Embodying Osiris: The Secrets of Alchemical Transformation [Paperback]

Ph.D. Thom F. Cavalli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2010

The modern Western movement to embrace Eastern spiritual traditions usually stops with India and the Orient. Westerners have yet to discover the wisdom that dates back even further to ancient Egypt. With a Jungian perspective, clinical psychologist Dr. Thom F. Cavalli plumbs that wisdom through the myth of Osiris, the green-skinned Egyptian god of vegetation and the Underworld. As no one else has done, Cavalli draws on Osiris’s death and resurrection as a guide to spiritual transformation. The myth represents the joining of the conscious and the unconscious, the light and the dark, life and death, and shows how to live our temporal existence in service to and anticipation of eternal life. Cavalli sees the ancient art of alchemy — which attempted to turn lead into gold — as the key. The alchemical recipe "solve et coagula" (solution and coagulation) encoded in the myth describes the integration of all parts of a person and the method for achieving an experience of immortality in life and eternal life after death. The Osiris myth thus provides a model for the contemporary quest for individuation, the Jungian term for integrating ego and self, body and soul, in the process of becoming whole.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Quest Books (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0835608808
• ISBN-13: 978-0835608800
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6.1 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A ground-breaking and much needed study of the connection between alchemy and the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Cavalli here interweaves history, myth and the evolution of human consciousness in a remarkable way. And by taking us on a journey through the trials of Osiris and Isis, he not only illuminates the transformation which lies at the heart of alchemy, but touches the very depths of the human soul.
-Cherry Gilchrist, author of Explore Alchemy (Heart of Albion Press, 2007) & Everyday Alchemy (Rider, 2002).

In this fascinating study of Egypt and the myth of Osiris, Thom Cavalli brings to bear not only scholarship but imaginative insight to uncover a wide range of meanings. He reveals not only how the image of Osiris influenced the development of alchemy but contains truths still of profound importance for those seeking wholeness and spiritual fulfillment.
-Jeffrey Raff, Ph.D., Jungian Analyst, author of Jung and the Alchemical Imagination.

At long last a modern Jungian psychologist examines the myth of Osiris and Isis...The wonderful insight and great tour-de-force by Professor Cavalli resulted in an inspiring book worthy of a prominent place in the libraries of all who are drawn to the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
-Robert Bauval, author of The Orion Mystery and The Egypt Code

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Quest Books (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0835608808
• ISBN-13: 978-0835608800
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6.1 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome to my Author's page. In addition to writing I am a practicing Jungian psychologist, artist, author, teacher and psychological alchemist. While having authored two books on alchemical psychology my vision extends to include other media including a unique combination of lecture and performance art. The concept of my first book, Alchemical Psychology, emerged from a presentation to the O.C. Jung society where, in addition to the lecture, I served a special dish from a recipe that originated in a Nazi concentration camp. In a workshop on the Alchemical Mummy, participants are wrapped in mummy cloth as verses from the Book of the Dead are chanted!

My latest book, Embodying Osiris, The Secrets of Alchemical Transformation, is an alchemical interpretation of the 5000 year old myth drawn from the Pyramid Texts. In this book I've applied alchemy to a deeper understanding of the myth of Osiris. For the first time, it reveals hidden formulas encoded in the myth, proving that alchemy did in fact originate in ancient Egypt, and more importantly, that by "becoming Osiris" we are initiated into his timeless world. The book is filled with stories, dreams, mystical practices and strange synchronicities. Already, this book has received critical acclaim:

"A brilliant book." Chris Downing, Professor of Mythological Studies

".great tour-de-force." Robert Bauval, Egyptologist

"Jung would have welcomed this work as a creative continuation of his own discoveries." Stan Marlan, Jungian analyst

".a brilliant new interpretation." Dennis Hauck, alchemist, president of the Alchemy Guild

"a good scholar and alchemical chef." Fred Alan Wolf, physicist

".groundbreaking..illuminates the transformation which lies at the heart of alchemy." Cherry Gilchrist, author


I wrote this book for anyone who takes his or her psychological and spiritual development seriously. Embodying Osiris is for those serious students of history and mythology, magic and alchemy, Jungian psychology and metaphysics, religion and consciousness, and most especially for those interested in ancient Egypt, its strange gods and their profound mystery.

Egyptian mysticism is the wellspring for ancient wisdom - Plato, Pythagoras, and Euclid all drank from its sacred waters. Ancient Egypt is much, much more than pyramids and mummies. It is a place of endless mystery and many secrets that are still buried beneath the sands.

Writing this book was an adventure that forced me to go to Egypt and discover the actual places where this myth originated. I walked the paths that pilgrims journeyed 5000 years ago to celebrate their favorite god. I sailed along the Nile where Osiris' son Horus and Seth fought their last battle. I crawled through pyramids and climbed to the tops of ancient temples. Now, I invite you to accompany me back to our ancestral home.

In Embodying Osiris, the Secrets of Alchemical Transformation we find an ancient path of individuation, one riddled with secrets, recipes and mystical formulas. Let me take you down this path, decoding the symbols, opening doors and discovering the alchemy that delivers the sacred knowledge of how one becomes a whole, complete and divine human being.

For more information on my work visit my websites, www.CavalliBooks.com, www.AlchemicalPsychology.com or email [e-mail]. Most importantly I hope my work brings you a greater understanding in how to individuate your life and simultaneously bring peace to our world. Many blessings!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read to move towards transformation November 25, 2010

By John Hernandez

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the second book I have read from Dr Thom Cavalli a perfect companion to his first book Alchemical Psychology. Thom is a master of weaving ancient wisdom with modern psychology and personal growth. The books are easy to read, fascinating and with a great touch of living history. More importantly they are a guide on how to move forward in ones life in a clean way using the wisdom that has been "hidden in plain sight" for Milena. I was fortunate enough to get Embodying Osiris just before I left to Egypt and wow! what an enhancement it was to have with me and to really "feel" what I saw. I also want to add this is not some New Age dribble rather a well researched book based shedding light on mysteries that have always been. I also invite those of you reading this to pick up Dr Thom's first book it is equally as fascinating and helpful. Can't wait for the next one.....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Energizing January 7, 2011

By Robert S. Henderson

Format:Paperback

I met Dr. Thom at a Jungian conference at Pacifica a few years ago and we have stayed in touch. He told me then of his passion for alchemy. Thom writes and teaches like I found him to be: knowledgeable, energizing, straight-forward and engaging. He has made me a better Jungian therapist by introducing me to Osiris and deepening my understanding of alchemy.
~Rev. Dr. Robert S. Henderson. Glastonbury, Connecticut. Co-Author of Living with Jung: "Enterviews" with Jungian Analysts

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Alchemy and Personal Transformation December 30, 2010

By Duane Saari

Format:Paperback

During this time of unrelenting change and deep uncertainty, when we must - more than ever before - take charge of our life's journey, Thom Cavalli's book: Embodying Osiris: The Secrets of Alchemical Transformation is a light that will help keep us on our chosen path.

Alchemists see and experience the world as intertwined forces or centers of energy that operate on three levels: the spiritual, the psychological and the physical. Their interaction is the engine of continuous creation that is alchemical transformation. This transformation occurs when we allow ourselves to be open to all three forces simultaneously. Cavalli understands this and takes us through the key steps on the psychological level as only a writer with the perspective of a Jungian therapist can do.

A major contribution of this work is a complete story of the Osiris epic woven together in one place by Cavalli based on his extensive review of major sources. While other researchers may tell the tale with other details, this version allows us to clearly see the relevance of the Egyptian god's experience to our own growth and transformation. Cavalli's well written and researched story of Osiris' mythic journey through death and re-creation is a fascinating read. Cavalli sees the alchemical formula for transformation in the myth and is able to share that with us - his readers - in a way that pulls us into the story of Osiris' life, death and ultimately his re-creation.

The secrets revealed are actually lost knowledge, an awareness of the process of continuous creation and the critical steps required to apply this knowledge to ourselves. Cavalli equates the Egyptian underworld, a revealing part of this myth, to the unconscious.... By doing so, he is able to cast a light on key elements of this lost knowledge and make a significant contribution to the work of Mircea Eliade and others who have explored the creation and transformation process embedded in the myths of Egypt and other ancient cultures.

The heart of alchemical processes is encoded in the phrase: Solve & Coagula. Alchemists are willing to dissolve and recombine, to loosen structures, take things apart and reassemble them in ways that drive growth and transformation. This applies to themselves and they quickly learn that to be reborn parts of themselves must die. The contribution of this book is seeing this truth embedded in the story of Osiris and peeling away the mystery of the myth to leave us with a guidebook for our own growth and transformation.

The reader will find much of value in this book. It reveals an essential part of the path to transformation encoded in the myth of Osiris. At the same time, it is a fascinating story of this enigmatic god, his murder and dismemberment by his brother, his re-embodiment by his wife and the quest of their son born during Osiris' re-creation to avenge his father's death.

Cavalli's energetic and well-paced writing has the feel of a story told by the fire and a tale that leaves the reader feeling they received something important and meaningful by spending time with his book. It is one that I will recommend to friends and colleagues without reservation for it is a gift to those seeking their inner self, which can only be revealed through the growth that comes from transformation. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timely Resurrection of Osiris March 23, 2011

By Diana L. Klimek, Ph.D.

Format:Paperback

This latest book by Dr. Thom Cavalli reads like a novel. He weaves an intriguing story of deception, corruption, redemption, and hope within the wrappings of his profession as a clinical psychologist and his life-long interest in Jungian psychology. His main characters are Osiris, Isis, Seth, Horus, and the pantheon of gods and goddesses in this powerful myth. Yet we are reminded that the landscape is not only from the days of the pharoahs, but also familiar countries and cities, Egypt and Cairo, that appear today on CNN where we see an awakening, a restlessness, that connects the ancient to the present. Carl Jung whose interest in the Osiris myth is well documented, invites us to link this current unrest in the Middle East to the rich contents of the past via our resurrection and understanding of myth. The collective unconscious reveals secrets to the unraveling and understanding of these myths when we have a knowledgable guide. Dr. Cavalli responds to Jung's invitation by revealing many of these secrets as he guides us through this complex myth, clears up our confusion, and tells a magnificent story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The alchemical significance of the myth of Osiris December 29, 2012

By Alan S. Glassman

Format:Paperback

I find it rare to encounter a book that's both scholarly and profound, but I must include Embodying Osiris by Thom Cavalli in both those categories.

Obviously a seasoned student of the Jungian tradition, Dr. Cavalli dissects the Osiris myth in great detail and takes a close look at the alchemical significance of this important story. We become familiar with the gods and goddesses who are the characters in the drama, and we learn their deep meanings in relation to the human psyche.

Ancient Egypt and its deities are shown to be a reflection of not only the entire cosmos, but of our most internal psychological workings. In a way, the Osiris tale of birth, dismemberment, death, and resurrection is a tale of the possibility for the human being played out through the unconscious realm.

It is a metaphor incorporating "the alchemical methods involved in transforming living spirit into physical matter." As such, Cavalli interprets the life of Osiris as being a representation of the three major alchemical stages: the nigredo (black), the albedo (white), and the rubedo (red). In fact, an alternate title for the book could have been the title of his second chapter: "Alchemy, Magic, and Osiris."

Cavalli equates the Egyptian underworld with today's idea of the unconscious. He tells us right up front that our "imagination allows us to experience Egypt and its gods as states of mind and psychic functions rather than well-developed gods whose identities were defined by more recent cultures."

"Egypt," he says, "is located somewhere between imagination and mystery."

In the first two chapters of the book, we get a general overview of why the myth was important to the Egyptians and why it should be important to us.... In order to really receive its truths, the author implores us to "embody" the god, not just study him, because "Osiris is the god of being and becoming." He exists in the unconscious, and our task is to resurrect him.

Resurrection in that sense is a "method of achieving unity of body, mind, and spirit." And, in order to do that, we must first, as with the gods, "step into the abyss of nonexistence." One technique to accomplish this, and perhaps the most powerful technique, is to bring the warring opposites within us to peaceful resolution. Not at all an easy task.

In chapters three through ten, Dr. Cavalli quotes successive portions of a version of the myth and proceeds to analyse them in Jungian, archetypal terms. We come to see Osiris as the past and his son, Horus, as the future; Seth as the divine trickster, black magician, and alchemist who sets up the conditions of the physical world in which the magic can take place; Thoth as the magician who conjoins the opposites; Isis as the mother goddess, the feminine principle which furthers inner transformation; and so on with each of the Neters. In a nutshell, and to use agricultural growth as a metaphor, Osiris is the seed, Isis the earth in which the seed is planted, Seth the heat of the sun necessary for germination, and Horus the resulting, growing plant.

The story highlights successive battles between the protagonists "resulting in critical separation that helped form a psyche composed of consciousness and unconsciousness." The goal, of course, is individuation, both of a culture and of individuals within the culture.

Reference to the action of lead in the alchemical process is likened to tribulations in this life. But, those difficulties must be recognised as the limiting, constricting forces against which we must struggle. Cavalli tells us that only, "Through conscious suffering, one confronts and transforms the shadow into something productive to the individuation process."

The sealed coffin or box in which Osiris is put represents, of course, the alchemical retort, the vas hermeticum, our own body within which our transformation can take place. Cavalli says, "The box is sometimes depicted as a skull or vas mentalis, where the chief elements and stages of the Work are insulated from outside contamination."

Throughout the text, Cavalli gives us anonymous examples of the reintegration process in patients he has treated, and this serves to make the myth even more real and relevant. He gives us hope by stating, "To experience a complete transformation of the personality within one's lifetime is entirely possible."

There are times in life when, as with Osiris in his coffin, we are alone, denied, cut off from the world of family and friends. All may seem lost. "But", Cavalli concludes, "as long as we are aware of our own presence, hope remains, and at our darkest hour, some mysterious force in the universe comes to our side.... Fearless humility is a necessary quality, along with stillness, to allow grace to enter the vessel we have prepared."

This book, in my opinion, is a valuable contribution to the body of literature concerned with work on oneself. It is in the finest of the Hermetic traditions. I recommend it to those who are interested in both the theory and practice of self-transformation.

- This review first appeared in New Dawn magazine issue #125 Read more ›