Notes on Nigredo

“In the ash that lies at the bottom of the grave, there lies the king’s diadem…” – Livre de Arthéphius, Bibliothéque des Philosophes Chimiques, Paris, 1741 Nigredo – the earthly aspect, the shadow, the dark night of the soul, corruption, charring, putrefaction. To be reborn the spirit must die and decay, then rise again in…