There are two great
mythological themes that weave throughout human
history: the heroic and shamanic journeys. In
the former, the hero journeys out of the ordinary
world into a realm of primal forces, finding and
facing monsters and allies in a quest for healing.
In the latter, the protagonist enters another
order of reality, a landscape of mystery and power
to be pulled apart and put back together in a
new and more powerful way.
These great stories
remind us that the soul is not accessible merely
through the rational mind. The thinking intellect
is a small part of the larger self. The soul makes
its appearance known in dream and deep imagery,
in feeling states (dark or light) that transcend
the usual boundaries of the self, and in the sacred
time and space accessed in ritual and ceremony.
The entrance to this vibrant territory lies in
another way of seeing, a creative and active quality
of perception that engages our full capacity,
across the threshold where mind, body, and emotions
merge within a path of heart.
In this workshop
we will explore the mysterious and magical expanse
of the soul, paying attention to the voice of
the "other," the self beyond the self
we know, where our essence resides. Using storytelling,
deep imagery, and dreamwork in the context of
a rich encounter with nature and primal reality,
(both inner and outer), we will discover and articulate
our personal myths, identifying both what is holding
us back or draining our energy -- the dragons,
enchantments, and storms raging within us -- and
the promise and lure of the unknown which frightens
and fascinates us.
We will learn
practices and techniques to access this larger
realm of soul, to summon help from outside the
normal sphere of our psyches, and engage in a
deep encounter and dialogue with nature. Participants
will experience different approaches to evoke
and work with dreams; examine the lenses through
which they perceive; and in ritual and ceremony,
face and befriend their fears, including death
and what it means and can teach us, seeking a
vision, a dream worth living, a sustaining myth
to weave into the details of daily life.
