This conference introduces Pacifica Graduate Institute’s new M.A. Degree Program in Education, Mythology and Depth Psychology. Both the conference and the degree program have been inspired by Joseph Campbell’s belief that, through myth, the inexhaustible energies of the universe pour into human history and culture. It follows that symbol and metaphor add invaluable meaning to our lives, capturing our attention and leading fantasy into imagination. Functioning as a comprehensive introduction to the degree program, this conference explores the exciting world of archetypal study and the many ways it can enhance the teaching/learning experience by:

• Integrating myth into vocational and personal pursuits 
• Stimulating the deep psyche through image, theater, storytelling, dreamwork, and dialog 
• Demonstrating applied tools and methods of a mythological education curriculum
• Reawakening imagination in oneself and in the learning process
• Collaborating in a community of like-minded individuals 

The Need for a Mythological Education

In most American schools, myth, art, and imagination are marginalized, while science, technology, and math take center stage. The absence of these important elements signals a loss of soul in the educational process and ultimately in the learner, no matter what the age. When personal learning and formal educational processes are rooted in the rich soil of myth, literature, and image, they emerge organically. Mythic education opens our archetypal heritage, stimulating natural tendencies toward growth and development. Learning, informed by psyche’s stories, unfolds with creativity and passion. Learning becomes ensouled and imagination is restored. As our experiences are understood through myth and metaphor, we deepen our ability to carry life’s joys and sorrows.

Conference Presentations Include:

Education, Imagination, and Myth  James Hillman, psychologist, scholar, international lecturer, author

The Roots of Learning: Myth, Knowledge, and the Sacred  Michael Meade, mythologist, author, founder/ director of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation

The Mythic Intervention: Stimulating Adolescent Psychological Development  Maren Hansen, psychotherapist, teacher, author

Educating the Global Citizen: A Mythic Perspective  Robert Walter, President and Executive Director of The Joseph Campbell Foundation

Teaching the Teachers: A Return to Mythopoetic Knowing  Dennis Patrick Slattery, author, Pacifica Graduate Institute core faculty member

Arrowmakers: Mythology in Early Childhood Education Gerald McDermott, author, artist, Caldecott medalist

Harvesting Mythologies: Resources for Educators and Lifelong Learners  Cindy Carter, Pacifica Graduate Institute core faculty member

Myth in the Classroom: Practical Applications of Mythic Education  Selden Edwards, educator, Pacifica alumnus

Waters of the Earth: Multicultural Tales of the Sea (a performance)

Dancing with Dionysus: Reigniting Myth through Theatre BOXtales Theatre Company, a multicultural, multi-disciplinary theatre

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