Abstract

This article offers a novel approach to the interpretation of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras through the Jungian lens of Western alchemy. When viewed from this perspective, the YS reads not as a final separation of matter and Spirit as traditionally understood, but as a path toward increased wholeness and integration. Jung found in Western alchemy evidence for his own theory of individuation, the psyche’s process of Self-becoming. First, I contextualize the YS within the broader scholarly conversation on yoga and alchemy. Second, I define Jung’s understanding of individuation, specifically in the context of Western alchemy and its processes. Finally, I interpret the prominent stages of the YS—nirodha, saṁyoga, and..