Reclaiming the Wisdom of Ancient Myths

C.G. Jung’s revelation of the mythopoetic dimension of the human psyche, i.e., its story-making structure, gave credence to his hypothesis of the collective unconscious, its archetypal images and their healing intent. In this seminar, we explore the wisdom hidden in the ancient Greek myths of Myrrha and the great god Pan. Together, we will discover the meanings and guidance these age-old stories can offer us today.

In the myth of Myrrha, we examine the theme of incest as perpetrated by a daughter with her father. We find that a repugnant act such as this appears in biblical stories, as well, and ask why the usual form of incest — a father’s violation of his daughter — gets turned on its head in these tales. We see the archetypes of the collective unconscious, the gods and goddesses, having their way with us but don’t understand why we should suffer so. We learn what it means to violate the gods’ sacred principles. and, if we take the lesson to heart, are chastened by it. We explore the relevance of these ancient stories to modern life by looking at their reflections in the troubled lives of clients in psychotherapy and characters in film to recognize the many variations on the theme of incest.

With the myth of the great god Pan, we will look into this god’s creation, not only as a symbolic example of the expression of psyche’s unconscious drama and its inner processes, but also as a means by which the ancients, and now ourselves, make sense of the world. We explore the classical beginnings of this beloved pastoral god as religious myth, and then the ways secular motifs and energies of the myth live on in modern society. We look at Jung’s views of myth for the second half of life, and we will explore ideas about our own personal myths as a means of interpreting the past, looking at the present and finding guidance and inspiration for the future.

Dates and Times

• Sundays from 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Schedule

• February 12 – Diana Oxley
• February  26 – Diana Oxley
• March 5 – Diana Oxley
• March 26 – Carol Walnum
• April 2 – Carol Walnum
• April 9 – Carol Walnum

Cost

• 12 hours of instruction: $205 (OFJ members: $195)
• Sorry, we are unable to offer refunds.
• Continuing Education Credits are available, with one hour of CE credit for each hour of attendance. CEUs will be available for purchase, at a cost of $15, which will cover all CEUs earned over the six-session seminar.

Reading

Reading assignments and material will be sent to participants in advance of the start of the seminar, and may be supplemented during the seminar.

Seminar Size

• Attendance is limited to 15 people
• If seminar fills, and you would like to be added to our wait-list, please write us at [email protected]. If you have any questions, please call 503-223-3080.

Seminar Leaders

Diana Oxley, Ph.D., LPC, received her diploma in Jungian psychotherapy from the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich, in 2019 and has been in practice since 2015. She maintains an office in Multnomah Village and is a member of the Pacific Northwest Society of Jungian Analysts.

Carol Walnum, MA, MBA, LPC, is a practicing Jungian analyst and Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon. She received her analytical training from the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich. She is a member of the Pacific NW Society of Jungian Analysts and is currently its President. She is also President of the C.G. Jung Foundation Zurich, supporting training and education in analytical psychology globally. Carol Walnum has practiced as a Jungian analyst for nine years. She is fascinated with the development and impact of myth in various cultures and at points in history.