Linda’s talk is called, “Seeking Insight through Athena”
We are currently living with the air of transition hanging heavily all around us. In the tradition of depth psychology, I turn to mythology for insight; and more specifically to the myth of Athena. It was Athena’s mother Metis, already pregnant with Athena, who was swallowed by Zeus when it was foretold that she would give birth to a son who would overthrow his father. What does this swallowing of the feminine and the voice of “other” in order to preserve patriarchal power, have to tell us about the wounding inherent in this country today? I believe that Athena offers a path towards healing when her importance as a mother’s daughter is fully recognized. Understanding Athena as both a mother’s daughter and a father’s daughter, presents the creative possibilities inherent in the interpenetration of the swallowed “other” with the wounded patriarchal culture presently causing such destruction in its determination to maintain control. I would offer that Athena offers a symbolic path towards re-energized possibility when the hidden power and wisdom of the marginalized feminine and the voice of “other” re-emerges in equal voice with the wounded masculine, leading towards a more inclusive image of what it means to be human.
About Linda
Linda holds a Masters in Engaged Humanities and the Creative Life from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is interested in the power of story and the creative impulse in understanding both our personal and our collective lives. She is presently pursuing her PhD in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica. She is working on a dissertation focused on the re-telling of Athena’s story and how a fuller understanding of those myths might lead us to a new perspective of the world as we find it today, as well as our individual lives within it.