“… our progressiveness, though it may result in a great many delightful wish-fulfillments, piles up an equally gigantic Promethean debt which has to be paid off from time to time in the form of hideous catastrophes.”
– C.G. Jung, (CW 9i, par. 276)
Friday Lecture | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The past few years full of ‘hideous catastrophes’ have brought on overwhelming feelings of fear, anxiety, and deep suffering. In times like these, hope is a word that fades from our imagination. How do we find meaning in our fragmented world? Is hope even possible? The story of Prometheus provides a rich, complex narrative that has captured the imagination of poets and artists for millennia. Its origins date back to a time of difficult struggles within ancient Greece. Using this Greek myth, we will delve into the archetypal themes of trickery, theft, fire and hope to better understand psychologically our current world of catastrophes. Reflecting on the Promethean myth sheds light on how a semblance of order may arise from our current state of chaos.
Saturday Workshop | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
In this workshop we will dig deep into the myth of Prometheus to better understand how our increasing focus on progress and technology has led to our chaotic world. Using stories and images we will explore ways to work with and through our Promethean complex. The Promethean complex leads to rich creativity, but also catastrophic destruction. As such, it is imperative we consciously engage with this complex to learn how trickery, thievery, and hubris influence us. We also consider how technology affects our daily lives and the psychological debt we accrue due to our increasing involvement with technology. Finally, we will explore the mythic motif of the superhero in its varied modern forms and how this motif influences our personal and collective lives.