Tag: Theme

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Mythologium 2023 Theme

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
Register today
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Mythologium 2022 Theme

The 2022 Mythologium will be held July 29-31, 2022, and the theme will be Myth and Ecological Consciousness.

Myth and Ecological Consciousness

Ecological consciousness involves an awareness of the intricate relationships among beings in an ecosystem: animals (including people), plants, places, and things. These connections allow ecosystems to flourish. Becoming aware of those connections brings us closer to awareness of what the Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh calls our “interbeing.” But all too often, we experience what seems like the opposite: an over-focus on individualism and separation, an instinct to harm or be harmed, a fevered hunger for more-more-more. 

How does mythology comment on ecological consciousness? What myths, images, and archetypes foster or subvert eco-consciousness? As mythologists, how can we think and work more ecologically? How can mythic eco-consciousness help us strengthen connections between each other and between groups? What does myth suggest about the balance between eco-consciousness and individual needs, desires, and agency?

Register for the 2022 Mythologium

Areas of focus

We are especially interested in presentations that center the following areas of focus:

- Colonialism and decolonization
- LGBTQIA voices and issues
- BIPOC voices and issues
- Climate change
- Social justice
- Technology
- Feminism
- Gender
- Politics
- Media