Category: Blog

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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Allison Stieger

Allison’s presentation is called “The Archetype of Dionysus and the Heart in Balance: Following Ariadne’s Red Thread”

Ariadne’s path through her own story provides a wonderful archetypal resonance of the loving and growing heart. Her myth begins in the court of her father, where she is treated as an object to be owned and traded for wealth and power. Her partnership with Theseus allows her to escape, and he captures the heart of her youth, then leaves her behind on the beach in Naxos, allowing her to meet and marry Dionysus.

This paper will examine the labyrinthine turns of her journey, and the heart guidance that allowed her to move from a place of stasis governed by the toxic masculine into a place of balance and wholeness in her marriage with Dionysus. The archetype of Dionysus holds a beautiful balance between masculine and feminine energies, and between love and ecstasy. Ariadne’s journey provides wonderful guidance for modern women on how to achieve such a balance in our own lives, whether partnered or not.

About Allison

Allison Stieger, M.A., is a writer, speaker, coach, and workshop leader, focusing on the movement of archetypal energies in modern life and working with women on how to understand and change their narratives. She lives in Seattle with her husband of 20 years and two teenage sons.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Jennie Wiley

Jennie’s presentation is called “The Heart in Exile: The Religious Function and the QAnon Conspiracy Theory”

The religious function is the heart of the psyche, pumping the life-blood of archetypal themes into psychological experience through symbols and images. This flow brings with it meaning and self-understanding through personal, numinous experience. When this image flow is obstructed by fundamentalism and/or conspiratorial thinking, the individual is disconnected from personal numinosity but not from the ceaseless injection of mythic images. The substitution of lesser experiences can occur in search of the ecstatic fear and fascination to be found in immediate contact with the heart of the psyche. This can create a condition analogous to exile for the symbolic function, a wandering repression projected onto people, political parties, and other “god” substitutions. The QAnon conspiracy is an example. The mythic images streaming through the Q-anon phenomenon function as a compensation to the fundamentalist attitudes which can create a sense of disconnection from intrinsic meaning. The graphic mythic themes are attempts to return the heart from its exiled condition and to its proper place at the center of the psyche. I will explore the mythic themes of QAnon and how, out of exile, they might be able to play a role in re-connecting the psychic heart to the symbolic function and thus the person to their own numinous experiences.

About Jennie

Jennie Wiley has an MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA in Depth Psychology, Jungian and Archetypal studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is a psychology professor for the SUNY system at Herkimer College and teaches both on campus and in the College in Prison program. She is the author of Hosting Radical Otherness, published in the journal Quadrant and Metaphor, Metaphysics, and Sphota published in the International Journal of Humanities, Art and Social Studies. Wiley is a dissertation candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute studying the QAnon conspiracy theory.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Johanna Fisher

Johanna’s presentation is called “Three Faces of Love”

The heart is a biological organ and metaphorical receptacle of love. It has inspired great art, great music, great poetry, stories, great passion, and at times, responses to suffering. The heart is a great mystery, however, it is the center of what it means to be human, to be alive, or to be a god. There are many myths of creation, marriage, and revenge that suggest how we might understand this organ, this
receptacle of love. Myths that tell us that goddesses and gods “so loved the world” they created the earth and all that sustains us. These are acts of love. Yet, the heart that is violated or hurt could be motivation to destroy the world, humankind. The myths tell us this as well. In reading myths, we come to see the complex and universal expressions of love, heart-center expressions that point to rapture, agape, eros, and sometimes redemption.

This paper will trace these expressions of love in three powerful myths, the myth of Isis, the great Mother Goddess of the Universe, Aphrodite, the queen of heaven and earth, and Freyja, the Germanic goddess of love and war.

About Johanna

Johanna Fisher is professor of English at Canisius University. She also serves as co-director of Women and Gender Studies. Johanna lives in both U.S. and Germany. She writes extensively for Europeana, an online repository for digital images from leading museums in Europe. Currently, she is writing a series of articles about the place of public memorials and art with a focus on the work of German public artist, Gunter Demnig. Johanna is also a poet and dancer who has taught ballet to young adults for many years.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Corinne Bourdeau

Corinne’s presentation is called “The Enchanted Storyteller: Weaving Heart and Myth into Films”

Storytelling is the language of the heart. Powerful environmental storytelling anchors the heart’s connection to nature and the environmental world. For centuries, storytellers from J.R.R. Tolkien to Beatrix Potter have woven the natural world into their storytelling. Today, modern day filmmakers such as James Cameron and Louis Schwartzberg are crafting cinematic masterpieces that celebrate the heart’s connection to the eco world.

In this presentation, Corinne Bourdeau will show the power of storytelling to touch the heart and embrace environmental hope. Focusing on modern day filmmakers and storytellers who are bringing these stories to the big screen, she will showcase current real-life examples of storytelling that touch and engage the heart.

Examples will include:

*An Academy award nominated filmmaker that uses mythical elements and metaphor to craft a compelling story of climate change.

*A leading blockbuster filmmaker taps into indigenous myth to tell a powerful story for the environment that is one of the most successful films of all time.

*A world-renowned filmmaker uses imagery and symbols to celebrate the natural world and the mycelial network and, in the process, encourages us to protect what we love.

This presentation will conclude with suggested films and reading to enhance the environmental heart.

About Corinne

Corinne Bourdeau is the founder and president of 360 Degree Communications, a leading boutique entertainment marketing company that has worked on films with strong environmental and social justice themes, including Free Solo, Biggest Little Farm, The Cove, and Fantastic Fungi.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Dr. Katherine Bailes

Dr. Bailes’s presentation is called “Death, She Sings a Heart Red”

The title is a quote from Toni Morrison’s book, Beloved.  In the story, one of the characters, Paul D., describes his heart as a “rusted shut tobacco tin lodged in the place where his heart should be.”  This description resonated with me after reading the book in 1998.  I first read the book in Dr. Dennis Slattery’s Epic Imagination course and revisited it after the recent death of my father. 

In this presentation, I will explore the concept of storing, hiding and/or preserving one’s metaphorical heart, as expressed by Morrison’s characters in Beloved, Hesiod’s Pandora, Greek myths of Zagreus Dionysus, and my own experiences.  After summarizing the examples from literature, I will explore the ritual performed by Baby Suggs in Beloved, and the background for such trauma-inspired rituals found in the worship of Dionysus.  I will offer up sample rituals and/or a simple guide for creating a personal ritual for those who want to open the “box” where their own heart might be stored.  

About Dr. Bailes

Katherine J. Bailes, JD, PhD is a practicing attorney and an adjunct professor of mythological studies at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. Dr. Bailes holds a BFA in painting from the University of North Texas and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas, School of Law. She obtained a master’s degree and PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, California. Her dissertation entitled “The Themis Principle: Mystery and Irrationality in the U.S. Legal System” focuses on the mythological aspects of the law as expressed in ancient cultures through goddesses such as Athena, Themis, Inanna, and Maat. She serves in a variety of leadership positions in art, law, and teaching, successfully combining these fields through her understanding of story and the human capacity for myth making.

To hear Dr. Bailes’s talk and many others, join us at the Mythologium!

The Mythologium is a conference for mythologists and friends of myth. This year’s Mythologium will be held July 28-30 in-person and online in the Pacific time zone.

Learn more and register
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Dr. Roxanne Bodsworth

Dr. Bodsworth’s presentation is called “In Pursuit of Love: the Female Hero’s Journey in Irish Mythology”

In Irish mythological tales such as Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada Agus Ghráinne: (The Pursuit of Diarmaid and Gráinne) and Longes mac nUislenn (The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu), when the woman is led by her heart and, in turn, leads a man away from his social roles and responsibilities, the social fabric is undone and tragedy follows in her wake.

In this paper, I examine how the trajectory of the female protagonist in these tales deviates from the traditional pattern of the male hero’s journey as elucidated firstly by Joseph Campbell and which was later developed as a framing tool for creating contemporary myths. Feminist scholars such as Maureen Murdock and Susan Lichtman responded to Campbell by developing gynocentric models that aligned with storytelling for women but were ideological rather than reflective of established mythological patterns. I propose a very different model that considers the female hero’s journey in the context of the social-cultural function of mythology as antagonistic to a female hero. The female hero is one who persists in following her heart to arrive at a place which, ultimately, results in positive change for the community, whether it is welcomed or not.

About Dr. Bodsworth

Roxanne Bodsworth is a poet, celebrant and farmer living in Bpangerang country, Australia. She is an adjunct researcher with Charles Sturt University and achieved her PhD at Victoria University in 2020 with a feminist reconstruction of Irish mythology in prosimetric form. Her poetry has been published in several journals under the pen-name of ‘Therese,’ including The Incompleteness Book II and Lockdown Poetry. She is widely published in a range of genres, including articles in the peer-reviewed Mythlore and the conference proceedings of Sydney University’s Prophecy, Fate and Memory in the Early Medieval Celtic World (2020).

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Fatima-Zahra Farahate

Fatima-Zahra’s presentation is called “The Mythic Heart: Exploring the Intersection of Mythology, Astrology, Gender, and the Emotional Center”

The heart has been a powerful symbol throughout history. In astrology, the heart is associated with several celestial bodies, signs, and houses, each with its unique symbolic significance. In this presentation, we will explore the intersection of mythology, astrology, gender, and emotions through an examination of the different heart centers in astrology.

Our journey will start by exploring the ancient astrological myths and archetypes surrounding the heart. We will examine its association with the Moon, Venus, the Fourth House, and the sign of Cancer, all of which have traditionally been linked with the divine feminine archetype. We will also delve into the connection between the spiritual/physical heart and the Sun, a core astrological celestial body traditionally linked with the divine masculine archetype.

However, in our modern world, it’s crucial to have a more inclusive perspective that encompasses a broader range of archetypes and experiences. We will adopt a non-dual stance to examine the similarities between these heart symbols and how they can be reinterpreted in contemporary astrology to reflect a more nuanced understanding of the heart. By doing so, we can redefine what the heart means to us today and explore new insights to reconnect with the inner rhythm of our soul.

Ultimately, our presentation aims to contribute to the conversation around the mythical heart by offering fresh perspectives that will inspire a deeper understanding of this powerful symbol.

About Fatima-Zahra

Fatima-Zahra Farahate, the founder of Living Simplyy, is a Moroccan modern mystic, and a holistic archetypal astrologer with a mission to guide people to the sacred remembrance of their divine nature. Fatima-Zahra offers the seekers the opportunity to dive deep within their psyche and soul journey through the lens of the Zodiac.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Rebecca M. Farrar, M.A.

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.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Dr. Jean Benedict Raffa

Dr. Raffa’s presentation is called “Remyth Your Story: Integrate Your Feminine and Masculine Archetypes with Heart”

Our family and social groups condition us from childhood to hold certain beliefs and attitudes about gender differences. Unawareness of the influence of archetypes traditionally associated with the feminine and masculine principles impedes our ability to live authentic, meaningful lives based on the truths of our hearts.

We can recognize the difference between archetypes and stereotypes, and between inherent archetypes and personal archetypal images, by reflecting on our dreams, emotions, instincts, attitudes, and numinous experiences. Evolving self-awareness leads us away from dependence on the collective and into our personal authority. Fortified by self-acceptance, self-love, and personal meaning, we are empowered to change our life story and follow our hearts to fulfilling work and loving relationships.

Dr. Jean Benedict Raffa explores the interface between psychology, mythology, spirituality, and your life’s myth in her newest, Nautilus Award-winning book, The Soul’s Twins: Emancipate Your Feminine and Masculine Archetypes.

About Dr. Raffa

After a lengthy and life-transforming spiritual descent, educator, Jungian scholar, and author Jean Benedict Raffa, Ed.D., began an in-depth study of Jungian psychology, mythology, and her dreams. Her books, The Bridge to Wholeness, Dream Theatres of the Soul, the Wilbur Award-winning Healing the Sacred Divide, and the Nautilus Award-winning The Soul’s Twins, are outgrowths of this ongoing inner work. A former teacher, television producer and college professor, Dr. Raffa continues to make presentations about her books. For more information, subscribe to Dr. Raffa’s blog, Matrignosis, and find her on Facebook.

2023 Mythologium program
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Mythologium 2023 welcomes Laura Lewis-Barr

Laura’s presentation is called “The Inner Child at Play: Using Fairy Tale Stop Motion Films in Inner Work”

“Fairy tales are the simplest and purest expressions of the collective unconscious and thus offer the clearest understanding of the basic patterns of the human psyche.” —Marie-Louis von Franz

Stop motion films and fairy tales speak to our heart center and the inner child. Laura’s films are homemade creations that beckon us toward play. Laura will share how these films are being used in small groups and their resonance in our own inner life. She will also explore challenges to the heart space in creativity, including the myths of perfectionism and proving our worth in the marketplace.

About Laura

Laura Lewis-Barr was a graduate student in clinical psychology but switched majors and earned her M.A in theater. In 2019 Laura began making stop motion films focused on fairy tales. Now she is an award-winning stop-motion filmmaker and educator.

Laura’s focus is on animating fairy tales and mythic stories for personal and collective transformation. She is inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and Michael Meade. Laura’s films are made in her basement in Chicago. Her screening events are filled with heart and questions for the soul.

2023 Mythologium program