Unknown artist.
Jungian Analyst and master story teller Craig San Roque returns to the Sydney Jung Society with mythopoetic actress Miriam Pickard to tell a modern fable of Persephone’s suicide as a metaphor of extinction melancholia, while noted author on environmental consciousness, Sally Gillespie will give a response.
Craig and Miriam’s presentation will be drawn from the performance work Persephone’s Wake as published in The Green Book- Climate Change and Depth Psychology – a new publication from Routledge edited by Dale Mathers including chapters by Andrew Samuels, Jules Cashford and Craig San Roque.
Craig explains that…”The drama of The Wake is set in a desolate place. Persephone’s body hangs in a woven net, fires surround her. Her son and daughter, Kore, gather with all their kin. Persephone’s spirit appears. She speaks her farewell. Her son and daughter are encouraged to descend to the underworld, following her tracks. Things happen”.
The idea of Persephone’s death is perhaps a metaphor on extinction melancholia; the deep grief of the “mother of all life” giving up hope; Withdrawing presence from the generative web of natural forces.
Natural regenerations seem to be a resilient process – at least up until a tipping point. Humans are resilient - perhaps especially when inspired by hope. If the global ecosystem is over the tipping point then pragmatic things can be done – and there are psychological things to be done - acts of thoughtful imagination rather than hopeless dissociative panic and denial about the truths of our situation. Each of us probably has to find our own way. Craig says that “My imagination of Persephone’s Wake was inspired by inner characters appearing to Jung during his catastrophe - as described in his Red Book”.
Sally Gillespie will give a response to the presentation with consideration to the psychological challenges of engaging with the full picture of climate catastrophe and the role creative arts play in bringing the unthinkable to consciousness through myth, symbol, narrative.
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Craig San Roque has practiced Jungian Analytic Psychology for 40 years ( London, Sydney, Canberra and central Australia). A former president and co-director of training for ANZSJA. He has taught Anthropology/ Performance studies, Social Ecology and Jungian Cultural Psychology at University of Western Sydney. He is credited with many publications - including in – the recent and timely Cultural Complexes and the Soul of America and in Placing Psyche with Amanda Dowd and David Tacey. Also, the Sydney Jung Society book on climate change, The Green Book and graphic novels; A Long Weekend in Alice Springs and Sydney/ Purgatorio with Joshua Santospirito.
Persephone’s Wake belongs within a trilogy of community performance works, Persephone’s Dog and Persephone’s Heart
Miriam Pickard is a creatively alive performer and theatre director, known for her work with the innovative, prophetic, Canberra Chorus of Women music and performances on Climate Change, international Peace and generative feminine mythologies – (composed by Jungian analyst, Glenda Cloughley). Miriam also performs with ArtsACT events - notably her (wryly comic) solo pieces on Isis and Inanna. She developed the role for Persephone for the 2015 – 2017 Alice Springs and Santorini events; recently directing Persephone’s Dog for the Canberra College Drama Student graduation performances, 2020. See more about Miriam at Her Website (https://www.miriamjane.com)
Sally Gillespie is a member of Psychology for a Safe Climate, the Climate Wellbeing Network, and the Climate Psychology Alliance. A former psychotherapist and Past President of the Jung Society of Sydney, Sally now presents talks and workshops on climate psychology and ecopsychology. Her book Climate Crisis and Consciousness: Reimagining our world and ourselves explores the psychological experience of engaging with climate and ecological crises.
Date: 18th June 2021 at 7.00 Venue: Zoom
Cost: Members $10 Non-Members $20 Non-Member
Concession $15
*Psychotherapists and other practitioners can obtain credit for Professional Development hours recognised by PACFA and ACA for this presentation.