Category: Blog

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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Robert Scott

Bob’s talk is called “The Story of Lucy, the White Deer of San Diego: A Terrapsychological Inquiry”

In 1975, a white doe, who had taken up a 10-year residence in a park situated just above San Diego’s Old Town, was shot with a tranquilizer dart by animal control officers and later died from an adverse reaction to that dart. Using techniques adapted from terrapsychology, my presentation tells the story of Lucy, the white deer of Presidio Park, coalescing geography (place), history (time), and the mythic imagination to re-imagine a since-forgotten news story into a symbolic image of how Lucy’s death mirrors the death of the once-verdant, now overdeveloped San Diego river valley, the area where she once roamed free. Lucy’s story also offers hope for renewal of the San Diego river valley as a ribbon-like regional open space park stretching from the mountains to the ocean.

About Bob

Robert (Bob) Scott, PhD, holds a BA in Geography and a PhD in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. In a 30-year professional career in city planning, Bob has observed a broken and outdated mythos around city planning, where economics control and where aesthetics and beauty, the subjective elements that stir the soul, have no real part to play. Bob has always been intrigued by the layout of cities, the magic of natural open spaces, and the psychological underpinnings of what makes a great sense of place. His academic and professional areas of interest are steering him toward a more humanistic and collaborative relationship toward the environment and city. His dissertation, Encountering San Diego: A City Planner’s Search for a City’s Soul, examines how geography, history, and the mythic imagination inform a city’s genius loci, or spirit of place.

To hear Bob’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Sunil R. Parab

Sunil’s talk is called “Myth and Ecological Consciousness with Reference to Indian Mythology and Rituals”

Ecological consciousness has always been a core topic in Indian mythology. Indian mythology can be broadly classified into Vedic and Puranic myth. Vedic myth worships various elements of nature as the deities, so the ancient seers of the Vedic era recognize ecological consciousness through mythical symbols, characters, and stories.

In Puranic mythology, we do not see ecological consciousness worshipped directly, but we do see ecological continuity from Vedic myth in the form of symbols and rituals. As proposed by Frazer, the myths serve as charters for the rituals. As proposed by Joseph Campbell, participating in a ritual enables us to participate in the myth. Thus, Indian mythology as whole serves as a foundation for rituals that help us maintain relationships between humans and the environment. This presentation surveys the theme through symbolism and rituals and questions its continuity for the current Indian population’s struggles with urbanization, migration, globalization, and changes in political leadership.

About Sunil

Dr. Sunil R. Parab is Associate Professor at the Doon Institute of Medical Sciences in Dehradun, and a consultant at the Sindhu Veda Research Institute in Sindhudurga. He is a post-graduate practitioner of Ayurveda with an executive degree in healthcare management. He has studied manuscriptology and comparative mythology at the University of Mumbai and is currently studying for a Masters in Indology from Tilak Maharashtra University in Pune. He is a member of the International Association of Comparative Mythology and has been presenting his research in Indian mythology over the past seven years through national and international platforms. He also teaches Ayurveda, Indian philosophy, and Indian mythology through online courses.

To hear Sunil’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Johanna Fisher

Johanna’s talk is called “Saving Mother Earth: Gaia’s Return”

One might consider the presence of Gaia and what she can teach us as a way into developing the ecological empathy that will ultimately save us and our beloved planet.

Tracing the Ur-Goddess and what her story can teach us, this talk examines her many aspects in Greek and other mythologies as her stories give us a window into the universe and a meditation on our relationship and treatment of her gift-earth itself. She has been present as Pachamapa in Andean culture, Prithui in Hindu culture, Kokyangwuti in the Hopi tradition and the Spider Grandmother who is with the Sun god, Tawa as creator of the Earth. I argue as well that she is present in the person of Hildegard von Bingen, a twelfth-century mystic who speaks of our need to care for the earth. Hildegard’s appeal is for us to be prophets and warriors in the defense and preservation of Mother Earth. We shall discover that it is in developing a sensitivity to this gift Gaia gives us, that we can find ways into a more reasoned and life sustaining practice of living in the world. Story and myths are powerful tools in which we can make this discovery.

About Johanna

Johanna Fisher is a professor at Canisius College, a Jesuit college in Buffalo, NY. She teaches medieval literature and German Language and Literature and is Co-Director of Women and Gender Studies. Her scholarly interests include twentieth century German literature and poetry as well as representations of gender in medieval literature. Johanna was born in Breitengussbach, Germany, and studied at the University of Erlangen- Nürnberg. When she is not teaching, she resides in Lübeck, Germany.

To hear Johanna’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Mary Lounsbury

Mary’s talk is called “Invisible Weaving at the Liminal Loom”

Birds build nests. Bees make honey. What do humans do? We give form to the imaginal impulse. Yet, facing the challenges of the Anthropocene era, we must question the virtue of “human nature.” Ought we to align with it, or defy it?

A mythological awareness is helpful. Imagine mythology as an invisible weaving, and we are the weavers. The work proceeds, with or without our awareness, but awareness helps us find our way to the rhythms and patterns that shape our lives. Awareness elucidates our continuity with location, elements, and the influences of anima mundi. Awareness helps us better understand each other and ourselves.

This experiential session offers a simple method for group imaginal exploration. Coming together around the liminal loom, we become more aware of our invisible threads. What are others thinking, feeling, and noticing? Where do our threads cross, align, or diverge? We weave a sense of group mythology, to which each relates in their own way.

About Mary

Mary Lounsbury is a mythologist and creative arts facilitator, with a PhD in Mythological Studies with Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and a BS in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research supports the use of the creative process as means to integrate and enhance intuitive, intellectual, and experiential knowing; addresses the social importance of the mythic imagination, which emerges out of shared experience; and bridges the relationship between Self and Other.

Mary founded Mythos-Sphere in 2016 as a social context for exploring the space between real and pretend. To learn more about her work, please visit her website: https://www.mythos-sphere.com/

To hear Mary’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Olivia Happel-Block

Olivia’s talk is called “Climb Every Mountain:  Rethinking Ecological Expeditions in Project Possible”

In 2019, Nepalese and Gurkha soldier Nirmal (Nims) Purja decided to climb fourteen of the highest mountains in the world in seven months in order to demonstrate the power of possibility, to bring light to the indigenous Sherpa people, and to highlight the devastating effects of climate change in the highest places in the world. This presentation examines Purja’s journey as told through the documentary 14 Peaks and his book Beyond Possible through a mythological and psychological lens to assess how his perspective allowed him to achieve these record-setting climbs and work for social ecological change.

Climbing tall mountains is a motif found throughout mythology and history, but what happens when the symbolic world of myth meets the real world? Why is it that humanity finds the need to “conquer their mountain”? How does the natural world impact human psychology? This presentation aims to answer these questions and consider how our own mindset can shift towards possibility and how social movements such as Project Possible are able to shift perspectives towards indigenous peoples and the environment.

About Olivia

Olivia Happel-Block, PhD, is a Mythology, IB Theory of Knowledge, AP English, and Film Studies teacher at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA. There she serves as the Extended Essay Coordinator, Site Council Chairperson, and union representative. She has created her own curriculum for both the Mythology and Film Studies courses at DPHS. Her dissertation That Which Is Not Yet Known: An Alchemical Analysis of Michael Maier’s Arcana Arcanissima explores themes of mythology, alchemy, and religion. Olivia serves as the Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni Association’s President. She has presented at the American Academy of Religion Regional Conference as well as the Pop Culture Association’s Regional and National Conference. Her academic interests include myth, religious studies, alchemy, and classics. She seeks to pursue the #immutablediamondbody throughout her life, scholarship, and career. Follow her on Instagram @doctorhappel.

To hear Olivia’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Arthur George

Art’s talk is called “The Social and Psychological Origins of Myths Denying Climate Change”

Myths have always had social and psychological origins and functions. These narratives help a community interpret the world, achieve identity and unity, and give it and its members meaning and purpose. Myths inevitably stray from the objective verifiable facts needed to make public policy and enact laws. An example is myths denying climate change, e.g., that climate change is not real or not caused by humans; that temperature increases are due to a natural climactic cycle; and that climate scientists cannot be believed, being in league with liberals. My presentation will analyze the rise, function, and circulation of climate change myths in certain communities from the standpoint of depth psychology and sociological dynamics.

About Art

Arthur George is a mythologist, cultural historian, blogger, and winemaker; formerly he was an international lawyer. He has written three mythology books: The Mythology of Eden, The Mythology of America’s Seasonal Holidays, and The Mythology of Wine. His more recent work has focused on myth in contemporary society and politics. He has a mythology blog, frequently speaks at scholarly conferences, institutes, JCF Roundtables, and other audiences on mythological topics, and authors articles on the same. You can find his blog and connect with him at www.mythologymatters.wordpress.com.

To hear Art’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Maria Felice Cunningham

Maria’s talk is called “Eco-Psychologically Transform The Climate Crisis by Accessing the Force”

Story making, storytelling, and story listening are human superpowers. Seemingly, humankind’s ability to imagine the impossible and make it a reality changed evolutionary history. Yet today, humanity has crossed over the bridge of mystery and into a glacial river of truth–meaning we need to be honest about our rapidly warming Earth.

Yet, the same mythologies from our early beginnings that knitted us into nature’s awe and abundance are what we could be turning into modern narratives. 

A new mythology for living into the future will come forward through the tales we imagine today. And needed are the heroes or heroines who are the story makers and story carriers—those who can gallop full speed into the mouth of danger and change where humanity is heading.

A hidden path has appeared that negates living as we always have, and today’s younger generations are creating actionable plans for slowing climate change and re-arranging their futures. From another perspective, we don’t have much time to act, so I suggest preparing for adventures. 

All our collective stories are needed to conjure the one perfect solution. A Force so powerful a thousand other ideas get birthed.  

As humanity stands at the mythical Crossroads of Fate, our tribal collective seeks kind, generous, and courageously compassionate eco-psychological responses that could bind us into collective action. 

About Maria

Maria Felice Cunningham is a story writer, storyteller, and re-seeder of curiosity. She believes hope lives in our ears and courage in our hearts, while wisdom requires listening to the natural world. She is a connector who passes on whispers heard in seashells and she uses stories as her currency.

Maria Felice spent decades in corporate America creating stories and advertising campaigns for capital growth while partnering with targeted non-profits. She is an eco-psychologist, board-certified culture and leadership coach, author, journalist, and doctoral candidate at Viridis Graduate School. Her primary focus is promoting stories, myths and fairy tales to face the challenges of a warming Earth.

To hear Maria’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Leon Aliski

Leon’s talk is called “Visions of a City on a Hill: A Mytho-Historic Perspective in this Age of Global Crisis”

We will explore the roots of inspiration for John Winthrop’s A Model of Christian Charity, an obscure text written to inspire residents of a largely Protestant England to uproot themselves and embark on a journey to the unknown North American continent. “We shall be as a city upon a hill; the eyes of all people are upon us,” Winthrop wrote in 1629.

In more recent times, the phrase “as a city upon a hill” has proliferated in evangelical Protestantism and contemporary political rhetoric to express the hope and promise of the American Dream. Yet, other parts of the text expressing concern about social inequality and community have been largely forgotten.

How has this text that originates from England’s Puritan past morphed into inspiration for what has become known as American exceptionalism and nationalism? Does its political appropriation mark a turning point, a reframing of our colonial myth in this age of global crisis? We will explore these questions and more, with deep reflection on how mythology and history are interwoven.

About Leon

Leon Aliski, PhD holds a doctorate in cultural mythology and depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. His dissertation, Wild Bison and the Buffalo People: Reimagining ‘The Heart of Everything That Is’, explores the cultural and historical significance of the buffalo as expressed through sacred narratives, songs, visions, and ceremonies. He is a supporter of Cloud Horse Art Institute, dedicated to Lakota traditional arts, performing arts, and culture camps, and the Reel Jobs Film School located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

To hear Leon’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Rebecca Migdal Kilicaslan

Rebecca’s talk is called “Climate Cassandras and the Psychology of Believing”

Scientists and environmental activists are modern-day Cassandras, desperate to convince world leaders that drastic action must be taken immediately to avert disaster. In this polarized time, have we lost our sense of a shared myth of progress, crippling our ability to act collectively and avert the coming climate catastrophe? Can depth psychology set us back on track towards psychological and cultural effectiveness and resolve?

Looking at the Cassandra myth through an archetypal lens reveals a story of the rupture between unconscious instinct, represented by Cassandra, and conscious rationalism, in the guise of her spurned lover Apollo, who has cursed her to foresee the future but never be believed. While most of us are convinced that our beliefs are formed by conscious choice, the process of belief formation is rarely rational, whether these beliefs originate in childhood, are encoded into the social fabric of our communities, or are constructed by imposing unconscious contents onto the random stream of information encountered on the internet. Using the insights of depth psychology to correlate the Cassandra myth to Q-anon, Ken Keyes’s The Hundredth Monkey, and the film Don’t Look Up, this paper strategizes a more conscious attitude towards belief in inconvenient facts.

About Rebecca

Rebecca Migdal Kilicaslan, MA, MFA is an artist, performer, and author who works with dreams, myths, and folktales. In 2017 she co-founded Book & Puppet Co., a bookstore and puppet theater in Easton, Pennsylvania. She is a doctoral candidate in Jungian Psychology and Archetypes at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Rebecca studied with Steve Aizenstat, and is a certified Dreamtender™. She teaches in the Art + Design department at East Stroudsburg University.

To hear Rebecca’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2022 welcomes Dr. Jennifer Degnan Smith

Jennifer’s talk is called “Mythic Places of Greece Speak of our Ecological Ills”

The ancient Greeks recognized the deep connection between myth and place. The sacred places of myth were often the locations of rituals to honor the gods and goddesses. Perhaps there is something about these places that, even in modern times, holds the archetypal energies of the deities who were worshipped there.

Engaging the mythic places that hold archetypal energies around ecological consciousness through a terrapsychological lens (Chalquist, 2007) may provide insight into modern-day ecological and psychological ills. Terrapsychology explores how our outer landscapes reflect our inner landscapes, and vice-versa. We can access a place’s wisdom by listening empathetically to it through its symbols and images.

Engaging with mythic places may reveal the “health” of the archetypal energies of the gods and goddesses who were once worshipped there. For instance, Eleusis, once the place of the sacred mysteries of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, is now a major industrial area with severe environmental issues. The River Ilissos in Athens, once the river of the gods, has been cemented over. These sacred places may provide wisdom about our ecological crisis and consciousness if we pay attention. 

Work Cited
Chalquist, C. (2007). Terrapsychology: Reengaging the soul of place. New Orleans, LA: Spring Journal Books.

About Jennifer

Jen Degnan Smith has a Ph.D. in Jungian and Archetypal Psychology. She explores sociocultural issues, particularly healing and empowering the feminine within individuals and the collective. Her 20-year career in organizational consulting and university teaching spans the United States and Europe. She spent eight years traveling extensively to Greece exploring ancient myth and the modern economic crisis.

To hear Jennifer’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference and retreat for mythologists and friends of myth, held July 29 – 31 via Zoom in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register