by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Nov 24, 2024 | Classical Mythology, Jungian Concepts
How Literally Did Ancient People Take Their Mythology? The nature of gods and deities in ancient civilizations has long been a subject of fascination and debate. Did the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Norse, and followers of Vedic religions literally believe their gods to...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Sep 17, 2024 | Anthropology and Evo Psych, Jungian Concepts
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...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jul 17, 2024 | Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology of Design and Architecture
What Can the Origins of Religion Teach Us? The origins and evolution of human religious like thought have long fascinated scholars, but they may also hold the keys to therapy and religion. . By examining the archaeological record, mythological narratives, and the...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jul 12, 2024 | History of Psychotherapy, Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Psychology of Design and Architecture
Who was Henry Corbin? Henry Corbin (1903-1978) was a groundbreaking French philosopher, theologian, and Islamicist whose visionary work unveiled the power of the imaginal realm. Corbin’s unique approach synthesized Islamic mysticism, Western philosophy, Jungian...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jul 5, 2024 | Jungian Concepts, Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers
Who was Pseudo-Dionysius? Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, a mysterious figure who wrote under the pseudonym of Dionysius the Areopagite, a convert of St. Paul mentioned in Acts 17:34, is one of the most influential Christian mystics and theologians. His writings,...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jul 5, 2024 | Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques, Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers
Robert Grosseteste and the Medieval Roots of the Science-Spirituality Dialogue Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175-1253) was an English theologian, philosopher, and scientist who played a significant role in the development of scientific thought in medieval Europe. His ideas...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 14, 2024 | Anthropology and Evo Psych, Comparative Religion, Jungian Concepts, Symbolism and Meaning
“My point, once again, is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally.” ― John Dominic Crossan, Who Is Jesus?...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 6, 2024 | Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques, Mystics, Gurus, and Spiritual Philosophers, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology
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...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 5, 2024 | Anthropology and Evo Psych, Depth Psychology Approaches and Techniques
What part of the brain is responsible for religion? “The Self is the ordering and unifying center of the total psyche (conscious and unconscious) just as the ego is the center of the conscious personality. Or, put in other words, the ego is the seat of subjective...