Ritual and Initiation Articles

The Mystical Roots and Therapeutic Fruits of Initiation Rites

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Christian Mysticism in Therapy, Comparative Religion for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Ritual and Initiation, Spirituality and The Transcendent Function in Psychotherapy

Is Psychotherapy a Type of Initiation Have you ever been part of a fraternity, sorority, or similar organization? If so, you may have experienced rituals or ceremonies that felt both challenging and transformative. Even if you haven't, you've likely encountered such rites of passage in religious services, coming-of-age celebrations, or weddings. These experiences tap into a deep human need for initiation—a symbolic death and rebirth that ushers us into a new stage of life. We see this theme in modern day rituals...

Illuminating the Mind: Lessons Psychology Can Learn from Anthropology and Philosophy

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Philosophy for Therapists, Ritual and Initiation, Spirituality and The Transcendent Function in Psychotherapy

Why Does Psychology Ignore Philosophy and Anthropology? Time moves in one direction, memory in another.<br> We are that strange species that constructs artifacts intended to counter the natural flow of forgetting. - William Gibson, "Dead Man Sings" Psychology, as the scientific study of the mind and behavior, has made tremendous strides in understanding the human experience. However, two other disciplines - anthropology and philosophy - offer profound insights that can enrich and expand psychological...

The Rituals of Healing:

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Comparative Religion for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Ritual and Initiation

Anthropological Insights into Modern Psychotherapy Throughout human history and across cultures, rituals and storytelling have played a central role in addressing psychological ailments and facilitating healing. While modern psychotherapy can seem like a far cry from the traditional practices of shamans and healers, a closer examination reveals intriguing parallels in how both employ symbols, narrative, and community to treat mental illness and restore well-being. At their core, healing rituals and psychotherapy...

Arnold van Gennep and the Rites of Passage: Illuminating the Structure of Human Transitions

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology, Ritual and Initiation

Who Was Arnold van Gennep? Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) was a pioneering French anthropologist and folklorist who made significant contributions to the study of rituals, particularly rites of passage. His seminal work, "Les rites de passage" (The Rites of Passage), published in 1909, provided a comprehensive analysis of the ceremonial patterns that mark an individual's transition from one social status to another. Van Gennep's insights into the structure and function of these rituals have had a profound...

The Archetypal Psychology of Robert Moore: Illuminating the Deep Structures of the Psyche

Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology, Ritual and Initiation

"The task of individuation is to consciously align ourselves with this source, to surrender to its archetypal energies and allow them to transform us from within. By differentiating and integrating the King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover within us, we can tap into the generative power of the Self and bring forth our unique gifts in service to the world." The Theories and Ideas of Robert Moore 1. Who Was Robert Moore Phd? Robert Moore, Ph.D. (1942-2016) was a pioneering psychoanalyst, theologian, and scholar who...

Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey in Psychotherapy

Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology, Ritual and Initiation, Spirituality and The Transcendent Function in Psychotherapy

Confronting the Shadow of Mental Health Challenges The hero's journey is a powerful narrative structure that has shaped storytelling across cultures and throughout history. First articulated by mythologist Joseph Campbell, the hero's journey follows a protagonist's transformative quest to overcome challenges and emerge victorious. This archetypal story arc has profoundly influenced literature, film, and even the practice of psychotherapy, providing a framework for understanding personal growth and the...

Lessons and Exercises from Greek Myths and Mystery Cults for Psychotherapy

Mythology and Therapy, Psychology of Conspiracy Theories, Ritual and Initiation

Harnessing the Power of Greek Mythology in Psychotherapy "Song, as you teach it, is not desire, not courtship of something finally attained. Song is reality. Simple, for the god. But when are we simple? When does he pour the Earth and the stars into us? This is not about you, youngster, even if you suddenly grasp it, stammering - it's not about you at all." Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus As psychotherapists, we are constantly seeking new ways to help our clients navigate the complexities of the human experience. One...

Mircea Eliade’s Insights into the Sacred

Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology of Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Psychotherapy Biographies: Historical Figures in the History of Psychology, Ritual and Initiation

Mircea Eliade's Insights into the Sacred “A religious symbol conveys its message even if it is no longer consciously understood in every part. For a symbol speaks to the whole human being and not only to the intelligence.” ― Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion Mircea Eliade, a Romanian historian of religion who lived from 1907 to 1986, made significant contributions to the study of comparative religion and the understanding of the role of myth, symbol, and the sacred in human...

The Mystical Roots and Therapeutic Fruits of Initiation Rites

Illuminating the Mind: Lessons Psychology Can Learn from Anthropology and Philosophy

The Rituals of Healing:

Arnold van Gennep and the Rites of Passage: Illuminating the Structure of Human Transitions

The Archetypal Psychology of Robert Moore: Illuminating the Deep Structures of the Psyche

Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey in Psychotherapy

Lessons and Exercises from Greek Myths and Mystery Cults for Psychotherapy

Mircea Eliade’s Insights into the Sacred

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