Book now!
The Mummy: A Cultural, Historical, and Anthropological Perspective

The Mummy: A Cultural, Historical, and Anthropological Perspective

by | Sep 24, 2024 | ,

A History of the Mummy: Mummies have long held a place of fascination in the human imagination, serving as enduring symbols of ancient civilizations and the mysteries of life and death. From the carefully preserved remains of ancient Egyptian pharaohs to the naturally mummified bodies discovered in bogs and glaciers, mummies provide a tantalizing glimpse into the past and offer insights into the beliefs, practices, and cultural values of the societies that created them (Aufderheide, 2003). By examining mummies...

The Vampire: An Anthropological and Historical Exploration

The Vampire: An Anthropological and Historical Exploration

by | Sep 24, 2024 | ,

Why do we believe in Vampires? Vampires have long captured the human imagination, appearing in the folklore, literature, and popular culture of societies across the globe. These enigmatic figures, often depicted as undead beings who sustain themselves by feeding on the life essence of the living, have roots that run deep in human history and mythology (Beresford, 2008). The persistent fascination with vampires can be attributed to their ability to embody and reflect the fears, desires, and cultural anxieties of...

The Evolution of Halloween Costumes

The Evolution of Halloween Costumes

by | Sep 24, 2024 | ,

Costumes as a Reflection of Societal Change  Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31st, has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the world of the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to cross over. To ward off evil spirits and disguise themselves, people wore costumes made from animal skins, leaves, and other natural materials. As Halloween evolved over...

What Does Alchemy Have to Do With Psychology?

What Does Alchemy Have to Do With Psychology?

by | Sep 23, 2024 | , ,

A History of Alchemical Symbolism and Metaphor The connection between alchemy and psychology has been a subject of intrigue and controversy. Influential thinkers like Manly P. Hall and Carl Jung saw the history of alchemy as an integral part of the evolution of human psychology, rather than just a primitive pseudoscience. Manly P. Hall believed that the alchemists of old were consciously guarding and encoding an esoteric process of self-actualization into the language and symbolism of a material science. In his...

A History of the Witch Archetype, In Preperation for Haloween

A History of the Witch Archetype, In Preperation for Haloween

by | Sep 23, 2024 | , ,

What Does the Witch Represent in Psychology? As the nights grow longer and Halloween draws near, our thoughts turn to the spooky, the mystical, and the uncanny. This is the time of year when we confront the shadows - both literal and psychological. One of the most potent and pervasive archetypal images associated with this season is the witch. Reviled and revered, persecuted and empowered, the witch has haunted the human psyche for centuries. But who is the witch, really? Is she merely a Halloween caricature - a...

When Evidence Based Practice Goes Wrong

When Evidence Based Practice Goes Wrong

by | Sep 21, 2024 | , ,

Balancing Evidence and Experience: Lessons from the STAR*D Scandal The Tightrope of Objective and Subjective in Psychotherapy For decades, psychotherapy has walked a tightrope between the worlds of scientific research and clinical practice. On one side, a growing emphasis on evidence-based models promises therapeutic approaches grounded in objective data. On the other, skilled clinicians rely on hard-earned wisdom, theoretical savvy, and a nuanced reading of each client's unique needs. Binding these worlds...

Therapy and Morality:

Therapy and Morality:

by | Sep 20, 2024 | ,

 Examining the Implied Assumptions in Different Therapy Modalities When we think of therapy, we often associate it with self-improvement and positive change. After all, isn't the goal of therapy to help us become better versions of ourselves? But does therapy inherently make us more moral? The answer may not be so straightforward. In fact, different therapy approaches make various assumptions about morality and what it means to have a healthy sense of self. What is Morality? Before diving into how therapy...

Graham Harvey’s Relevance to Modern Depth Psychology 

Graham Harvey’s Relevance to Modern Depth Psychology 

by | Sep 17, 2024 | ,

Who is Dr. Graham Harvey? Breaking from Early Theorists British scholar Graham Harvey, a prominent voice in religious studies since the 1990s, has played a key role in updating the anthropology of religion for the 21st century. His work breaks from the mold of early luminaries like E.B. Tylor, James Frazer, and Mircea Eliade, who tended to view indigenous and pagan religions through a lens of "primitive" superstition and irrationality. Tylor and Frazer, writing in the late 19th century, largely saw animistic and...

James George Frazer: Pioneering Insights into Myth, Religion, and the Psyche

James George Frazer: Pioneering Insights into Myth, Religion, and the Psyche

by | Sep 17, 2024 | ,

Who was James George Frazer? James George Frazer (1854-1941) was a groundbreaking Scottish anthropologist, folklorist, and classical scholar whose work laid the foundations for modern anthropology, psychology, and comparative religious studies. Best known for his monumental study of myth and religion, The Golden Bough, Frazer pioneered the comparative method in anthropology, seeking to unveil universal patterns and evolutionary sequences in human beliefs and practices across cultures. His ideas not only shaped...

Trauma, Ritual, and Animism: Integrating the Preconscious Mind

Trauma, Ritual, and Animism: Integrating the Preconscious Mind

by | Sep 17, 2024 | ,

Moreover, the new animism also sheds light on the intimate connection between trauma and intuition in the human brain. Both of these experiences are deeply rooted in the paleomammalian complex and the limbic system, which are associated with emotional processing, memory, and unconscious cognition (MacLean, 1990). This suggests that the capacity for intuitive understanding and the vulnerability to traumatic stress are two sides of the same coin, and that they both reflect the fundamental importance of the unconscious mind in human experience.