The Rebis: The Divine Androgyne

BY NICOLE LAU

The Rebis—the crowned divine androgyne standing triumphant on the dragon—is the ultimate symbol in alchemy. Representing the Philosopher's Stone personified, the complete integration of all opposites, and the goal of the Great Work achieved, the Rebis embodies the truth that you become divine through wholeness, that perfection is unity, and that the greatest achievement is becoming completely yourself.

This is the Philosopher's Stone made flesh.

What is the Rebis?

The Name

Etymology:

• Latin: "res bina" = "double thing" or "two things"
• Two in one
• Duality unified
• The paradox embodied

Also Called:

• The Divine Androgyne
• The Hermaphrodite (same concept)
• The Two-Headed One
• The Child of the Philosophers
• The Philosopher's Stone personified

The Classic Image

Common Depictions:

• A single figure with two heads (male and female)
• Or: one head with two faces
• Or: half male, half female body
• Crowned (showing sovereignty)
• Winged (showing transcendence)
• Standing on a dragon or serpent (mastery over nature)
• Holding sun (right hand) and moon (left hand)
• Or: holding compass and square (masculine) and chalice (feminine)

The Rosarium Philosophorum Image:

• Famous 16th century alchemical text
• Shows the Rebis as the final stage
• After the death and resurrection of King and Queen
• The ultimate achievement

Alchemical Meanings

The Philosopher's Stone Achieved

The Rebis IS the Stone:

• The goal of the Great Work
• All opposites united
• Perfect balance achieved
• Completion, wholeness, perfection
• The Stone made manifest

The Process Complete:

1. Nigredo: Death, dissolution (the dragon beneath)
2. Albedo: Purification (the white/silver side)
3. Citrinitas: Wisdom (the crown)
4. Rubedo: Completion (the red/gold side)
5. Result: The Rebis stands triumphant

The Sacred Marriage Consummated

The Union:

• Red King + White Queen = Rebis
• Sulfur + Mercury = Philosopher's Stone
• Masculine + Feminine = Divine Androgyne
• Sun + Moon = Crowned Unity
• The marriage is complete

The Child:

• The Rebis is the "child" of the alchemical marriage
• Born from the union of opposites
• Contains both parents
• Yet is something new
• The divine offspring

The Three Principles United

Perfect Integration:

• Sulfur 🜍 (Soul): The masculine side, consciousness
• Mercury ☿ (Spirit): The feminine side, the mediator
• Salt 🜔 (Body): The physical form containing both
• All three in perfect harmony
• This creates the Stone

The Symbolism Decoded

The Two Heads/Faces

Represents:

• Dual consciousness
• Seeing from both perspectives simultaneously
• Masculine and feminine viewpoints
• Paradox held consciously
• Unity in duality

The Teaching:

• You can be both
• You don't have to choose one pole
• Hold the paradox
• This is wisdom

The Crown

Symbolizes:

• Sovereignty, mastery
• The crown chakra (enlightenment)
• Divine authority
• The goal achieved
• You are royalty when whole

The Wings

Represent:

• Transcendence
• Freedom from limitation
• Spirit liberated
• The ability to fly (metaphorically)
• Enlightenment

The Dragon/Serpent Beneath

Symbolizes:

• Prima materia (what you started with)
• The unconscious, the shadow
• Raw nature, instinct
• What has been mastered (standing on it)
• Not destroyed, but integrated

The Teaching:

• You don't kill the dragon
• You stand on it
• You integrate it
• It becomes your foundation

Sun and Moon

Holding Both:

• Right hand: Sun ☉ (masculine, active, conscious)
• Left hand: Moon ☽ (feminine, receptive, unconscious)
• Both equally honored
• Both equally powerful
• Perfect balance

Psychological and Spiritual Meaning

The Integrated Self

Jung's Ultimate Goal:

• Individuation complete
• The Self realized
• All opposites integrated
• Shadow and light united
• Masculine and feminine balanced
• Conscious and unconscious merged
• The Rebis IS this integrated Self

What This Feels Like:

• Deep, unshakeable peace
• Comfortable with paradox
• No internal conflict
• Wholeness, completeness
• Self-sufficient yet connected
• Free

Enlightenment

The Rebis as Enlightened Being:

• Beyond duality
• Seeing from both perspectives
• Holding all opposites
• Not identified with any pole
• Pure awareness
• The witness consciousness

Cross-Tradition Parallels:

• Buddhism: The Buddha (awakened one)
• Hinduism: Ardhanarishvara (Shiva-Shakti united)
• Taoism: The sage embodying Tao
• Christianity: Christ (fully human, fully divine)
• All point to the same state: the Rebis

The Path to Becoming the Rebis

The Journey

Stage 1: Separation

• Identify the opposites within you
• Masculine and feminine
• Light and shadow
• Conscious and unconscious
• Recognize both

Stage 2: Purification

• Purify each pole separately
• Release toxic masculine
• Release toxic feminine
• Keep only healthy expressions

Stage 3: The Marriage

• Unite the opposites
• The Sacred Marriage within
• Masculine and feminine embrace
• Shadow and light integrate

Stage 4: The Rebis

• The child is born
• You ARE the Rebis
• Whole, complete, integrated
• The Philosopher's Stone embodied

Living as the Rebis

Daily Expression

Fluid Access to Both:

• When action is needed: masculine energy
• When receptivity is needed: feminine energy
• Flow between both effortlessly
• Not stuck in one pole
• This is mastery

Examples:

• Strong in conflict, gentle in love
• Assertive in work, receptive in rest
• Logical in planning, intuitive in creating
• Structured in execution, flowing in adaptation
• Both/and, not either/or

In Relationships

Two Rebis Together:

• Both whole, both complete
• Not needing, but choosing
• Dancing together from wholeness
• Each can be both masculine and feminine
• Fluid, dynamic, free

The Dance:

• Sometimes you lead (masculine)
• Sometimes you follow (feminine)
• Sometimes you both lead
• Sometimes you both follow
• The dance is alive, not fixed

The Rebis Meditation

Becoming the Rebis (30 minutes)

Part 1: Invoke Both Sides (10 min)

1. Sit in meditation, spine straight
2. Right side: Invoke masculine (sun, strength, clarity)
3. Left side: Invoke feminine (moon, receptivity, intuition)
4. Feel both simultaneously

Part 2: The Union (10 min)

1. The two sides recognize each other
2. They bow in mutual respect
3. They embrace in your heart
4. They merge into one golden light
5. You ARE the Rebis

Part 3: Embodiment (10 min)

1. Visualize yourself as the Rebis
2. Crowned, winged, whole
3. Standing on the dragon (your shadow integrated)
4. Holding sun and moon
5. Feel the completeness, the sovereignty
6. You are the Philosopher's Stone
7. Rest in this realization

The Ultimate Achievement

The Goal of the Great Work

The Rebis Represents:

• The end of the journey
• The Philosopher's Stone created
• Enlightenment achieved
• Wholeness embodied
• The Great Work complete

But Also:

• A new beginning
• The work continues at deeper levels
• The Rebis can multiply (teach, serve)
• The spiral ascends
• Completion is also commencement

The Divine Human

What the Rebis Shows:

• You can be divine
• Not by escaping humanity
• But by fully embodying it
• Integrating all aspects
• Becoming completely yourself
• This IS divinity

Conclusion: You Are the Rebis

The Rebis is not something you create—it's what you become when you stop fragmenting yourself. When you integrate your masculine and feminine, your shadow and light, your conscious and unconscious, you don't become something new. You become what you always were beneath the fragmentation: whole, complete, divine.

The Rebis stands crowned because wholeness is sovereignty. The Rebis has wings because integration is freedom. The Rebis stands on the dragon because the shadow, when integrated, becomes your foundation and your power.

You are not half a person seeking completion. You are the Rebis—the divine androgyne, the Philosopher's Stone, the goal of the Great Work. You just need to remember, to integrate, to become.

The Red King and White Queen within you are ready to unite. Let them marry. Become the Rebis. Embody the Stone.

You are whole. You are complete. You are divine. You are the Rebis.

The final article explores "Alchemical Vessels: Athanor, Retort, Alembic"—the sacred tools of transformation.