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Phoenix

The mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes, symbolizing death and resurrection, the completion of the opus, and spiritual regeneration.

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Historical Origin

Ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology. Adopted by alchemists as a symbol of the rubedo and the emergence of the perfected stone.

Alchemical Meaning

The completion of the work through fire, the resurrection of purified matter, and the achievement of incorruptibility.

Psychological Interpretation

Psychological rebirth, the emergence of the Self from the death of the ego, and the transformation that follows the dark night.

Sources & Further Reading

  • Jung, C.G. Psychology and Alchemy
  • Edinger, E. Anatomy of the Psyche