Alchemical rituals for January shadow work & transformation

By deepening solutio psychological significance, January is an alchemical phase where the psyche prepares for transformation. Subscribe for rituals, journaling and goddess pathworks in this article.

Follows from Part 1 of this article here:

In the first part, at the very end of the article, I explained how winter aligns with alchemy’s transformational stages. December, marked by the solstice, represents nigredo - a phase of symbolic death and surrender to darkness, planting the seeds for renewal. January builds on this as solutio, a time of dissolution where old patterns, egoic defenses, and outdated constructs are softened and dissolved, much like ice melting into water.

January’s work invites immersion into the unconscious, represented by the element of Water and the archetypal feminine. This is a time of deep psychological cleansing, where transformation is nurtured in stillness, preparing for integration and renewal. As Carl Jung noted, “Without water, there is no life,” highlighting solutio as an essential stage in awakening dormant energies and allowing for the creation of something new.

In Part 2, I’ll take this further by offering detailed insights into alchemical rituals, focusing on symbolic practices to engage with January’s themes of dissolution and gestation. These rituals will help guide the psyche through its gestational phase and foster the integration of shadow work.