1.1.9 The Rebis & Rejection of Identity
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.”
The Rebis represents the unity of opposites — the hermaphroditic figure symbolising spiritual completion. In this chapter, we examine how identity must dissolve to achieve this state. The unified being emerges when opposites are reconciled. The aspiring alchemist learns that their sense of self is largely constructed from cultural conditioning and personal history. Through understanding the nature of duality and moving beyond rigid self-definitions, one begins the process of inner unification that characterises true alchemical transformation. This stage marks a critical decision point where one must choose between the comfort of familiar identity and the unknown territory beyond it.
The Alchemist learns that how they define themselves is based only on culture and personal history. They realise that true self must be something beyond mere conditioning. The scope of their insight turns inward, looking for patterns within the chaos of existence, searching and hoping for a satisfactory meaning or answer.
Initially, their task is difficult. They can see that the problems of existence stem not from existence itself, but from a tendency towards selfishness, which creates problems for the individual and environment. The alchemist with insight recognises that they themselves suffer from a condition of selfness, and it can be a troubling time as one hones in on the truths of one’s own personal suffering.
Nigredo, the first stage of alchemy, is an utter recognition that any answers must lie beyond the individual concept of self, and now a dynamic of increasing hopelessness develops as the self realises answers lie beyond it. One becomes merciless to one’s own indiscretions, and one firmly engages in tackling the dross of one’s reactions and habits.
In Buddhism, this process is outlined in what is called the noble eightfold path. This is a set of eight attributes or qualities that, if developed, foster the tranquillity of mind necessary for the breakthrough (or development) of transcendental awareness.
The alchemist finds themselves increasingly dissatisfied with the babble and drama of Apparent Reality and retreats into a more solitary practice. The examination of Subjective Reality is continued, and one learns to question the very labels we give ourselves or others.
The alchemic Rebis is a figure with two heads — often opposites, male or female, sun or moon. It represents a more complete being when one has accepted one cannot be one thing without a recognition of its opposite.
This is a little tricky, so I will elaborate.
Could we have a world inhabited by only rich people? Is it possible? No. As to understand what rich means, we must have poor. Could you describe what up is without ever referring to down?
These are dualities — and the basis of the mental evaluation of phenomena. It is a fundamental flaw in how we communicate reality. The path of the alchemist is one of increasing unification.
The alchemist has a burning curiosity that allows them to pull their attention away from worldly pursuits. They have the ability to be very successful materially, but this doesn’t interest them. If it did, they may take pride in any worldly achievements, but it simply doesn’t interest them beyond the immediate challenge.
This means there is a gradual challenge of concepts of identity. With a critical mind, they analyse their own motivations and, finding these conditioned, gradually reduce the tendency to identify with anything.
The Rebis reminds us of this. Here we have a unified being. Or, a being that is in the process of unification. Between the two heads, we have the diversity of experience. This is symbolised by the male/female duality.
In Buddhism, there is a heuristic that arises in the diamond sūtra. It epitomises the approach of the middle way. When one contemplates any being, one must consider they exist as both a being and they don’t exist, being a being. One must find the middle mental path of belief, balancing the possibility of existence with an absolutely perfectly balanced possibility of non-existence. Here, the mind finds a middle way where possibilities are balanced, and most importantly, no longer pondered unnecessarily and ultimately, with futility.
The Rebis is a stage—one where both the dichotomy and interdependency of duality are clearly identified. The hermetic principle of gender is clearly laid out, so as to clear the mind of the alchemist of lowly ideas of perfection as a gender, or any aspect of reality.
Contemplating the Rebis is the natural antidote to the Fisher-King Wound. It is a unification of self that relies on a turning away from stereotype, and embracing one’s Shadow. One seeks completeness, not differentiation, and this stage, when complete, resonates with the penultimate stage of multiplication, where the radiant effect of karma-less activity induces changes in others.
We will cover other aspects of this unification as we walk through Nigredo; however, for now, as an aspiring alchemist, one must recognise that we have reached an important decision point. To be successful, we will eventually face the choice of returning to the comfort of conditionality or sacrificing this all for what has to be unknown. This is the pivotal choice between comfort and the unknown, and in truth, is rarely a fair choice. Nevertheless, at this stage, digging deeper, we approach a kind of door, one that can only really be knocked on, but never opened, from this side. With skill, sincerity, and dedication, this door will eventually open for most—but once opened, it can never be closed again.
This text is excerpted from the book Nigredo: A Course in Modern Alchemy. The complete book includes additional study guides, resources, and appendices. View the full book here.