News
Imbolc/Candlemas - February 2nd 2010
Since the Solstice I've decided to alter this news page to reflect the old festivals rather than simply the months, so here is a salutation for Imbolc and the strengthening of the Light towards Spring. This cross-quarter has been one of much reflection, beside the fire whenever possible, as appointments were cancelled or postponed in the snow and bitter cold..... but the joint 'University MA study day/ Solis Academy day' on January 30th was filled with action - accompanied as it was by the full moon and Mars so bright in the sky. By one of those most satisfying of connections, the curriculum of our Imaginal Pilgrimage through the alchemical illuminations had naturally brought us to a contemplation of Mars - and there was the Warrior in the sky, bringing Above and Below into harmony.
New contacts: If you are on Facebook, do look for Brian Bates - who emailed to say he's made a page for anyone to join and discuss his work. Brian's many years of inspirational teaching and research on Shamanic Psychology at Sussex University continues with him now visiting research fellow. I've been temped to make a page myself, but haven't yet developed it - maybe that will be for the Spring.
Forthcoming events - I'll be speaking at the Mystics and Scientists conference 'Order out of Chaos' in Winchester, April 16th-18th. I have a paper exploring Psyche's initiatory task of 'sorting the seeds.' I'll post some more details including a link (when I can find out how to do it - I need to make my own order out of a bit of IT chaos!) More anon - Marie
ARCHIVE
December 2009
We can all share the solstice - one of those lovely bits of star-talk that belongs to us all. It's a shared event in the cosmos 'out there' offering all those ways of responding 'in here' (in ourselves) from mundane mechanical observation to a profound alignment with the mysteries of Light. Here in the North it's the turning point towards that light, by whatever name we call it. I love the way the tide turns at the solstice itself, but we mark it three days or so later - after just enough time for the careful observer of the heavens to have confimed that, yes, the sunrise really is coming a little earlier, sunset a little later. We are on our way back..... Then there is New Year, and then Epiphany..... but that takes the holy-days across the months we've made - so I'll wait until then t0 say more. Meanwhile, here in the dark, we've had deep snow and a hurly-burly of activities - and yes, some stillness too..... in honour of 'the sol in soul' in all its splendor. May there be warmth and good cheer for all. All the best, Marie.
November 2009
'Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish' but in my case, it was diaphanous... This is a swirl of cloud one Autumn evening when it managed not to rain for a few minutes. Again this month so much has been invisible, as the development has been toward making the Distance Learning resources. I am delighted at the way the voice lectures come out so clearly and match well with the coloured slides. I'd like now to find a way of writing about some of the work more openly - because at present it is all or nothing - either on the course or just reading this news. Next stop You Tube maybe!
In between sessions I've been reading a lot, as the post brought a whole pile of books from my favourite on-line second hand store, Alibris. Too many to list, but including Corbin on Swedenborg, Arabic Alchemists and history of the Tarocchi..... all chosen off my long-term wish-list because I had a special money-off token. I've also been drawing quite a lot this month, re-presenting the patterns and concordances made by the illuminations of the Splendor Solis as they form our pilgrimage through the series. I call these 'mathesis' drawings (after Giordano Bruno) and find them endlessly satisfying and productive of new ideas - a mix of memory theatre and mandala to con-template (which as Mike pointed out means 'bringing temples together')
All the best - Marie
October - Samhain Festival 2009
17th saw the arrival at my door of the long-awaited Red Book - Jung's own imaginal journal of word and image. What excitement there has been in the media - and how well founded! ... it feels like one of Prospero's 'drowned books' ... not only for its talismanic reputation and its great 'presence' through size and weight, but the care which went into its making. It's for that care Jung took that I love it, before I've read more than a page or two.... All that calligraphy and miniature paintings - they offer such inspiration for the making of 'reflective journals' that display the ethic of Beauty as well as Truth. The university MA and Imaginal Studies are founded on journals with just such a wider ethic in mind - and I might dare to go even further - and aspire also to touch upon the worlds of the Good and the Holy.. 'where the two seas meet'.....
Apart from this excitement, a lot has been happening this month, but it is invisible! - unless you are already a student. I'm referring to the new page for Distance Learning. Registered students have the password and now have access to materials from three study days...... We've set off on the Imaginal Journey with illuminations of the Splendor Solis as the visiting speakers - and for each session there are my colour slides, voice lectures, papes and notes, as well as some specially valuable articles which I've scanned. At the moment we are reading part one of Antoine Faivre's masterly Access to Western Esotericism, (1994, SUNY) and reviewing the characteristics of 'esotericism as a form of thought' (with a preference for putitng 'Living Nature' first on the list, ahead of 'Correspondences.' ) One of my next projects - apart from the long overdue one to review and upate the site's main content... is to make some selections from all the video material to share on the public pages... Saturn has just entered Libra for a few months, and hence is now in Exaltation... so, I hope to join the alchemists and 'hasten slowly' (festina lente) to good effect.
Meanwhile - here at 'Summer's end' - A Happy Celtic New Year. May there be bonfires and the blessings of the Harvest.
All the best - Marie
September 1st 2009
* The one-year taught course at the university starts on September 12th with a study day devoted to the first of the Splendor Solis illuminations. It is based on my article on the illumination; 'Splendor Solis: inviting the image to teach,' first published in Harvest: International Journal for Jungian Studies, 2005, Vol 51, no 2) and now on this website to download. It unfolds seven steps into the image which can be followed as a method I call 'imaginal inquiry.' I've been writing a lot more about this over the Summer and look forward to our journey into the imaginal guided by these illuminative teachers. As soon as we have set off - I'll write some more. Marie
August 1st 2009
* Good news: The September course at the university to study Transpersonal Arts & Practice has recruited well and looks set to begin with a good sized group (see last month's news for details.) I'm also delighted with the recent interest in the Splendor Solis Academy. I'll be developing more of the ideas over the wonderful long Summer month of August - ready for some September fireworks.
* These lovely August sunflowers were photographed yesterday in my garden amongst the Morning Glories (during a rare moment of sunshine) - a gift from a student just completing her studies. Thank you Jackie, and well done.
* THE FOOL'S PRESENT: 9-11 October in Inverness, Scotland - Almunus Anthony Stapleton, who received a Distinction for his amazing writing and theatre work, will be running this residential workshop with musician and fellow student Rosamund Hoskins. Information is on the website for Anam Cara at: http://www.anamcara.org/fool's_present.htm
more anon. Marie Angelo
July 1st 2009
* STOP PRESS: re: ‘Imagination as a path of knowledge’ 
Students who have completed the imaginal journey over two years part-time at the university have said they would have enjoyed it even more if they had studied the whole journey in a year, ‘and then done it again to go deeper.’ I’m reminded of the legendary mystery school in which the same syllabus is followed for a seven year cycle, each year opening a new level of understanding. Such a vision might be one for the Splendor Solis Academy, but meanwhile, circumstances have played into my hands to create a university-based, one-year, part-time plan for September which can be studied and then repeated in your own time as you wish – or, for those eligible, followed through into the MA Dissertation in Transpersonal Arts & Practice.
Students can join in two ways. Studying for interest and your own professional development means you audit the taught course for a much reduced fee (to be confirmed.) Study for university credit and the MA means you share the same course, but do the assessments. Fees for this option are £2, 180 for the year, whether overseas or UK. Studying one year of taught courses instead of two means MA applicants must also have sufficient background so we can credit you with the equivalent of one year’s MA study when you join (something we discuss and work out with you.)
If this one-year program interests you, do email me as soon as possible, as there is already a group signed up and places will now be limited. The university route of the MA Transpersonal Arts & Practice will not take new entrants after this, remaining validated by the university, but on hold. The transformative heart of the matter, Imaginal Studies, will carry on being developed more fully through the Splendor Solis Academy. It’s where our imaginal teachers, the alchemical illuminations really belong, so they are quite happy about coming back home! .... More anon, Marie Angelo.
‘Judge then of thy Own Self: thy eternal lineaments explore,
What is Eternal and what Changeable, and what annihilable,
The Imagination is not a state: it is the Human Existence itself.’
William Blake, quoted in Paul Davies (1998) Romanticism and Esoteric Tradition: Studies in Imagination. NY: Lindisfarne Books, p67.
June 1st 2009
Dear friends, Imaginal Studies is one month old - so to celebrate here is an early Summer firework poppy from my garden. If you follow the movements of the heavens, you'll appreciate that now is a good moment to update this page, for our hermetic patron Mercury has just ceased his apparent backwards motion and begun the forward dance once more.
* NEWS about 'Imagination as a path of knowledge' - Since gaining university approval for the Distance Learning option there have been plenty of applications to make a really interesting group, not only for Distance Learning, but on campus as well. Applications are still open during June.
* NEWS about the new Professional Development modules - these are also open during June, with new course information shortly available - just email me for details. Studying for interest and a certificate of attendance works out at only £35 for a single session, with short courses of six available in Creative Arts Therapies, Creative Supervision - and, by request, 'Elements of Imaginal Studies.' I like this idea of building up sessions bit by bit, and running courses which benefit from the university connection but are for personal interest as well. Let me know if you like this too and I can develop more of them, incuding Distance Learning options.
* NEWS from the Splendor Solis Academy - I've been researching ways and means of sharing some of the illuminations and transformative ideas on-line as well as through the private groups and sessions of the last few years. I am lining up several papers to upload during this month - as soon as I get the hang of it! It would be lovely to have them in place for the Summer Solstice - so watch this space. I have several links and other additions to add as well, now that we can move forward with Mercurius.
* Todays' favourite quote comes from an end of term seminar at the university a few days ago. We spoke about the wealth of material there is when we start imaginal studies, and how it amplifies with a touch.... and I remembered from Rumi's poem 'The Granary Floor' (from One-Handed Basket Weaving: poems on the theme of work , versions by Coleman Barks, 1991, Maypop).....
'Friend, we're travelling together./Throw off your tiredness. Let me show you/one tiny spot of the beauty that cannot be spoken./ I'm like an ant that's gotten into the granary,/ludicrously happy, and trying to lug out/a grain that's way too big.' (II, 156-193, p110)
Marie Angelo, June 1st 2009
1st May 2009 – Imaginal Studies website stage One begins.
* MA through Distance Learning at the University of Chichester - ‘Imagination as a Path of Knowledge,’ approved for September 2009 entry. Transformative learning combining Humanities, Arts and Archetypal psychology with Dr Marie Angelo and Dr Angela Voss and friends.
* ‘Making the most of your Practice’ – new short course at the University of Chichester on the art of making an imaginative journal to hold your reflections. Study for interest or for post-graduate credits. Suitable for professionals from the therapeutic and healing arts, image-makers, performers and contemplatives. Starts September 2009, with Distance Learning options
* As the website develops, look here for newsletters from the Splendor Solis Academy. Current favourite quotation: ‘the muses never argue with Apollo – they just sing’ (Marsilio Ficino).
Marie Angelo April 30th 2009.