The 2023 Mythologium will be held July 28-30, 2023, and the theme will be Myth and the Heart.
Myth and the Heart
“I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of the Imagination.”
– John Keats
Your physical heart beats the rhythm of your life. Your metaphorical heart beats the rhythm of your soul. We speak of broken hearts, open hearts, heavy hearts, full hearts. Metaphorically, the heart represents love, warmth, courage, passion – and a machine-like pump. The literal heart, however, is a muscle, which means it is strong. It creates an audible beat, which means it’s musical. The heart changes tempo in different situations, which means it is responsive.
What does myth say about the heart’s presence and powers? What ancient and contemporary myths help us take the heart seriously, heeding the heart and practicing heart care? How do myth and the heart relate to current events and life challenges? Following James Hillman, what archetypes visit when we inhabit heart space? Following Martin Buber, how might we meet the heart not as an it but as a thou?
Areas of Focus
We are especially interested in presentations about myth, the heart, and:
- social justice & BIPOC voices - environmental issues - technology - feminism - gender - politics