Interview begins @ 4:40

In this captivating episode of The Sacred Speaks, we dive deep into the world of imagination with our esteemed guest, Dr. Becca Tarnas. The journey begins by exploring Dr. Tarnas's unique process and her profound understanding of the imagination, a force that not only drew her to the works of Tolkien and Jung but also shaped her insights through her dissertation. We navigate the intricate landscapes of Carl Jung's active imagination fantasies, understanding them as a co-creative interplay between the human faculty of imagination and the archetypes of the collective unconscious. Dr. Tarnas sheds light on how these experiences became the seeds for Jung's subsequent work and paralleled Tolkien's imaginal journey into Middle-earth, leading to his creation of "The Lord of the Rings" and the "Red Book of Westmarch." Our conversation dives into the meanings of 'imaginal' and 'imagination,' challenging the disenchanted, reductionist worldview that often diminishes the significance of our inner realities. Dr. Tarnas critiques this modern framing, emphasizing how our worldview shapes our perception and the struggle to acknowledge what lies beyond it. We explore Jung's lasting influence on Dr. Tarnas's life, particularly through her expanded astrological perspective on archetypes. The discussion then shifts to the problematic aspects of materialism and reductionism, considering how these perspectives limit our understanding of imagination and the collective. In a time where the shadow of individualistic, materialistic views is being confronted, Dr. Tarnas and I discuss the potential for transformation at this nexus point. We delve into archetypal astrology as a tool to understand this shift in ages and the transformation of our worldview. Addressing the interplay of heroic and post-heroic narratives, she draws from Joseph Campbell and others, focusing on Christ as a hero figure. We also examine the role of the feminine in mythic narratives, highlighting characters like Eowyn from "The Lord of the Rings" as embodiments of the solar feminine. Our conversation takes a turn towards the mystical as we discuss communing with the dead, a practice of resurrecting and conversing with the past, as exemplified in Jung's "The Red Book." This leads to a broader reflection on the importance of listening to the voices of those who came before us. We also explore the act of naming aspects of the imagination, informed by the work of James Hillman, as a method to engage with our inner world and the co-creative relationship with the divine. Finally, we conclude with a preview of Dr. Tarnas's forthcoming biography on Stanislov Grof and his groundbreaking work on psychedelics, offering a glimpse into the future of psychological and spiritual exploration.

Bio:
Dr. Becca Tarnas is a scholar, artist, and counseling astrologer, as well as an editor of Archai: The Journal of Archetypal Cosmology. She earned a PhD in Philosophy and Religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, with a dissertation titled "The Back of Beyond: The Red Books of C.G. Jung and J.R.R. Tolkien." Currently, Becca teaches at Pacifica Graduate Institute and CIIS, in addition to various online education platforms. Becca has published a book, "Journey to the Imaginal Realm: A Reader’s Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings." Born in Big Sur, California, she has always harbored a deep love for the natural world, a passion that continues to inspire her work. Becca's educational journey began at the San Francisco Waldorf School, where she studied for thirteen years. She then pursued Environmental Studies and Theater Arts at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, before returning to the Bay Area to obtain a master’s degree in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness at CIIS. Now residing in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, Becca seeks closeness to nature. Her research interests span depth psychology, archetypal studies, literature, philosophy, and the ecological imagination.

https://beccatarnas.com

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