Solve et Coagula: The Tarot's Rhythm of Dissolution and Manifestation

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction: The Alchemical Maxim

Solve et Coagula—"Dissolve and Coagulate"—is the fundamental maxim of alchemy, inscribed on the arms of Baphomet, whispered in alchemical laboratories, and encoded in every transformation. It describes the eternal rhythm of existence: things must dissolve before they can reform in a higher state. Structure must break down before new structure can emerge. You must let go before you can receive.

The entire tarot, especially the Major Arcana, is structured around this rhythm. Some cards are SOLVE cards—they dissolve, break down, release, open. Other cards are COAGULA cards—they build, manifest, crystallize, complete. Understanding this rhythm transforms tarot from static symbols into a living map of the breath of transformation itself.

This article reveals which cards are Solve, which are Coagula, and how to work with this alchemical rhythm for deep transformational practice.

Understanding Solve et Coagula

SOLVE: Dissolution

The Process: Breaking down, releasing, dissolving boundaries, letting go, opening, surrendering, dying to the old

Alchemical Symbolism:

• Element: Water, Air
• Direction: Inward, downward, backward
• Energy: Yin, receptive, feminine
• Season: Autumn, Winter
• Moon Phase: Waning, Dark Moon
• Breath: Exhale, release

Psychological Function: Letting go of ego structures, releasing attachments, dissolving false identities, opening to the unconscious, surrendering control

COAGULA: Coagulation

The Process: Building up, manifesting, creating boundaries, forming, crystallizing, completing, birthing the new

Alchemical Symbolism:

• Element: Earth, Fire
• Direction: Outward, upward, forward
• Energy: Yang, active, masculine
• Season: Spring, Summer
• Moon Phase: Waxing, Full Moon
• Breath: Inhale, receive

Psychological Function: Building ego strength, creating structure, manifesting intentions, forming identity, establishing boundaries, bringing spirit into matter

The Eternal Rhythm

Solve and Coagula are not opposites—they're phases of one process. You cannot coagulate without first dissolving. You cannot dissolve without eventually coagulating. This is the breath of transformation: in and out, release and receive, death and birth, forever.

The Major Arcana: Solve and Coagula Cards

Pure SOLVE Cards: Dissolution

Pure COAGULA Cards: Manifestation

Balance Cards: Both Solve and Coagula

Detailed Card Analysis

SOLVE Cards: The Dissolvers

The Hanged Man: Voluntary Dissolution

Solve Process: Surrender, letting go of control, suspending action, seeing from new perspective

What Dissolves:

• The need to control outcomes
• Old ways of seeing and being
• Ego's grip on how things "should" be
• The illusion that you're in charge

Alchemical Wisdom: The Hanged Man teaches voluntary dissolution—you choose to let go, to surrender, to dissolve your resistance. This is solve as conscious practice.

In Your Life: When you're stuck, when control isn't working, when you need a new perspective—dissolve your grip, surrender to the process, let yourself hang suspended in the mystery.

Death: Complete Transformation

Solve Process: Total dissolution, death of the old, complete release, transformation

What Dissolves:

• Old identity and self-concept
• Relationships, jobs, ways of being that are complete
• Everything that's reached its end
• The caterpillar (to birth the butterfly)

Alchemical Wisdom: Death is the ultimate solve—complete dissolution, total release. Nothing of the old remains. This is necessary for rebirth.

In Your Life: Major endings, complete transformations, the death of who you were. Don't resist—let it die completely so something new can be born.

The Tower: Violent Dissolution

Solve Process: Sudden breakdown, destruction of false structures, lightning bolt revelation

What Dissolves:

• False beliefs and illusions
• Structures built on lies
• Ego defenses and pretenses
• Everything that isn't real

Alchemical Wisdom: The Tower is involuntary dissolution—the universe forces the breakdown when you won't do it yourself. This is solve as crisis.

In Your Life: Sudden crises, breakdowns, everything falling apart. This isn't punishment—it's necessary dissolution of what was false.

The Moon: Dissolution into Mystery

Solve Process: Dissolving into the unconscious, releasing certainty, navigating illusion

What Dissolves:

• Rational certainty and clarity
• Clear boundaries between self and other
• The illusion of knowing
• Daylight consciousness

Alchemical Wisdom: The Moon dissolves the boundaries of rational consciousness, allowing you to merge with the unconscious, the mysterious, the unknown.

In Your Life: Confusion, uncertainty, not knowing. This isn't failure—it's necessary dissolution of false clarity before true knowing emerges.

Judgment: Awakening Release

Solve Process: Releasing the past, dissolving old karma, awakening from the old dream

What Dissolves:

• Past patterns and karma
• Old judgments and limitations
• The sleep of unconsciousness
• Everything that's complete

Alchemical Wisdom: Judgment dissolves the past through awakening—you release what was because you've awakened to what is.

In Your Life: Awakening moments, releasing the past, answering a higher call. The old dissolves because you've outgrown it.

COAGULA Cards: The Manifesters

The Magician: Conscious Creation

Coagula Process: Manifesting through will and skill, bringing spirit into matter, conscious creation

What Coagulates:

• Intention into reality
• Thought into form
• Potential into manifestation
• The tools and skills to create

Alchemical Wisdom: The Magician is conscious coagulation—you deliberately manifest, using will and skill to bring the invisible into visible form.

In Your Life: Times to create, manifest, use your skills. You have the power to coagulate your intentions into reality.

The Emperor: Structure and Order

Coagula Process: Creating structure, establishing authority, building order, setting boundaries

What Coagulates:

• Chaos into order
• Vision into structure
• Power into authority
• Boundaries and rules

Alchemical Wisdom: The Emperor coagulates structure—he takes the dissolved, chaotic material and creates order, form, civilization.

In Your Life: Times to create structure, establish authority, set boundaries. Coagulate the chaos into workable form.

The Chariot: Directed Will

Coagula Process: Harnessing opposing forces, directing will, moving forward with purpose

What Coagulates:

• Scattered energy into focused will
• Opposing forces into directed power
• Intention into movement
• Victory and achievement

Alchemical Wisdom: The Chariot coagulates will—taking the black and white sphinxes (opposites) and directing them forward as one force.

In Your Life: Times to move forward, achieve goals, harness your power. Coagulate your will into directed action.

The Sun: Perfect Manifestation

Coagula Process: Complete manifestation, perfect crystallization, the gold made visible

What Coagulates:

• The perfected self
• Pure joy and clarity
• Consciousness fully embodied
• The Philosopher's Stone

Alchemical Wisdom: The Sun is perfect coagulation—the final stage where the purified essence crystallizes into radiant, joyful, perfect form.

In Your Life: Times of clarity, joy, perfect manifestation. You are the gold, fully coagulated, radiant and whole.

The World: Complete Crystallization

Coagula Process: Final completion, wholeness achieved, the Great Work done

What Coagulates:

• All aspects into wholeness
• The journey into completion
• Spirit fully embodied in matter
• The cosmic dance perfected

Alchemical Wisdom: The World is ultimate coagulation—everything that was dissolved through the journey has now coagulated into perfect, complete wholeness.

In Your Life: Completion, wholeness, the end of a major cycle. Everything has coagulated into its perfected form.

Working with the Rhythm

Recognizing Which Phase You're In

Pull a card asking: "Am I in a Solve or Coagula phase?"

If you pull a SOLVE card:

• This is a time to release, let go, dissolve
• Don't try to build or manifest yet
• Practice: Surrender, release rituals, letting go
• Trust: What's dissolving needs to dissolve

If you pull a COAGULA card:

• This is a time to build, manifest, create
• Don't dissolve what's trying to form
• Practice: Manifestation work, structure building, goal setting
• Trust: What's forming needs to form

If you pull a BALANCE card:

• This is a time to integrate both
• Dissolve what needs dissolving, build what needs building
• Practice: Discernment, balance, conscious choice
• Trust: You're in the integration phase

The Solve et Coagula Spread

Use this 4-card spread to work with the rhythm:

1. What needs to SOLVE (dissolve)? What must I release?
2. How do I SOLVE it? How do I let it go?
3. What needs to COAGULA (manifest)? What wants to form?
4. How do I COAGULA it? How do I bring it into form?

Honoring Both Phases

Common Mistakes:

Trying to coagulate during a solve phase:

• Forcing manifestation when you need to release
• Building new structures before the old have dissolved
• Resisting necessary dissolution
• Result: Frustration, failure, exhaustion

Trying to solve during a coagula phase:

• Dissolving what's trying to form
• Releasing when you should be building
• Refusing to manifest and create
• Result: Stagnation, missed opportunities, weakness

The Wisdom: Honor the phase you're in. If it's time to dissolve, dissolve completely. If it's time to coagulate, build fully. Don't fight the rhythm.

The Breath of Transformation

Solve as Exhale

Solve is the exhale—releasing, letting go, emptying out. You cannot inhale without first exhaling. You cannot receive without first releasing.

Practice: When working with Solve cards, literally exhale. Breathe out, release, let go. Feel the dissolution in your body.

Coagula as Inhale

Coagula is the inhale—receiving, taking in, filling up. You cannot exhale without first inhaling. You cannot release without first having received.

Practice: When working with Coagula cards, literally inhale. Breathe in, receive, fill up. Feel the manifestation in your body.

The Eternal Rhythm

Solve and Coagula, exhale and inhale, release and receive, death and birth—this is the breath of existence itself. The tarot shows you where you are in the breath and teaches you to breathe consciously.

Conclusion: The Alchemical Dance

Solve et Coagula—dissolve and coagulate—is not just an alchemical maxim. It's the fundamental rhythm of all transformation, all growth, all life. The tarot is structured around this rhythm, showing you when to dissolve and when to coagulate, when to release and when to receive, when to die and when to be born.

The Solve cards teach you to let go, to dissolve, to release what's complete. The Coagula cards teach you to build, to manifest, to bring spirit into matter. And the balance cards teach you to do both—to dissolve what needs dissolving while building what needs building.

This is the breath of transformation. This is the rhythm of alchemy. This is how lead becomes gold, how unconsciousness becomes enlightenment, how you become who you truly are.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Dissolve. Coagulate. Release. Receive. Die. Be born.

The rhythm continues. The dance goes on. You are the alchemist and the gold.