C.G. Jung once wrote: “Mercurius … is the goal of [one’s] own transformation, the stone, the tincture, the philosophic gold, the carbuncle … the light of lights, the deus terrestris, indeed the divinity itself or its perfect counterpart” (Jung, C.G. CW 13, § 282).

In Alchemy Mercurius appears in all four elements, in air, water, fire and also in earth. “Mercurius as a spirit of the earth” therefore represents only one of his innumerable aspects. In a thus-far untranslated alchemical text from the 16^th century Mercurius is a never sleeping dragon inside a fiery mountain. This dragon must be healed by a remedy consisting of variant ingrediencies. If the healing succeeds, the alchemist can enter the mountain and will find the precious stone on its top.

I will give a psychological interpretation of this parable, thus connecting it with the experiences of modern people.

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Regine Schweizer-Vüllers, Dr. phil. (PhD), is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Zurich, Switzerland. She studied German Literature with an emphasis on the Middle Ages, Folklore and History and completed her training in analytical psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich in 1986. From 1994 to 2008 she was a member of the board of the Research and Training Centre in Depth Psychology according to C.G. Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz.

She is a member of IAAP and works as a training analyst, supervisor and lecturer. She presents lectures and seminars in Switzerland and internationally. Her main interests include alchemy, medieval mysticism, legend, fairytales, folksongs and music. She is the president of The Foundation of the Psychology Club Zurich and the editor of the series Contribution to Jungian Psychology by the Psychology Club Zurich (hitherto three volumes).

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Jung C.G., Collected Works, Vol. 13, The Spirit Mercurius

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