The work of the already well-known in Russia modern classic of Jungian and esoteric thought Geoffrey Ruff is dedicated to the most important Gnostic and Hermetic archetype - Sophia. Turning to Gnostic and alchemical sources, Raff develops a unique theoretical and practical system for establishing communication with the hidden wisdom of our Soul, which the Gnostics and alchemists called Sophia. The book is equipped with many appendices in which the image of Sophia is explored from different angles - from depth psychology to traditional alchemy.• Quotes: "Alchemists believed that fire is the driving force in the evolution of matter, the connecting link between the spiritual and the physical world, they spent a lot of time thinking about fire and describing it, and eventually came to the conclusion that it is present at all levels of reality - from the violent manifestation of Things in ordinary life to the refined radiance of the Mind.“ 103. Fire, which was spirit and influenced matter, was called by the alchemists “mysterious fire.” Such a fire could bring all metals to a primitive state and was therefore considered the key to the revelation of the prima materia: Our Philosophical mercurial water (mysterious Fire) is the Method by which all coagulated, solid and unstable metallic or mineral bodies can be completely , physically soluble and reduced to their original basis... 104. This fire is supernatural and divine 105‚ it controls all alchemical processes, and the alchemist can do nothing with it (or without it T.G.) 106. It also known as the fire of Wisdom, and in this respect it is close to Sophia. According to in the book “The Golden Chain of Homer” (Aurea Catena Homeri) ( there are three stages in the development of the mysterious fire or spirit: a) At this first and universal stage it is completely invisible and incorporeal. b) At the second stage it is clearly visible in the light, but is still cold and incorporeal. c) at the stage of Heat and blazing fire it becomes visible, hot, heated ; it becomes slightly material, as it occupies a certain space - a Room or Place - while in this state 107. It is important to emphasize that in its pure form, fire is ethereal and invisible. Then, as soon as it passes through the second stage in the form of light, it becomes hot, visible and “a little” material. Fire begins its development as pure spirit and penetrates a psychotic world in material form, but still as a spirit. Therefore, he can influence and transform material substances, being at the same time both a spiritual and a material entity. The same author further tells that all living things come from this fire, which is always in motion and never loses its creative activity. This idea contradicts the common Christian truth that God created everything at one moment. Fire born from God is already inherently divine. He can go from a spiritual to a psychoid state and still retain the ability to create a world. This description takes us back to the quote from the Aurora Consurgens: “he who receives this knowledge takes that which has no boundaries and grows forever.” Some alchemists argue that fire does not only participates in the creation of prima malaria, but he himself is one. In addition, since it is primary matter, fire is equated to the Philosopher's Stone. One author says: “Let the students of philosophy know that from this initial Sulfur a second substance arises, which can be increased in quantity and made infinite: let that wise man, who receives from the Divine Fire an immortal mineral, carefully guard it.”108. Note that Divine Fire is an immortal mineral, that is, it has become material. Fire is the divine spirit, power and energy that is embodied in material form, and when this happens, it can transform matter into As a result, it becomes the Philosopher's Stone with all its powers of purification, transformation and enlightenment. Such fire is the psychoid Philosopher's Stone, it is a source of endless growth and nutrition that will never dry up. If this is so, then fire is one of the greatest miracles of alchemy. It is not surprising that this fire is associated with the female essence known as Sophia: Moreover, they consider her so strong that no fire can destroy her, and this is the truest description of her. Because she herself is fire and in her there is part of the universal fire of nature and the mysterious heavenly spirit, which is enlivened and stimulated by God himself. Moreover, they call it the most sacred stone. In conclusion they say that she is neither fat nor thin, neither earthly nor heavenly, but rather a gentle and airy being who can be found anywhere and at any time. 109. Fire - this is “she” and she occupies a middle position, which once again confirms her psychoid nature. Sophia is the divine fire that can unite matter and spirit together. Now, like the alchemists, I cannot determine what kind of fire this is, but I can witness its existence and power. As a purified spiritual force, it is invisible and unknowable, but when it incarnates as light, it begins its journey into the material world, with which it then merges. However, the alchemist must find an image of this fire, which is felt and perceived as an active and formless, but palpable vibration or movement of energy. As soon as the vision becomes clearer and more “material”, it acquires more definite features and manifests its essence and strength. At this moment he becomes clearly visible to the alchemist's eye and can be worked with, although it does not take a purely material form. Its power is so great that it can be dangerous for the uninitiated. The psychoid alchemist does not have to work with a specific incorporeal or energetic state alone, since, like all manifestations of the psychoid world, it is also a real being, a personification. And, of course, it incarnates in Sophia, and she becomes him. If we want to understand psychoid alchemy and at the same time we do not know anything about the beings who stand behind these forces, then it is unlikely that we will understand everything completely and will only cause harm to ourselves. These powers are not for the ego, or even for the individualized ego, or for manipulation. The ego can contact them, such a relationship possible, because they are both energies and beings at the same time. Sophia is an embodiment that constantly bestows energy and wisdom on the world, and in her universal stage she is the driving force of nature. If someone gets to know her and follows her transition into matter, they will thus help her become the Philosopher's Stone. From this moment on, Sophia will no longer be a universal formless energy, but will turn into something concentrated, unified and unique, created for marriage with a specific individual. The role of the alchemist is to take part in this process and make it as real as possible. Everything that we see in the psychoid world, one way or another, is built on something material and real, and in this case we are the instrument thanks to which Sophia takes on a real appearance and becomes the female part of the Philosopher's Stone. Some scientists believe that the alchemists were not looking for the spirit that descended from above, but just wanted to release it from matter. As a result, we have before us two central paradigms of psychoid alchemy - the spirit can become matter when descending, or the spirit is freed from matter and first ascends, in order to then penetrate into already purified matter. The symbol of fire can be found in these two paradigms. (pp. 89-92). (Quoted from the book: Jeffrey Ruff - “The Marriage of Sophia. The Divine Femininity in Psychoid Alchemy.” M.: Club Castalia. 2018). Geoffrey Ruff - “The Marriage of Sophia. Divine Femininity in Psychoid Alchemy." M.: Club Kastalia. 2018