One of the most powerful teachings Iâve ever encountered in shadow work and consciousness practices is this ancient alchemical principle: solve et coagula.
It literally means:
⢠Solve â utterly dissolve / break down an existing form completely
⢠Coagula â carefully re-combine the purified, dissolved elements into something entirely new, more potent, organized, and evolved.
Itâs the exact blueprint for how real, lasting change happens in the psyche (and in nature itself).
Look at the caterpillar: it doesnât just âgrow wings.â
Inside the cocoon, it completely melts down into imagination soupâevery cell of its old wormy form dissolves. Then, from that primordial soup, it re-coagulates into a butterfly: a whole new being, more beautiful, more free, more capable of flight.
The word âpsycheâ (meaning soul or mind) comes from the Greek word for butterfly (coincidence?)
Our souls work the exact same way. We start as âincipientâ forms (stuck patterns, shame blocks, repeating obstacles), and to reach our full glory, we have to allow a total dissolution of the old self into our own imagination soup before we can re-form into something higher.
In our work here, this is exactly what weâre doing:
⢠Solve phase: We face and dissolve the stuck stuffâshame around wanting more, unconscious kinks for scarcity/drama/victimhood, old trauma imprints. We stop resisting; we turn toward it with curiosity, approval, even playful erotic energy. No more fighting the âsoupââwe revel in it to break it down fully.
⢠Coagula phase: From the purified remains, we consciously re-integrate and reorganize. The shame loses power, pleasure floods in, receiving opens up, and we emerge aligned, empowered, manifesting what we truly desire (wealth, freedom, conscious relationships). Itâs alchemical gold.
This process isnât gentle. It can feel like total meltdown (hello, ego death moments). But on the other side? Butterfly-level imagination transformation. You become a new version of yourself thatâs unrecognizable in the best way.
Where are you in this cycle right now?
⢠Deep in the dissolve (feeling like goo soup, facing heavy shadows)?
⢠Starting to re-coagulate (noticing new ease, synchronicities, pleasure in what used to hurt)?
⢠Already flying as the butterfly and ready to help others?
Drop your experiences below. Share one pattern youâre dissolving or one âsoupy gooâ moment thatâs shifting for you.
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