Χαίρε παθών τό πάθημα τό δ̕ ο̕ύπω προσθ̕ ̕επεπόνθεις
Θεός ̕εγένου ̕ε̕ξ ̕ανθρώπου έ̕ριϕος ̕ες γάλα έ̕πετες
Greetings, you who have suffered the Suffering, like you never did before.
Out of a mortal, you have become a god.
A kid, you fell into milk.
This text is an example of many found inscribed on gold leaves and placed in the hands or mouths of the dead who were Bacchic or Orphic initiates. In this presentation we will explore what is known about the ancient Greek mysteries, including group ritual practices and also initiation rituals of a voluntary, secret, and personal character that aimed at personal transformation through a transcendent experience of the sacred.
For over 2,000 years, these rites promised to teach initiates that death was not a curse, but a blessing. We will explore the relevance of the mysteries for understanding our own processes of initiation and individuation, in which we approach functional immortality by means of our conscious suffering, experiences of ecstasy, and personal encounter with the Divine. The goals of initiation differ from the goals of other kinds of psychotherapy, posing different ethical implications. Understanding the symbols and patterns of initiation can illuminate the individuation journey, and enlighten, enliven and deepen analytic work.
In Saturday’s workshop, we will discover the Egyptian roots of the initiation rites and the symbols common to both. We will then delve into the rich visual symbols in the Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii. Finally, we will explore how these rites resonate with our own mysteries of individuation. We will also explore the clinician’s ethical considerations involved in this kind of in-depth work.
