About this episode

The episode explores the psychological concept of coagulatio, the process of settling into commitments and the associated losses.

COAGULATIO marks the psychological moment when possibility takes shape. Uncertainty recedes as we commit to our choices, and life slows and “thickens” into stable commitments and a predictable path. Join Jungian analysts Lisa Marchiano and Joseph Lee as we continue our exploration of Jung’s alchemical stages. This week, we discuss the concept of coagulatio, or the solidifying of what was once liquid. Coagulatio involves settling into a path, a vocation, a relationship, or an identity. Yet these stages of solidification also carry with them loss. Incarnating something in the real world, whether in our creative life, marriage or career, means letting go of infinite possibility. Coagulatio can be seen as an antidote to puer psychology; signifying the demanding task of growing up and settling down. We also investigate the process of coagulatio in the consulting room, where finding language or images with an analyst can shape our distress into something we can work with. Similarly, dream work offers the chance to condense our psychic turmoil into tangible, relatable images that can be used in a process of growth or transformation. Coagulatio is not a permanent state: the alchemical…

People in this episode

Hosts: Lisa Marchiano, Joseph Lee

Topics covered

• alchemy
• psychology
• commitment
• identity
• dream work
• transformation

Keywords

• coagulatio
• alchemy
• commitment
• identity
• dream work
• psychological growth
• Jungian analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: COAGULATIO, Jung’s alchemical stages

More episodes of This Jungian Life Podcast

• Psyche in the Age of AI · April 23, 2026 · 1h 28m
• The Labyrinth: Soul’s Winding Journey · April 16, 2026 · 1h 6m
• LOW ENERGY: Where Can We Source the Drive to Take Action? (Re-Publish) · April 9, 2026 · 1h 58m
• A Jungian Sense of Place: Bollingen and The Tower on the Marsh · April 2, 2026 · 1h 10m
• The Age of Aquarius: A Jungian View of a Changing World · March 26, 2026 · 1h 30m
• Cassandra: A Jungian Interpretation · March 19, 2026 · 1h 20m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the This Jungian Life Podcast podcast page.