One of Carl Jung’s biggest contributions to the world of psychological thought was the concept of individuation. He saw this as the path each person takes on the way to becoming their truest self.

Jung’s work is full of images and metaphors. A favorite metaphor of his regarding individuation was alchemy. You may be familiar with the ancient practice of trying to turn base metals into gold. While no one ever managed to do that, the language used around the process is rich in change and transformation.

This post highlights the process of individuation as seen in Taylor Swift’s body of work through an alchemical lens.

It’s important to note that there are as many stages and orders of alchemical transformation as there are scholars and thinkers on the matter. I’ve chosen to use Edinger’s 7 stages in this analysis. In no way should this be seen as a linear process; it is cyclical, and stages can overlap or even happen in different orders. Alchemy is a metaphor for psychological change and should be held loosely. 

Edinger’s seven stages of alchemical transformation are Calcinatio, Solutio, Coagulatio, Sublimatio, Mortificatio, Separatio And Coniunctio. I’ll go over each briefly and share Taylor Swift songs throughout the years that I feel embody each stage.

1. Calcinatio – Picture to Burn, 2006

Calcinatio is characterized by fire, passion and transformation, showing up in dreams as blood or burning. This is an intense stage of the alchemical process and in psychological development, when no major decisions should be made. 

I’ve chosen a song from Swift’s very first Album, Taylor Swift, to represent this stage. You can see not only the literal fire in this video, but also the intense emotional charge as Taylor reacts to the perceived betrayal of her ex-boyfriend. 

"So watch me strike a match on all my wasted time:
As far as I'm concerned, you're just another picture to burn."

2. Solutio – Come In With The Rain, 2008

Solutio is the stage of dissolving, of things falling apart. Images of water are common in talking about this stage. Something transpersonal, or beyond the individual, has been activated.

I’ve chosen Swift’s  song Come in With the Rain to represent this stage of psychological transformation. The song touches on the idea of an open window, which is a very transpersonal concept, as well as tears and rain.

This song was incredibly meaningful to me during the time of my life when everything had quite literally fallen apart. It still makes me cry when I listen to it. Sometimes the only thing you can do is let go and sink into the sorrow.

"Talk to yourself, talk to the tears,
Talk to the man who put you here
Don't wait for the sky to clear."

1:49

3. Coagulatio – Holy Ground, 2012

Coagulatio is the stage of alchemical and psychological development characterized by creativity, by putting form to ideas. It is often represented by the element of earth. 

I have chosen Holy Ground as the song to represent this stage. In this song, Taylor talks about the beginning of a relationship, about the creation of meaningful poems and inside jokes. Finally, she compares this stage of creation to Holy Ground, referencing the element of earth. 

"I left a note on the door with a joke we'd made
And that was the first day.
And darling, it was good
Never looking down
And right there where we stood
Was holy ground"

4. Sublimatio – Shake it Off, 2014

Sublimatio is the stage of transformation characterized by spirit and perspective – the ability to rise above the earthly. It often is represented by images of air.

I’ve chosen Swift’s Shake It Off as an embodiment of this stage. In the music video we can see the visual emphasis on rising above as Taylor gets thrown into the air. The lyrics also emphasize how important it is to gain perspective and rise above pettiness and self-comparison.

"Heartbreakers gonna break.
Fakers gonna fake.
I'm just gonna shake
I shake it off, I shake it off."

5. Mortificatio – This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, 2017 

This stage in the alchemical/psychological process is characterized by depression, anxiety, and loneliness. You might feel the weight of the world or as if you were carrying heavy burdens. Like the name suggests, Mortificatio involves the death of something.

I think that this mood is well represented by the entirety of Swift’s album Reputation. I’ve chosen This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things specifically because of the sense it carries of good things ending, as well as the singer’s feeling that she has to be the responsible one. 

"...you stabbed me in the back while shaking my hand... 
This is why we can't have nice things, darling
Because you break them, I had to take them away."

6. Separatio – The Archer, 2019

This step in the process of alchemical transformation is characterized by discernment, analysis, and the sorting out of issues, complexes, and the like. In dreams it can be represented by images of swords and cutting things apart.

I’ve selected Swift’s The Archer for this stage. In this song we see her work turn from focusing on others to focusing on herself. 

"They see right through me...
Can you see right through me?
...I see right through me
All the king's horses, all the king's men
Couldn't put me together again"

7. Coniunctio – Snow On The Beach, 2022

Coniunctio is the stage of alchemical transformation representing a union. This is symbolized as a marriage, a union of opposites. It contains the transcendent function, a new, third thing arising from the tension of opposites. We can have small coniunctios throughout our lives, as well as big, overwhelming experiences of union.

I’ve chosen Snow on the Beach for this stage. This is currently my favorite Swift song ever. It captures the wonder of something unexpected arising, the awe at seeing a paradox right in front of you. 

"It's fine to fake it 'til you make it
'Til you do, 'til it's true
Now it's like snow at the beach..."

What about you? Do you have a song that encapsulates your current psychological stage? Can you relate to any of the stages above? I’d love to hear about it!