Modern Alchemy

The first two mileposts of Modern Alchemy Leg Four focus on confronting foundational archetypes and negotiating the boundaries of the unconscious.

The journey begins at "the Stones" with a confrontation of the Witch Ancestress, which the author interprets as a necessary step to achieve a figurative "mental death" of the Mother to free himself from the puer aeternus. This encounter reveals the Chaotic Mother-a majestic figure representing both the macrocosm and microcosm, whose presence unveils a "vast expanse of potential" within the abyss.

The narrative then shifts to the instinctual or animal level of the psyche (symbolized by the number three). Here, the author encounters "The Rock" (Dwayne Johnson), symbolizing the physical body and personal foundation, consuming clay and ayahuasca. This milepost concludes with a symbolic "game of pool" where various condiments represent deep-seated problems of feeling (ketchup), purity (mayonnaise), and the realization of the Self (mustard) that have been repressed in the basement of the psyche.

This milepost moves to an urban setting where the Ego engages in a magic battle within a circular stone kiosk. A street magician attempts to imprison the Ego within a blue fiery circle, but the Ego maintains his position by drawing his own concentric, crenelated line of fire to keep the interloper out. This represents the establishment of firm psychic boundaries.

The Ego then descends into a system of underground tunnels beneath the city, signifying a deeper entry into conscious awareness of the unconscious. This journey leads to a "commemoration ceremony" at a bar, where the author encounters Captain Holt, a representation of the Black Sun or Saturnine light. This encounter is a toast to the "removal of the past" and signals a transformation regarding internal family relationships-specifically the repair of the Mother and Father archetypes. The milepost ends with the "Self" encouraging the author to look beyond the standard pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone toward something never before known.