Magnum Opus, or "Great Work," refers to the alchemical journey of transformation, culminating in the creation of the Philosopher's Stone or the Elixir of Life. It consists of four symbolic stages: nigredo (blackening), albedo (whitening), citrinitas (yellowing), and rubedo (reddening). These stages represent the purification, enlightenment, and perfection of both the material and the spiritual self.
This concept has influenced art, philosophy, and psychology, particularly Carl Jung’s work on individuation. In medieval Europe, alchemists like Paracelsus and Zosimos of Panopolis wrote extensively about the Magnum Opus, interpreting it as both a literal process and a metaphor for spiritual evolution.