PANTHEON: Archetypal Patterns in Nature and Man

Richard Alan Miller
O.A.K., ©2004

“No archetype can be reduced to a simple formula…
It is a vessel which can never empty and never fill…
It persists through the ages and requires interpreting ever anew.”
--C. G. Jung

A general audience workbook, designed as an introduction to gods and goddesses in daily life as well as in nature and the cosmos. Classic dynamic patterns, as discussed in Jungian psychology, are categorized broadly according to Qabalah and the Tarot to create a “cross-over” book integrating metaphysics, pop psychology, self-help, culture, and future science. These gods and goddesses are not presented as objects of worship or veneration, but as universal autonomous forces with their own correspondences and agendas which weave constantly through our inner and outer reality.

We can learn to distinguish our personalities from these transpersonal forces that play through us, the world and cosmos. We can discover our personal mythology. To behave is to choose one pattern among many. These archetypes or godforms are relevant in daily life as they are the motivating factors behind our scientific theories, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. We can hardly hope to be self-directing individuals without some knowledge of their universal patterns and effect in our lives and souls.

PANTHEON (a manual of self-discovery) is a contemporization of metaphysical notions in contemporary terms, useful to students of mythology, metaphysics, astrology, the Tarot and Jungian thought. The 22 chapters include four sections that encompass the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual nature of each of the ubiquitous archetypal patterns. (Sample chapters I-XIII + XX available; color illustrations available).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
Foreword
Introduction

0 URANUS (The Fool): Creation Myth, Generation Gap, Psychosomatics, Archetypes, Anthropic Principle

I HERMES (The Magician): Hermetic Arts, Parapsychology, Depth Psychology, Ritual, Communications, Semiotics, Hermeneutics

II ARTEMIS (High Priestess): Mitochondrial Eve, Women’s Mysteries, Mysticism, Primordial Light

III APHRODITE (The Empress): Aphrodisiacs, Sexual Fantasy, Romantic, Sacred Sexuality

IV ATHENA (The Emperor): Theatre, Cultural Awareness, Academia, Globalization, Gnosis

V HERA (The Hierophant): The Mating Instinct, Marriage and Divorce, Gender Reunion, Hierosgamos, Neurotheology

VI EROS AND PSYCHE (The Lovers): Relationships, Syzygy, Psychosexual Transformation, Erotic Impulse, Electromagnetism

VII HESTIA (The Chariot): The Brain’s God Module, Concentration, Holism, Body of Light, Throne-Chariot

VIII DEMETER/PERSEPHONE (Lust): Biodiviersity, Mother/Daughter Bond, Rape, Shamanism, Psychedelic Rebirth, Schumann Resonance

IX HEPHAISTOS (The Hermit): Biotechnology, Nanotecnology, Technological Man, Cybersex, Introversion, Cyberculture

X ZEUS (The Wheel of Fortune): Inflation Theory, Religious Illumination, Changing Models in Fatherhood, DNA Biohologram

XI THEMIS (Adjustment): Thermodynamics, Justice, Karma, Reincarnation

XII POSEIDON (The Hanged Man): Ocean of Dark matter and Energy, The Shadow, Controlling Negative Impulses

XIII THANATOS (Death-Rebirth): On Death and Dying, Liminality, Hypnosis, Ego-Death, Black Holes, Great Annihilator

XIV ARTEMIS/APOLLO (Art): Androgyny, Woman’s Mysteries, Neuroaesthetics, Siblings, Mystic Transport

XV PAN/PRIAPUS (The Devil): Masturbation and Self-Love; Same Sex Love, Nightmares, Panic, Terrorism, Chaos Theory

XVI ARES (The Tower): Strife, Jealousy, Aggression, Anger, War, Curage, Defensiveness, Intruders, Alien Abduction

XVII RHEA (The Star): Great Mother, Emergent Healing Paradigm, Star Nurseries

XVIII HEKATE (The Moon): The Underworld, Witchcraft, Dark of the Moon, Mental Illness and Personality Disorders

XIX APOLLO (The Sun): Creativity, Music of the Spheres, Solar Cycles, Rebellion, Rational vs. Irrational Consciousness

XX: HADES/DIONYSUS (The Aeon): Intoxication; Patterns of Addiction; Divine Sound, CEMI Theory

XXI: CRONOS (The Universe): Parallel Worlds, Theories of Time, Father-Son Reunion, Depression, Aging and Life Extension, Runaway Universe

 

Index

FOREWORD

In the journey of life we all encounter forces and behavior patterns which seem beyond our capacity to understand and control. We say and do things we never believed we were capable of, and then claim we "must have been beside ourselves." Or, "I wasn't myself."

Our subconscious minds provoke us into behavior we would never consciously choose. Some of these are self-defeating or self-sabatoguing and come through our shadow, while others let us glimpse that we are more creative, talented, or wise than we ever thought possible. These gifts come from the transpersonal end of the spectrum.

At first glance, each individual's problems, experiences, and innate qualities seem unique. Yet, from another perspective, we all share the common inheritance of a mythic dimension of life, which psychologist Carl Jung termed the "collective unconscious."

We are walking compendiums of universal forces from which the details of our individual stories flow. Every story is a unique version of universal themes, the infinite in the finite. We are the very embodiment of universal themes of life, death, and rebirth.

All of our human potential for both "good" and "evil" comes through this subconscious source. It reveals itself through dreams, visions, art, fantasy, imagination, and myths or tales in all cultures. These themes and myths contain a value far greater than their creative or literary merits. Not only do myths inform us of the origins of thought and philosophy, they also reveal an ancient, sacred dimension of human experience.

The realm of the collective unconscious is "populated" with mythical figures which are described as gods and goddesses. Each has a retinue of corresponding moods, landscapes, personality traits, preferences, etc. These figures personify man's qualities or modes of being in the world. Each has particular characteristics. Knowledge of these characteristics or styles can enhance our personal journeys of self-discovery, and give us insight into our own motivations and choices.

Through personally discovering these godforms within and without, we gain access to a deeper understanding of both ourselves and others. We all share the journey of self-exploration, even though different aspects of it appear to each of us. Certain of the gods and goddesses may play a major or dominant role in our lives and those of our loved ones, but our imagination or psyche contains them all.

The more of these basic patterns of life we have access to, the greater our experience of this mythic dimension of life which makes our conscious day-to-day lives even more meaningful. The point is not to consciously live one myth, or even one's myth, but to live mythically, in touch with that fabled dimension of experience.

The realization of our purpose, path, or personal potential has often been considered a "key" to life's meaning. To realize the fullness of one's personality and to develop our native abilities and personal characteristics to the highest degree possible is a worthy long-range goal. This has been the orientation of the human potential movement, and the personal goal of self-actualization, or self-realization...to experientially understand that, "I am That."

PANTHEON, as a manual of personal self-discovery, is a practical guide to recognizing and realizing the origins and development of our individual characters and characteristics. As such, it leads to a growth of self-knowledge, and gives us insight into the traits and behaviors of our acquaintances and intimates.

PANTHEON provides not only background knowledge for reference, but also practical psychological technique which we can impliment in our journey toward understanding. One can gain access to the deeper psyche, soul, or imagination through both the rational and experiential methods. These are self-analysis and active imagination.

Active imagination includes consciousness journeys deep into the psyche, identification, and internal dialogues with personified archetypes. It is the dialogical method. This is a way of building experiential relationships with archetypal forces--harmonizing with them, honoring them. These are "as if" real relationships, not taken literally.

These internal dialogues can be useful, revealing the autonomous dynamics and agendas at work in our lives. They reveal things to us we know, but don't know we know. We can use many methods for this communication, such as journal work, hypnosis, or ritual. These are moments where we create and enter sacred space. These relationships reveal the meaningfulness behind the many complications in our modern lives.

The more we approach our individual wholeness, through expanding our awareness and experiences, the more we are likely to encounter these divine principles from the realm of imagination. This journey toward wholeness is easier to integrate into daily life with a psychological framework for containing and accomodating a wide range of images, emotions, moral views, styles of thought, beliefs, and even dress.

When we know the characteristics of the various archetypes, we find them relected back to our consciousness from the environment. We can learn to view their effects on our lives directly and gain in personal, social, and spiritual freedom. If we fail to become consciousnely aware of their effects, their spontaneous activation may produce devastating effects on the personality. They can create internal divisions in the psyche which may lead to the disintegration of personality. This can result in disease, self-destructive behavior, or even culminate in death.

As we mature into adults, many of us are forced by environmental factors to travel roads which do not follow our natural predispositions. This may create conflicts or crises in our lives, which require either change or understanding. Some of us are forced, for example, to work in occupations which do not really suit our personalities. For some it becomes a challenge to be met and accepted; others of us just feel stuck like "square pegs in round holes."

PANTHEON is designed to help us recognize and realize our talents and natural predispositions. In this manner, many misplaced persons should be able to develop latent talents in areas where they could excel through natural aptitude, at the same time finding a sense of self-fulfillment on the job and in relationships.

Update: 11-02-2005

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