What do you think?
Rate this book
Gaia Alchemy: The Reuniting of Science, Psyche, and Soul
A bold exploration of the reintegration of rationality and intuition, science and soul, to foster individual and planetary healing
Examines how integrating important alchemical images with Gaian science can offer insights into our interconnectedness with Gaia
Looks at how the four components of the living earth--biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere--mesh with the four elements of alchemical theory and the four functions of consciousness as understood by depth psychology
Offers guided meditations and contemplative exercises to open your receptivity to messages from the biosphere and help you connect more deeply with Gaia
During the scientific revolution, science and soul were drastically separated, propelling humanity into four centuries of scientific exploration based solely on empiricism and rationality. But, as scientist and ecologist Stephan Harding, Ph.D., demonstrates in detail, by reintegrating science with profound personal experiences of psyche and soul, we can reclaim our lost sacred wholeness and help heal ourselves and our planet.
The book begins with compelling introductions to depth psychology, alchemy, and Gaia theory--the science of seeing the Earth as an intelligent, self-regulating system, a theory pioneered by the author’s mentor James Lovelock. Harding then explores how alchemy, as understood through the depth psychology of C. G. Jung, offers us powerful methods of reuniting rationality and intuition, science and soul. He examines the integration of important alchemical engravings, including those from L’Azoth des Philosophes and the Rosarium Philosophorum , with Gaian science. He shows how the seven key alchemical operations in the Azoth image can help us develop deeply transformative experiences and insights into our interconnectedness with Gaia. He then looks at how the four components of the living Earth--biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere--mesh not only with the four elements of alchemical theory but also with the four functions of consciousness from depth psychology.
Woven throughout with the author’s own experiences of Gaia alchemy, the book also offers guided meditations and contemplative exercises to open your receptivity to messages from the biosphere and help you develop your own Gaian alchemical way of life, full of wonder and healing.
Examines how integrating important alchemical images with Gaian science can offer insights into our interconnectedness with Gaia
Looks at how the four components of the living earth--biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere--mesh with the four elements of alchemical theory and the four functions of consciousness as understood by depth psychology
Offers guided meditations and contemplative exercises to open your receptivity to messages from the biosphere and help you connect more deeply with Gaia
During the scientific revolution, science and soul were drastically separated, propelling humanity into four centuries of scientific exploration based solely on empiricism and rationality. But, as scientist and ecologist Stephan Harding, Ph.D., demonstrates in detail, by reintegrating science with profound personal experiences of psyche and soul, we can reclaim our lost sacred wholeness and help heal ourselves and our planet.
The book begins with compelling introductions to depth psychology, alchemy, and Gaia theory--the science of seeing the Earth as an intelligent, self-regulating system, a theory pioneered by the author’s mentor James Lovelock. Harding then explores how alchemy, as understood through the depth psychology of C. G. Jung, offers us powerful methods of reuniting rationality and intuition, science and soul. He examines the integration of important alchemical engravings, including those from L’Azoth des Philosophes and the Rosarium Philosophorum , with Gaian science. He shows how the seven key alchemical operations in the Azoth image can help us develop deeply transformative experiences and insights into our interconnectedness with Gaia. He then looks at how the four components of the living Earth--biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere--mesh not only with the four elements of alchemical theory but also with the four functions of consciousness from depth psychology.
Woven throughout with the author’s own experiences of Gaia alchemy, the book also offers guided meditations and contemplative exercises to open your receptivity to messages from the biosphere and help you develop your own Gaian alchemical way of life, full of wonder and healing.
- GenresScience
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2022
16 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Stephan Harding
12 books9 followersStephan Harding was a British zoologist and ecologist. He specialized in holism and the Gaia hypothesis and was a founding member of Schumacher College, where he coordinated the master's program in holistic sciences.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2023
Despite how much I love Stephen Harding’s work, this book is a toughie for me to consume. I like the approach and the way science processes were described in the Gaian eye. I was also pulled into the narratives of alchemical images and explanation. However I found the alchemical approach to be deeply rooted in Western worldview and its hard for me coming from Asia to comprehend. I found it to be an over complicated way of explaining something that is innatedly close to us as indigenous of the Earth. Maybe i need more time and surrender, need to go into my Gaian place and listen to its teaching - then some resonance might emerge :)
April 19, 2023
Gaia Alchemy has the tone of a book written for fun and without a judgmental lens from its author - Stephan Harding. Within the book a reader will find fantastical explorations of how the living world is an animate, integrated and whole being (as first proposed by James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory). I found myself referencing and thinking about the useful frameworks within many times, and loved connecting the dots between my previous practices and readings to the useful diagrams and analogies provided by Stephan. My one challenge with this book is the complexity offered by some of the frameworks - the introduction of new alchemical vocabulary felt overwhelming and difficult to integrate at times, the diagrams and their explorations felt each deserving of their own chapter (or book even). I feel as if Stephan wrote this for joy and for people to either get a foundation understanding of many of the concepts within (which i certainly have), but when finishing the book i found it difficult to carry it’s teachings with me after. I was left feeling like i need to have a long conversation with Stephan to really understand what I just experienced.
Anyone interested in alchemy and the natural world would surely find this worth their time.
Anyone interested in alchemy and the natural world would surely find this worth their time.
May 23, 2023
meh
good concept, poor delivery. Basically ecopsychology meets Gaia theory but way too long. Also lots of imaginary dialogue between characters. Maybe an attempt at active imagination but not compelling. I like Harding’s animate earth, but this wasn’t great. Plus the spiritualized/psychologized version of alchemy is problematic in itself. Ended up flipping through the last half of the book looking for anything worthwhile.
good concept, poor delivery. Basically ecopsychology meets Gaia theory but way too long. Also lots of imaginary dialogue between characters. Maybe an attempt at active imagination but not compelling. I like Harding’s animate earth, but this wasn’t great. Plus the spiritualized/psychologized version of alchemy is problematic in itself. Ended up flipping through the last half of the book looking for anything worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews