Tuesday May 28, 2019 7-9pm
Harmony Hall at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center
What does “wildness” mean to you? Does this image conjure up fantasies of freedom, rebellion, and pleasure, or is it frightening? Maybe both?
Being wild and wildness have many complex meanings that have changed over the centuries. Several deities in ancient Greek mythology personified some of the Greeks ideas about the wild that are worthy of contemplation today.
- Artemis, the virgin huntress, roams the wooded mountains with her handmaidens. The protector of young animals and children, the bear is one of her sacred animals.
- The nature God Pan is a satyr, half man and half goat, who spends his days playing the reed flute, napping, and copulating (if he’s lucky).
- Dionysus, the wine god who dissolves all boundaries, wanders the world and conducts his rites beyond the confines of cities and towns. Women especially, find his call appealing.
Join Dr. Catherine Svehla for an exploration of these three faces of the wild, and consider your relationship to the gifts and threats associated with this powerful aspect of human experience.
$10 at the door
Interested in a deeper and more personal exploration? Join Catherine for a Wildness mini-retreat on Saturday June 1st, 10am-2pm at Harmony Hall. Details and registration at: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/wildness-artemis-pan-and-dionysus-2138718278
