Alchemy is central to Jung's hypothesis of the collective unconscious In this volume he begins with an outline of the process & aims of psychotherapy & then moves on to work out the analogies between alchemy Christian dogma & symbolism & his own understanding of the analytic process Introducing the basic concepts of alchemy Jung reminds us of the dual nature of alchemy comprising both the chemical process & a parallel mystical component He also discusses the seemingly deliberate mystification of the alchemists Finally in using the alchemical process as providing insights into individuation Jung emphasises the importance of alchemy in relating to us the transcendent nature of the psyche