Rebecca’s presentation is called “Archetypes of Ecstasy from Witches to the Muse: Negative and Positive Transformational Figures of the Feminine in Myth”
German psychologist and philosopher Erich Neumann believed the evolution of individual consciousness mirrored the same archetypal stages as collective consciousness through mythology. His mythological progression represents a movement from creation, to hero, to transformation myth—with each collective unfolding corresponding to a personal process called “centroversion,” related to Jung’s individuation. Drawing on myths from around the world, Neumann theorized that cultural archetypes evolved over time to reflect more and more individual self-awareness. In his book, The Great Mother, Neumann introduces the concepts of “Negative Transformation Characters” and “Positive Transformation Characters” as archetypal entry points into the projection of ecstasy and transformation in the psyche. While these character complexes may be revered or feared, their goal remains the same—initiators of change and individuation both collectively and personally.
This lecture will delve into examples of these mythological figures ranging from the witch to the muse, particularly as they relate to assisting in their unique gifts of ecstasy upon those who unconsciously seek them.
About Rebecca
Rebecca M. Farrar, M.A. is a writer and archetypal astrologer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She completed her M.A. at the California Institute of Integral Studies in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness (PCC) program. While there, she studied with philosopher and astrologer Richard Tarnas, psychotherapist pioneer Stan Grof, and Earth activist Joanna Macy. Her thesis titled “Stargazing: Re-Enchantment Through Language” combined linguistics, the evolution of consciousness, and the human relationship to the cosmos. She has been a selected speaker at Pacifica Graduate Institute and the American Academy of Religion and her work has appeared in Elle, Reader’s Digest, and SF Gate. When not burying her nose in a book she can be found watching silly Tik Tok videos or wandering in the woods.
