Skip to content




Joseph Campbell RoundTable – The Creative Spark – May 20th @ 5:30pm-7:30pm

The human race has spent many a creative night discovering gems of songs, stories, ideas and inventions. Of course, there’s been just as many days trying to figure out how those gems sprouted so easily and how to reproduce them.

In this Mythological RoundTable, we will be reading through Myths of Creativity around the world and the metaphors beneath them. We’ll look at the creative relationship between the Artist and the Unconscious using symbols of  Spirit Guides, Genies, Angels, Wayakins, Faeries, and Quarim. We’ll uncover hidden secrets to well known myths by unlocking the meanings of characters’ names, look at some of the oldest rituals on creative flow and discuss Jung’s archetypes of the Anima and Animus.

Be sure to bring your notebook, songbook, drawing pad or sculpting clay because in the end we’ll finish off with a creativity based guided meditation for unleashing the flow of ideas for any of your projects or ambitions.

Our Joseph Campbell Mythological RoundTable meets monthly on the 3rd Sunday, in the FireplaceRoom at the Center for Symbolic Studies (see Directions). We are located at the crossing of River Road and Springtown Road, about 5 miles north of New Paltz.  Bring your curiosity, a story or two if you have them, and either a $20 donation or snack to share with the group if that’s more convenient. Contact us if you have a question or request.

 


JCRT – Power of Myth Part 3 – The First Storytellers – May 6th @ 5:30pm

White Buffalo Calf Woman

A showing & discussion of The Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. We will be watching the 1 hour film and discussing meaningful points afterward.

Showing will be held in the Fireplace Room at the Center for Symbolic Studies (310 River Road Ext. New Paltz, NY 12561)

Description about the Film:

Episode 3: The First Storytellers (first broadcast June 23, 1988 on PBS)

Animal memories, harmonization with body and life-cycle, consciousness vs. its vehicle, killing for food, story: “The Buffalo’s Wife,” buffalo massacre, initiation ritual, rituals diminishing, crime increasing, artists, the Shaman, the center of the world.


This is a portion of our on-going Campbell events which are:

  • February 21 - Finding Joe – The Rosendale Theater
  • February 26 - Encountering Joe – Discussion of the film “Finding Joe”
  • March 4 - The Power of Myth Part 1 – The Hero’s Adventure
  • March 18 - Interpretation – Tools for finding meaning in Story
  • April 1 - The Power of Myth Part 2 – The Message of the Myth
  • April 15 - Myth in the Body – Stories in Yoga, Tai Chi, Body Language and the Martial Arts
  • May 6 - The Power of Myth Part 3 – The First Storytellers
  • May 20 - The Creative Spark – Finding Inspirations and Lessons in the Mythic Patterns of World Stories
  • Jun 3 - The Power of Myth Part 4 – Sacrifice and Bliss
  • Jun 17 - Art of Storytelling – Using myth and symbol to reach the deep roots of your listener’s psyche
  • Jul 1 - The Power of Myth Part 5 – Love and the Goddess
  • Jul 15 - Archetypes and Secrets behind a Dark Hero
  • Aug 5 - The Power of Myth Part 6 – Masks of Eternity
  • Aug 19 - Cultivating Synchronicity – Discussion Group
  • Sep 2 - The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell’s Life & Work
  • Sep 16 - The Changing World – Ancient Roots to Modern Causes
  • Oct 5-8 Celebrating the Mythic Life – a 3 day conference celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Joseph Campbell’s passing and work.

 


JCRT – The Power of Myth Part 2 – The Message of the Myth – April 1st @ 5:30pm

Indra's Net of Gems

A showing & discussion of The Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. We will be watching the 1 hour film and discussing meaningful points afterward.

Showing will be held in the Fireplace Room at the Center for Symbolic Studies (310 River Road Ext. New Paltz, NY 12561)

Description about the Film:

Episode 2: The Message of the Myth (first broadcast June 22, 1988 on PBS)

Creation myths, transcending duality, pairs of opposites, God vs. Nature, sin, morality, participation in sorrow, the Gospel of Thomas, Old Time Religion, computers, religion as “software,” the story of Indra: “What a great boy am I!,” participation in society.

This is a portion of our on-going Campbell events which are:

  • February 21 - Finding Joe – The Rosendale Theater
  • February 26 - Encountering Joe – Discussion of the film “Finding Joe”
  • March 4 - The Power of Myth Part 1 – The Hero’s Adventure
  • March 18 - Interpretation – Tools for finding meaning in Story
  • April 1 - The Power of Myth Part 2 – The Message of the Myth
  • April 15 - Myth in the Body – Stories in Yoga, Tai Chi, Body Language and the Martial Arts
  • May 6 - The Power of Myth Part 3 – The First Storytellers
  • May 20 - The Creative Spark – Finding Inspirations and Lessons in the Mythic Patterns of World Stories
  • Jun 3 - The Power of Myth Part 4 – Sacrifice and Bliss
  • Jun 17 - Art of Storytelling – Using myth and symbol to reach the deep roots of your listener’s psyche
  • Jul 1 - The Power of Myth Part 5 – Love and the Goddess
  • Jul 15 - Archetypes and Secrets behind a Dark Hero
  • Aug 5 - The Power of Myth Part 6 – Masks of Eternity
  • Aug 19 - Cultivating Synchronicity – Discussion Group
  • Sep 2 - The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell’s Life & Work
  • Sep 16 - The Changing World – Ancient Roots to Modern Causes
  • Oct 5-8 Celebrating the Mythic Life – a 3 day conference celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Joseph Campbell’s passing and work.

 


Film Premiere: “Finding Joe” at the Rosendale Theater – Feb. 21 at 7:15pm

The Hudson Valley’s premiere of the new film “Finding Joe” about the use and impact of the work of Joseph Campbell is being hosted by the Center for Symbolic Studies. The film will be followed by a Q&A by biographers, and personal friends of Joe, Stephen and Robin Larsen along with Richard Schwab, the leader of the Joseph Campbell RoundTable of New Paltz.

Click here to watch the trailer, and below to buy advanced / discount tickets!

Finding Joe – Trailer V.7 from pat solomon on Vimeo.

 

 


Candlemas/Imbolc Storytelling Festival – Jan. 28th: 9pm-9am

Sat eve, 9pm, Folks begin to gather; we open the celebrations with the Brigit welcoming ritual when enough of the community is present; storytelling and music continues through the night until we put out the candles at dawn.  We clean up and close the space by 9am Sunday.

Please Bring:

  • your sleeping bag / bedding, 
  • a story, poem or song to share, 
  • and some food as this is a pot luck. 

We will also have the movement space available as a quiet space for those who want to sleep earlier or relax.

Suggested Donation: $10

See you there!


Myth Group: The Past Life Regression Work of Roger Woolger – Jan 15th 5:30pm-8:30pm

The Intellectual and Healing Legacy of Roger Woolger, 1946-2011

Joseph Campbell Round Table, Center for Symbolic Studies

Sunday, Jan 15, 2012   5:30-8:30

This is a special presentation of the Joseph Campbell Round Table to honor the legacy of Roger Woolger, Ph.D. who passed to another life on November 18, 2011.  He was, we believe, one of the foremost Jungian Analysts of our time, but one who followed Jung’s dictum of being more than just a “Jungian”.
In effect, Roger achieved a synthesis of Jungian and “regression” therapy with truly “transpersonal” dimensions.  While Jungian therapy has always been criticized for being too “intellectual” Roger’s approach to therapy is direct and experiential, not to mention highly catharctic.

This year the Joseph Campbell Round table is celebrating Jungian thinkers, with James Hillman (also recently passed) in November, Clarissa Estes in December, and while Roger’s spirit and work is so strong in our minds and hearts, Roger Woolger in January.  On this occasion we will assemble his friends and professional colleagues, read from his writing, both published and unpublished, and create an audio tape, and possibly a transcript of the whole proceedings.  We hope this will pave the way for a “festschrift” conference in the not-too distant future in which distinguished presenters from all over the world will talk about Roger’s influence on their own scholarship, and approaches to healing.

Our Joseph Campbell Mythological RoundTable meets monthly on the 3rd Sunday, in the FireplaceRoom at the Center for Symbolic Studies (see Directions). We are located at the crossing of River Road and Springtown Road, about 5 miles north of New Paltz.  Bring your curiosity, a story or two if you have them, and either a $20 donation or snack to share with the group if that’s more convenient. Contact us if you have a question or request.


Myth Meeting: Women who Run with the Wolves

Women who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

This month we will be discussing the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PhD. This is truly one of the great books in the field of interpretive mythology, in which Estes gives rise to the natural Wild Woman Archetype that resides in us all.

We will discuss and share the bones of these stories, which resurrect the archetypal motifs that set a woman’s inner life into motion, such as the transformative function of the psyche, the retrieval of the deep knowing intuition, and how to find one’s pack.

If you’ve ever felt that sense of yearning deep in your bones, you’ve heard the call. Wake up, stretch, sniff the breeze, and join us for what is sure to be a fascinating discussion. Whether male or female, all are welcome. Come and share a meaningful section of the book, or just come to learn more about women’s mythology!

Myth Group: Women who Run with the Wolves – Sunday Dec 18th 5:30pm-9:30pm

Please bring a story of the theme above, and a donation (recommended $20) or light snack.

Joseph Campbell Mythological RoundTables are held in the FirePlace Room at: 310 River Road Ext. New Paltz, NY 12561


Myth Group / JCRT – Tribute to James Hillman – Nov 20th – 5:30pm to 8:30pm

 

This months’ meeting will be focused on the work of James Hillman who passed away last week. He was the founder of depth psychology and author of countless books including the best selling “The Soul’s Code”. His work focused on many wonderful ideas such as the active participation of soulmaking, seeing the mythical realm in every day life and the connection between the dreams and the underworld.

Since James Hillman was a friend of ours, we will be discussing a summary of his work and sharing some of his quotes and meaningful writings with each other.  

Please be aware that we have now shifted these meetings from 2pm to 5:30pm for the winter. Also we encourage a donation of $20 or to bring a dish or some munchies to share with the group. 

This meeting will be in the Fireplace Room in the Main Center Building: 310 River Road Ext. New Paltz, NY 12561


Myth RoundTable: The Cycle of the Hero – October 16th 2pm-5pm

One of the most crucial lessons and for many people, the introduction to unravelling stories for their meaning below is the Monomyth, now frequently known as the Hero’s Journey. 

In this roundtable we’re going to try our hands at uncovering the mythic roots of our favorite stories. Be they films, tales, novels or portions of our own lives we’ll glimpse to see where these patterns arise in the stories we all know so well and how they connect and resonate for ourselves.

Please bring a story of the theme above, and a donation (recommended $20) or light snack.

Joseph Campbell Mythological RoundTables are held in the FirePlace Room at: 310 River Road Ext. New Paltz, NY 12561


Personal Mythology Workshop w. Stephen and Robin Larsen: October 28-29-30, 2011

Finding Our Personal Myth
A Workshop with Stephen & Robin Larsen

October 28-29-30, 2011
Friday 8-10pm, Introductory Lecture (CSS donation)
Sat.10am to 6pm, Sun. 10am-4pm (tuition $100)

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us
act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in
its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke

“I came to regard it as my “task of tasks” to find out what myth I am living.”
— Carl Jung

What Myth are you living? What ancestral and personal resources do you draw
upon? What dreams, what creative sources and inspirations? What Helping
Animals, what Allies in Nature?)

Join us on Halloween weekend for a deeper exploration of the magical realm we
glimpsed at our MidSummer Festival one-day workshop. Friday evening will
provide an Introduction for those who did not attend the July one-day, and
additional insights for returning participants. This workshop will be both didactic
and experiential, and will allow more time for participants, through a variety of
modalities, to arrive at a sense of their own “personal mythology.”

Personal Mythology work contains the key to one’s own life-choices, decisionmaking, creative projects, life partners, dreams and aspirations.