The Alchemical Stages of Alice

The alchemical stages of Alice is an artistic concept that refers to the ‘alchemical process philosophy’.

The project was a graphic compilation of the alchemical cleansing process using the Alice character from American McGee's Alice games as an allegory of how we can change ourselves through our minds. All Images were created with Midjourney V6.1

Alice represents the wounded soul, plunged into chaos and darkness by an unfortunate or disturbing event. She follows the rabbit, a symbol of the ‘prima materia’, the alchemical substance of change. In the ever-deeper descent into the unconscious, the darkness finally gives way to a clarity that slowly reveals fragments of a new, refined structure.

According to the alchemists, matter is not soulless. The alchemical processes were therefore not purely chemical (turning lead into gold), but were seen as a reflection of inner psychic processes.

The stages of the Magnum Opus reflect the four stages of alchemical transmutation and psychological transformation. They are Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, and Rubedo.

The first stage of this process, Nigredo, is seen as a metaphor for what is referred to in psychology or mysticism as the ‘dark night of the soul’. Psychologically, nigredo involves depression, withdrawal of projections, dissociation, loss or death (symbolic or concrete).

Nigredo and prima materia are central symbols of the psychotherapeutic process, which lead to a symbolic rebirth or restructuring of the ego consciousness (Albedo). The form that realizes the present personality is dissolved and returned to the formless state of pure possibility, so that through Citrinitas*) a new form or reality can emerge, ultimately leading to Rubedo, the highest level of the Work, the Philosopher's Stone or the Red Lion.

*) In many late medieval works, this stage is no longer explicitly mentioned, which is why I have limited myself in this simplified presentation to the triad Nigredo, Albedo and Rubedo.

The Alchemical Stages of Alice in motion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_J4cRrUS70

• The images were created with Midjourney[www.midjourney.com] version 6.1 and set in motion with Kling AI[klingai.com]
  
• Music: Two Steps From Hell - Last One Standing (feat. Tina Guo & Uyanga Bola)
  
• Editing: Adobe Premíere Elements

Nigredo

Albedo

Rubedo

Never give up your dreams

[Aymar]

Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, dear Shiranee.
I'm very pleased that you like the project and I don't need any awards, your comment is prize enough.

[Shiranee]

„The Alchemical Stages of Alice“ Is a true Masterpiece dear Aymar. It is sooo beautiful that it brings tears to my eyes.
Umfortuanately I do not have enough points for an Award. I will come back !!!!

Such a great work. congrats.
The music is superb, the images - everything. 🩷🌸🩷