ABSTRACT
This chapter gives a brief overview of the various ways in which the concept of the quintessence has been viewed and considered. In relation to number symbolism, the quintessence is a symbol of an emergent and uniting factor in relation to the dynamics of a quaternity. Within alchemy, the quintessence means the revelation of truth and the spirit of matter, the divine spark. In terms of psychological development, the symbol of the quintessence links to the processes of individuation and the teleological nature of the self. This chapter serves as an introduction to chapters 10, 11 and 12, which examine the areas outlined in more detail.
