27 September 2026 | 7 pm BST (2 pm EDT | 11 am PDT)
Approx: 1hr 30
Jung’s Psychology of Alchemy
Reflections on the Eighth Volume
of the ETH Lecture Series
~ A Presentation by Christopher Wagner
→ Please note: Volume 8 is an unpublished volume in the Philemon Series and that there is no publication date as yet. → This public webinar will be free for all who have donated $125 or more since 2025. To register, send an email to info@philemonfoundation.org. For others, webinar tickets are $ 40. Please endeavour to book in advance. You can check your timezone here.
Alchemy occupied a central place in Jung’s thought from the mid-1930s onward. Beyond its
familiar pursuit of transforming base metals into silver and gold, Jung discerned in alchemy a spiritual and religious tradition—an ‘alchemical philosophy’ that he regarded as a precursor to modern psychology. Delivered at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1940–41, his lectures on the subject provide a particularly accessible introduction to this aspect of his thought. Drawing upon a wide range of alchemical texts and imagery, Jung explores in this series the symbolism of transformation and its parallels with processes of psychological development. This talk will introduce the context and content of these lectures and explore the place of alchemy within Jung’s evolving conception of the psyche.
Christopher Wagner holds degrees in history from Northwestern University and the University of Cambridge. His doctoral dissertation focused on the foundations and first articulations of Jung’s alchemical thought. His current work for the Philemon Foundation includes the editing of Jung’s Polzeath Seminar of 1923 and Swanage Seminar of 1925. He is also a COSCA-certified counsellor and holds a diploma in counselling and psychotherapy from the University of Edinburgh.
Last-minute registrations cannot be guaranteed. Ticket purchases do not confer donor status. For copyright reasons, no recordings are made.
