Alchemy of the soul: Parzival and the Quest for the Holy Grail

Cycles of initiation are part of the hero's journey on the path to individuation. The hero seeks for individuation or wholeness of body, mind, soul, and spirit. The hero's journey appears to commence in the unknown, yet some have tried to bring to light the mystery surrounding these initiations of the human soul. This journey into the unconscious may begin with the psychotherapist from the moment the client walks in the door of the consulting room seeking healing. I define healing as the integration of body, mind, soul, and spirit. Psychotherapy becomes the alchemical vessel for this integration, an integration which is at the same time a process of transformation. Intuitive inquiry enters into the methodology employed in this work. Hermeneutic and heuristic methodologies are utilized exploring cycles of initiation. As seen through these methodologies, Parzival and the Quest for the Holy Grail describe in mythopoetic language the journey of a soul in search of individuation. This quest is the alchemy of the soul.