What if the journey of transformation isn't about conquering obstacles or becoming a hero, but about rediscovering our relationship with the land, the stories we inherit, and the wisdom we've forgotten?
In this episode of Alchemical Toil, Alexis Durgee revisits a conversation with Dr. Sharon Blackie, award-winning writer, psychologist, and mythologist whose work explores the intersections of mythology, psychology, ecology, and feminine wisdom.
Originally recorded in late 2020, their conversation examines the limitations of traditional interpretations of the hero's journey and explores Sharon's concept of the post-heroic journey, a path grounded in compassion, community, and reconnection with the natural world.
Drawing on If Women Rose Rooted, Alexis and Sharon discuss the importance of Celtic mythology and folklore, the reclamation of feminine wisdom, and the ways ancient stories can help us understand contemporary personal and environmental challenges.
They also explore Jungian and post-Jungian perspectives on the psyche, the archetypal significance of the Cailleach and Baba Yaga, and the importance of grief, anger, and truth-telling in psychological and collective transformation.
In this episode:
- Joseph Campbell, Maureen Murdock, and the post-heroic journey
- Celtic mythology, the Grail, and our relationship with the land
- Jungian psychology, James Hillman, and the world soul
- Reclaiming feminine wisdom through ancestral stories
- The Cailleach, Baba Yaga, and the dark crone
- Grief, righteous anger, and the necessity of consequences
- Transformation, elderhood, and life as an ongoing apprenticeship
Although the conversation includes references to the circumstances of 2020, its deeper questions about mythology, belonging, ecological responsibility, and personal transformation remain relevant today.
Explore the full show notes, recommended books, and additional resources at alchemicaltoil.com/podcast/dr-sharon-blackie
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Website: https://alchemicaltoil.com/podcast
Hosted by Alexis Durgee.
