Women's Wisdom Village | Sun. 7/12

A Night Sea Journey is a motif or mythic metaphor for the dark night of the soul. It represents riding the rough seas of adapting our lives in the midst of so much uncertainty, fear, and death, as well as the state of our soul, dreams, deep thoughts, and feelings.

On Sunday will discuss our Night Sea Journey—our mythic descent into the Underworld via the pandemic and our dark past, now haunting us through social upheaval and protest. Just when we thought we saw the dawn breaking on the horizon we lost our bearings. 

Join Dr. A. in exploring the myths of Persephone, Eurydice, and Inanna to discover how we might ransom our lives forward to create something new. These mythic stories can unlock powerful ideas about transforming ourselves and the world.

Persephone, abducted by Hades, loses her innocence, way of life, family, and friends. Yet, ultimately, she becomes Queen of the Underworld and creates the seasons.

Eurydice, blissfully newly-married, is bitten by a snake and dies. Her husband, Orpheus, travels to the Underworld to bring her back, but something goes wrong.

Inanna, Queen of Heaven, travels to the Underworld to deliver bad news to her sister, the Queen of the Underworld. Inanna is stripped of her powers, one by one, and is killed. In three days, she is resurrected by the forces within nature and rescued. Her sister tells her if she would leave the Underworld, there is a price to pay. She cannot return home without sending someone as a substitute. Her choice is illuminating. This arrangement also creates the seasons in the Sumerian myth.

All of these mythological women endured a Night Sea Journey, and their stories can lead us to reemerge from ours transformed and empowered.

Our Night Sea Journey to the Underworld, launched from our homes, takes us where we never planned to go. We are trying to survive our Underworld filled with sickness, fear, anxiety, depression, death, and uncertainty. We will consider what we are willing to leave in the Underworld to move forward, there is always a price. Something old must die for something new to emerge.

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What can we learn from the time we are living through? Where is our power, and how should we wield it? Join me to explore the ancient hopeful truths and power that lives within the myths of the universal experience of being a woman.

Dr. A. is a cultural mythologist and women's coach. Join her in weekly inspirational conversations, held online, about the big picture of being a woman in these times.

In each conversation, as women have done for millennia, we will gather at the well (ours will be virtual) to support each other and to find wisdom, insight, and clarity in uncertain times.

Enter the circle and:

• Experience new ways of understanding what we are going through today, from the wisdom in ancient myths and stories.
• Explore the legacy of wisdom from the profound universal experiences of being women. 
• Broaden and deepen our thinking about our outer and inner worlds.
• Create a deeper connection to ourselves and to each other. 

These weeks of social distancing and unrest can create more than stress and worry. We can emerge from this uncertain time with a story to tell about ourselves and our world. We can create a new vision for our lives, our families, our communities, and our world. 

The Women's Wisdom Village meets on Zoom. Each gathering will last approximately 1 1/2 hours and welcome up to 20 women.  The Zoom meeting code will be delivered via email upon registering. Registration is free; however, a suggested donation of $5-$10 per meeting is appreciated if you can contribute. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.