thwarted by our collective conscious framework, those innermost aspects of ourself. 5) The tree symbolism often contains a reference to a treasure hidden in it or the birth of Christ occurring within it. And it's through this opus or work that the birth of the Anthropos or Christ or the lapis or treasure hidden within can make its first appearance to consciousness. 6) The alchemical tree is called a living thing of Nature in distinction from living things in matter, sustained by a rose-colored-like fluid and a material like virgin's milk, which is a contradiction of Nature, which are related to the Sun and Moon and are the seeds as well as the fruit of this tree.

The tree symbolism is like a profile view and represents the developmental processes in distinction from the mandala image which is more a structural or cross-section perspective.

[Paper as read by PD in WG Class 1982 0605a Ends]