NIGREDO
The Ten of Air from the Vision Quest Tarot is an example of the nigredo state. It is
usually associated with "mortificatio," death and "putrefactio." The experience is that of
death, when the soul undergoes tremendous agony, pain, defeat, deep suffering,
complete darkness. The element of Air is most frequently represented in Tarot by the
Swords and it's hard to find a rendition of this card where oppression or helplessness is
not emphasized. This blackness is considered a prerequisite before the light can
appear. This is the archetypal "Dark Night of the Soul."
In Alchemical texts the use of crows or ravens to represent nigredo or death is common.
The appearance of nigredo would signal the beginning of the opus or alchemical work.
Quoting C. G. Jung: "In the language of the alchemists, matter suffers until the nigredo
disappears, when the 'dawn' (aurora) will be announced... and a new day will break."
The archetypal concepts of death and rebirth, renewal, resurrection and germination
brings to mind conflict between nigredo and albedo, black and white, yin and yang.
usually associated with "mortificatio," death and "putrefactio." The experience is that of
death, when the soul undergoes tremendous agony, pain, defeat, deep suffering,
complete darkness. The element of Air is most frequently represented in Tarot by the
Swords and it's hard to find a rendition of this card where oppression or helplessness is
not emphasized. This blackness is considered a prerequisite before the light can
appear. This is the archetypal "Dark Night of the Soul."
In Alchemical texts the use of crows or ravens to represent nigredo or death is common.
The appearance of nigredo would signal the beginning of the opus or alchemical work.
Quoting C. G. Jung: "In the language of the alchemists, matter suffers until the nigredo
disappears, when the 'dawn' (aurora) will be announced... and a new day will break."
The archetypal concepts of death and rebirth, renewal, resurrection and germination
brings to mind conflict between nigredo and albedo, black and white, yin and yang.
ALBEDO
"In the language of the alchemists, matter suffers until the nigredo disappears, when the 'dawn' (aurora)
will be announced... and a new day will break." Carl G. Jung
The word "albedo" signifies dawn, alba.
The archetypal concepts of death and rebirth, renewal, resurrection and germination reflect the eternal
conflict between nigredo and albedo, black and white, yin and yang.
will be announced... and a new day will break." Carl G. Jung
The word "albedo" signifies dawn, alba.
The archetypal concepts of death and rebirth, renewal, resurrection and germination reflect the eternal
conflict between nigredo and albedo, black and white, yin and yang.
Illustrations from the Vision Quest divination deck reproduced by permission of AGM AGMuller. ©1998 AGM
AGMuller
Further reproduction prohibited
AGMuller
Further reproduction prohibited