The Wedding of Sophia: The Divine Feminine in Psychoidal Alchemy

by Jeffrey Raff

Author of the acclaimed Jung and the Alchemical Imagination , Jeffrey Raff continues his teachings in psychoidal alchemy with an in-depth look at the feminine aspect of the divine. Sophia is, in the esoteric teachings, the embodiment of Wisdom, the matrix from which God arose, and God's heavenly consort and mirror. But, as Raff explains, she suffered a fall from this exalted state, corresponding to the obscuration of the feminine archetype in the patriarchal world. Without Sophia, God is not whole. It is our task to work with imagination to reunite Sophia and God. Raff explains the difference between fantasy, a product of the ego, and imagination, which comes from the soul. More importantly, he brings Sophia to life through a vivid analysis of an 800-year-old text, The Aurora Consurgens, as well as his personal experience with Sophia and active imagination. This process empowers us to become whole and realize our innate drive to unite with the divine.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychology, Spirituality

172 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[JL Soler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep gratitude to Jeffrey Raff for reminding us with the brilliant encouragement to commit to the ecstatic tikkun of these times... _/\_

"A few years ago I awoke in the middle of the night to discover a being of transcendent beauty, surrounded by bright light, sitting on my bed. She told me that her name was Sophia. . .Sophia's message to me was that she and the other psychoidal beings are real. She asked me to demonstrate her reality and the fact that she needs both recognition and help. . .she is a living entity and an aspect of the divine world. Through knowing her, we come to know ourselves, and to know God as well. More even than knowing, we come to heal her, ourselves, and God."
- Jeffrey Raff, The Wedding of Sophia: The Divine Feminine in Psychoidal Alchemy

[Gabrielle Jarrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book of Raffs. Whereas he made a supreme effort to bring forth the Sophia was equal to God and God's female counterpart, yet, Sophia had to be "redeemed" because of her descent into the underworld. Apparently her male counterpart could safely stay in the upper realms and then graciously receive her back. Too much of the patriarchal - Madonna/whore - Eve tempted Adam story infiltrated his noble attempts. When...

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Jeffrey Raff. He has such a way of writing about the alchemical Sophia. I was definitely taken in by his way of presenting the material. Well worth the read!