In Autumn 2009 the James Hillman manu-

script collection at OPUS was enriched

by the addition of his research notes on

alchemy. The materials arrived in time for

the upcoming release of Hillman’s Uniform

Edition Volume 5: Alchemical Psychology.

During a recent visit with Dr. Hillman, I

had the opportunity to ask about the much

anticipated volume and get his thoughts on

the research materials that are now available

in the archives.

SR: Could you describe your process in writing

Uniform Edition v5 Alchemical Psychology?

JH: Alchemical Psychology is a collection

of previously written pieces. In some cases

lecture notes had to be turned into an ac-

tual written chapter. But ninety percent of

the book had previously been written and

maybe even published. The fi rst chapter was

written and published in the 1970’s based on

courses at the Jung Institute of Zürich, Yale

University, University of Chicago, Syracuse

University during the 60’s and early 70’s,

and University of Dallas in the late 70’s.

SR: How did you choose the material for

the book?

JH: I used the previously printed pieces.

There’s a great deal more on alchemy that

is not in this collection but those are merely

research and lecture notes and have been

surpassed, so to speak, by the written pieces

which are more fi nished and polished and

thought through more deeply. The last one

was the keynote lecture at the Jungian con-

ference in Barcelona in 2004. And two or

three of them were Eranos lectures.

SR: Did particular mythic fi gures play a

dominant role as you pieced it all together?

JH: Yes, the fi gure of

the alchemist, this

very strange fi gure

that has been in the

European imagi-

nation for centu-

ries, and American

imagination too,

though later. This

fi gure goes all the

way back to Moses,

whom some texts

like to consider the

fi rst alchemist.

SR: Why is Moses considered an alche-mist? The associa-tion is unique.

JH: He was a magician. He struck a rock with his rod and got water out of it, among other things that he was able to do. The idea of magical transformations, the power to affect nature—transformations in nature.

But as far as a Greek, typical, mythical fi g-ure that we’re all used to, the obscurities of Hermes are very important, as are the riddles of language, and the tremendous endurance and patience that is required of Saturn.

SR: So Saturn plays a part in alchemy?

JH: One of the alchemical texts says the work begins in lead and ends in lead. Archetypally Saturn is obsessive, repetitive, depressing.

SR: And the relationship between Saturnian and Mercurial energy, could you speak to that?

JH: They aren’t concerned with coming together.

SR: What are they concerned with?

JH: Enjoyment [Hermes] and endurance [Saturn]. Just like any work. Endurance, not dedication,

because dedication takes it back to the ego, “I am dedicated.” Stamina. Not giving up.

SR: With your research notes in the archives

now, do you see seeds of future work, further

threads for students and scholars to follow?

JH: There is an enormous amount of stuff that

could be worked further. As Andrew Marvel

said, “if there were worlds enough and time.”

But at some point I had to close the door and

get out what was done rather than trying to

do it all. There is a huge amount of rich re-

sources for anyone interested in any aspect of

alchemy. They will fi nd things of value. Not

just my notes but the materials I assembled.

Uniform Edition volume 5 Alchemical Psychology is to be

released early summer by Spring Publications. The most

recently published volume in the Uniform Edition is volume

3.9 Animal Presences. For more information on the James

Hillman collection at OPUS visit www.opusarchives.org

and click on Explore the Collections.

James Hillman on Alchemical Psychology An Interview by Safron Rossi, Ph.D., OPUS Director

“The fi gure of the alchemist…has been in the European imagination for centuries, and American imagination too, though later.” —James Hillman, Ph.D.

The Marija Gimbutas collection

“In the Stacks” with Richard Buchen

Marija Gimbutas’ collection is a treasure because she insisted on the importance of

understanding the ancient cultures she studied in human terms, beyond making

standard archeological studies of tool types and subsistence patterns.

Researcher Glenda Cloughley, New Mythos Grant recipient visiting from Australia,

brought to my attention the following passages in an audiotape in the Marija Gimbutas

collection. The recording was made at a celebration marking the publication of The Lan-

guage of the Goddess in 1991.

“The very language we use to discuss the past speaks of tools, hunters, and men, when

every statue and painting we discover cries out to us that this Ice Age man [had] a culture

of art, the love of animals and women. Art and religious symbols of Old Europe were hard-

ly studied by archaeologists. More was intuitively perceived by poets, artists, by religious

historians and Jungian psychologists.” Near the conclusion of the lecture she says, “We

must re-examine history and start putting back some parts that we have left out, namely

the earth, the body, the feminine, and the unconscious.”

The Gimbutas collection combines the highest level of rigorous academic work in the fi eld

of archeology as well as the equally intense focus and interest on the human meaning-mak-

ing experience. Marija Gimbutas spent much of her career as an archaeologist documenting

the cultures of the European Neolithic period from 6,500 to 3,000 years before the Common

Era, and their replacement after this time by warlike cultures originating in the Ukrainian

Steppes who spoke Indo-European languages ancestral to the languages of modern Europe.

Get Involved with OPUSBecome a Volunteer Archival Assistant

Cross the threshold into where lead-

ing theorists offer their ideas, their re-

search, observations and opportunities

freely and without reservation. Immerse

deeply and comprehensively in their

personal notes, letters, books and un-

published manuscripts on hand at both

campuses of Pacifi ca Graduate Insti-

tute – The Joseph Campbell and Marija

Gimbutas Library on Lambert campus,

and the archival fi lm, manuscript and

artifact storage on Ladera campus. Have

the pleasure of learning to assist OPUS

in sharing the collections with visiting

students, scholars and seekers from the

general public.

Archival Assistant Program Update

An OPUS archival assistant is trained

in handling, cataloguing and searching

the archival materials in our collections.

OPUS’ volunteers are trained on a one

to one basis in their chosen area—be it

cataloguing incoming collection mate-

rials, digitizing images, managing data-

base records or supervising researchers.

Our assistants have the opportunity to

sink deep in the stacks on a regular ba-

sis, cataloguing materials being induct-

ed, converting audio lectures to digital

format, scanning images and becoming

experts for the particular collection in

which they choose to specialize.

More information on OPUS volun-

teer programs at www.opusarchives.org.

Click on “Become a Volunteer.” The ap-

plication may be downloaded.

Visit the OPUS Archives

Contact us to schedule a visit to OPUS

Archives and its collections, including

the Joseph Campbell and Marija Gimb-

utas Library. Whether for research or a

tour, we are here to share the treasures

in the collections!

Richard Buchen, MLS, is a special collections

librarian at Pacifi ca Graduate Institute. Pacifi ca

generously donates a portion of his time to

OPUS, where he shares his knowledge of the

archives with visitors and researchers. Here is

one of his recent discoveries “in the stacks.”

Help Preserve Your Favorite OPUS Collection or Project

We are deeply grateful to our donors, as

our ability to manifest our work is directly

related to their generosity. We need your help

to continue our work of cataloguing and

digitally preserving hundreds of audio tape

lectures, and thousands of images and man-

uscript pages. Your donation of any amount

can be designated to support a specifi c col-

lection or project.

Cataloguing Collection Materials

$300 will pay for the completion of one archi-

val manuscript box. We have recently received

new myth lecture notes from Joseph Camp-

bell’s days at Sarah Lawrence, and research and

writings on alchemy from James Hillman.

Digitizing Audio Lectures$200 will digitize one complete lecture. We

have hundreds of taped lectures from: James

Hillman, Marija Gimbutas, Marion Wood-

man, Jane Hollister and Joseph Wheelwright,

Chris Downing, and Katie Sanford.

Digitizing Images$100 will digitize ten images. We have thou-

sands of images from Joseph Campbell’s

Historical Atlas of World Mythology; more

than 15,000 slides from Marija Gimbutas’

archeological digs and lectures; and slides

from James Hillman’s lectures on the anima.

We Also Need:• Three Vista 7 PC desktop computers

• Four 1-terabyte internal hard drives

• Two 1-terabyte external hard drives

• A Xerox Documate 510 Scanner

• Locking artifact storage cabinets

• A web guru to help with search engine optimization and social networking sites

Together, we bring the archives to life. Please help us preserve the richness of the collections!

• Send your tax-deductible donation to OPUS Archives & Research Center 801 Ladera Ln., Santa Barbara, CA 93108

• Give online at www.opusarchives.org

• Set up a monthly charge to your credit card online or call 805-969-5750.

We appreciate all donations and acknowl-

edge them on our website.Follow us on Twitter. Find us at OPUSarchives (one word).

Become a FAN on Facebook. Find us at OPUS Archives.

Keep Track of OPUSNews and events regularly updated on www.opusarchives.org

At Alchemy, Inc. in Akron, Ohio

Myth Is Impacting Society

As OPUS strives to make

the wisdom we hold

relevant to the world, we

continually seek examples

of how “the work of the el-

ders” translates into the cul-

ture at large. To that end, we

asked Pacifi ca graduate, Dr.

Kwame Scruggs, Executive

Director of Alchemy, Inc.,

to share his experience. Alchemy, Inc. is a non-profi t organization that works with adolescent

urban males. It utilizes mythological motifs and stories from the platform of depth psychol-

ogy to assist urban youth develop a sense of personal purpose in life. The organization is

based in Akron, Ohio and has programs elsewhere as well, including a collaboration with the

National Writing Project at Kent State University called “Myth, Muses & Scribes.”

Kwame asked a few of the teens in Alchemy’s support groups “why is myth important?”

Here are the responses from three 15-year-old boys:

Tyrell: “I feel myth is great for urban youth. It relates to the days we are going through

now. It helps with life’s obstacles. The myth gives us something to look up to, and to make

life choices. Myth is like a parent that’s with you every second.”

Sergio: “Adolescent males should use the myth stories because they show us a different

way of life than what we see today.”

Sean: “We should use myth with urban males because it is very easy to relate to the stories.

And it’s not boring, so it’s easier to pay attention to what the story says. It gets you to think

beyond the literal meanings of things.”

Kwame explained that these young men realize that if something is a common theme in

myth, chances are it is a common theme in life. They attempt to incorporate the character

traits of the hero into themselves—becoming the hero in their own stories. Within the core

group of 35 male youths, 18 have been with Alchemy for fi ve to six years, and the others for

three years. Since its inception, Alchemy has worked with more than 400 young men. As

part of the Myth, Muses & Scribes project, Alchemy is training females to launch groups for

girls, using myth and fairy tales.

Kwame received a New Mythos grant for his project entitled “Myth, Mentoring, Initia-

tion, and the Prima Materia: A Black, Blacker than Black. Voices of Urban Male Adolescent

Youth.”For more information on Alchemy, Inc. and its programs visit www.alchemyinc.net.

Joseph Campbell Foundation Mythological RoundTable® Group at OPUS

During the past 6 months the Mythological RoundTable® Group hosted by OPUS has

been reading Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces exploring the ideas of initi-

ation, the journey, as well as personal and collective meanings of the Hero. The discussions

have focused to assist participants in deepening their understanding of how Campbell’s

work informs the multiple mythic paradigms in the world.

The Mythological RoundTable® at OPUS is held the second Thursday each month from

6:30 to 8:30pm on Ladera campus of Pacifi ca Graduate Institute. This enriching and lively

monthly conversation is free and open to the public. Information on upcoming discus-

sion topics are posted at www.opusarchives.org under News and Events. We invite your

participation!

Tendrils

The Phoenixby Safron Rossi, Ph.D., OPUS Director

Fire has long trans-

fi xed the imagination

as an elemental force that

purifi es and makes pos-

sible regeneration, even

hinting at immortality.

The Phoenix embodies

these ideas in its mythical

presence within the my-

thologies of Persia, Phoe-

nicia and Egypt as well as

in Russian folklore.

The Phoenix is known to boast a magnifi cent tail plume

of gold and scarlet cascading feathers mirroring the fl ames

that provide the vehicle for eternal transformation. The

Phoenix prepares for death by fi rst building a nest of aro-

matic herbs, cinnamon and myrrh, before it immolates it-

self in that very nest through the heat of its own body. Out

of the resulting ashes rises the young Phoenix, destined to

live 500 to 1000 years.

Ovid wrote that the resulting young Phoenix would

carry its nest with the remains of its former self to the city

of Heliopolis, “City of the Sun” to reside in the temple of

the Sun.

Alchemist Michael Maier (1568-1622), author of the

Atalanta Fugiens, an alchemical emblem book, wrote that

it is indeed possible to see the Phoenix provided we “look

around with the little eye of the soul” (Hymnosophia, Civ

recto-Civ verso). The eye of the soul is able to see through

the world around us in it’s seemingly material and perma-

nent form to the great cosmic cycle of life and death. Ever

present to the continuing process, then, is the symbolic

body of the Phoenix.

At a time wherein social and cultural structures are dis-

solving in their concrete manifestations a sense of entropic

chaos rests heavily and powerfully in the collective ether.

The Phoenix provides an archetypal image worth meditat-

ing upon, as Maier implies, for it shows through its own life

cycle the necessity of the ‘burning’ in order for new growth.

Fire serves as not only destructive but creative and regen-

erative. As after a forest has been scorched by fi re, the ashes

provide the necessary nourishment to spark the seed ger-

minated from the intense heat and new growth is birthed.

The Phoenix also instructs that the container of death is

the cradle of new life; thus the nest is to be honored and

deposited into sacred space once it has fulfi lled the dual

function of coffi n and crib. May we look around with the

little eye of the soul to detect the scorching beauty of the

Phoenix’s feathers.

A devastating earthquake rocked the foundations of Haiti on January 12, 2010, and altered the course of history. In addition to the annihilation of buildings, massive

loss of life and untold suffering, the events took another toll less obvious and hardly publicized, with potentially long term and deeply profound effects.

Many icons of Haitian history, art, and culture were damaged or destroyed; including the National Palace, cathedrals full of priceless artifacts, and libraries. Also devastated was the National Archives, which, as the New York Times’ Marc Lacey noted, “linked both the country’s heroic history and the vibrant culture that united them and en-abled them to endure” their tumultuous history of corrupt leaders, political trauma, and natural disaster.

Sadly, one third of the historical documents in the Haitian National Archives were damaged. They chronicled the years surrounding Haiti’s fi ght to achieve national independence in 1804, when it became the fi rst independent Black republic in the world. The Archives also housed documentation of Haitians’ little-known partici-pation of in the U.S. Civil War, when they actively combatted slavery by purchasing American slaves for $30 each and setting them free.

Libraries and archives from the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world have stepped forward to assist in a “race against time” due to weather conditions and malfeasance. This initiative aims to immediately secure more than 20,000 books and manuscripts relating to early Haitian history, providing for the people of Haiti the hope that lies in the cultural underpinnings that they insist sustain them. OPUS will post information on our website regarding volunteering for the relief effort that is being organized by dLOC (Digital library of the Caribbean.)

For OPUS, observing the devastation in Haiti has again brought sharply home the critical function of preserving the collections entrusted to our care. Standing vigil over our collections during the recent wildfi res in Santa Barbara County was a sacred honor. We remain ever cognizant of our commitment to extend our preservation efforts through digitization, acid-free storage, climate monitoring, and making avail-able the seminal works in our custody for current and future generations of seekers. We continue our dedication to that end, as we hold the keys to the theories, philoso-phies, mythologies, and scholarly platforms to be mined and make meaning of life’s experiences.

Saving History…

Lessons Learned from Haitiby Elise Collins Shields, Ph.D.

“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” —UNESCO World Heritage Project

New Mythos Grant Recipients Begin their Research

The Haitian Presidential Palace was one of the many national treasures destroyed in the January 2010 earthquake.

“I am deeply moved at the level of thoughtful scholarship and vision represented by the projects of these fi nalists. Each honors the importance of bringing the wisdom teachings of our OPUS elders into the world in service of the future of humanity.”

-Lynnaea Lumbard, Ph.D., Chair, Selection Committee

In January 2010 OPUS announced 13 recipients of the New Mythos grant pre-

viously offered in fall 2009. The projects span a wide cultural spectrum and

are summarized on the OPUS website. The grant provides one of many oppor-

tunities to support research in OPUS’ archives, essential to forwarding the foun-

dational work left to us by the scholars of the collections held by OPUS. Grant

winners Jacquelyn Jackson and the James Waddell Team recently launched their

research and offer thoughts on their initial experiences in the stacks. Here are the

fi rst updates from our New Mythos grant recipients.

Learning To Be Female: Forging a Mythos that Transforms Projects of Body to Projects of Soul

Jacquelyn Jackson writes how snakes were a guide toward a new female mythos

during her research visit to OPUS:

The works of Jungian scholars housed at OPUS are carefully zipped within

plastic to keep nature’s alchemical forces at bay, certainly not an inviting habitat

for snakes. But the snakes that lurked within the pages and on the canvasses in

the collections led me forward as I began my search within the archives for a new

mythos of Learning to be Female.

The fi rst snake arrived in Box 108 of the work of Marija Gimbutas. “In Lithu-

ania, when I was six,” Gimbutas writes, “I was told ‘never harm a green snake.’

I had close contact with animals and knew the Earth was sacred. I remember

watching people kiss the mother earth, and thanking mother earth in the eve-

ning. All was important for my later work.”

Likewise, in Marion Woodman’s collection, she shared a dream where she

recounts being “taken by a beautiful snake along a path. And the snake…went

merrily along...with a crown that was an eye.” The snake did not want her to

read “The Seven Chronicles of the Western World,” but instead offered a book

depicting a snake with an eye in the crown, which she described as “a living eye,

a loving—the eye of God.”

Within the Joseph Campbell collection, Lecture XIV lands the snake directly

into the human body. Kund-

alini, he notes, is the “coiled

up serpent power…centered

at the base of the spine and

pictured in the form of uro-

boros, the coiled serpent bit-

ing its own tail.”

And I found snake images

slithering across most of Kath-

erine Sanford’s canvasses—a

central guide in her painted

journey of individuation. An

April 1963 Sanford painting

upends the story of Eve and

the snake with its depiction of

a woman offering “her light of consciousness, or the apple,

if you will, to the serpent.” Sanford’s works capture what

is emerging as a central theme in my quest through OPUS

archives. How do we transform the notion of “sin” that was

fi rmly implanted in the female body centuries ago into

“sensual” and “sacred?” What mythos will inspire girls and

women today to claim a sacred power rooted in their body,

reveling in food, lubricated by sexuality and sensuality.

On the female journey, we seek not to slay but to sustain

relationships, and through the snakes the journey begins.

OPUS’ archival collections offer up powerful connections

throughout the wisdom housed there. With snakes as

guides, we will slither our way toward a mythos of embod-

ied, sacred female strength that is sorely needed to help

transform the world.

New Mythos: Hero Escapes from Prison Earth

The James Waddell Team is exploring the archives to look

beyond the bounds of planet Earth:

In 1957 an earth-born rocket was launched into the uni-

verse. The immediate American reaction was relief about

this “fi rst step toward escape from man’s imprisonment to

the earth.” Our project seeks to articulate clearly the story

of modern world alienation through its fl ight from the

earth to the universe. As Hannah Arendt acknowledges,

this fl ight goes beyond Christians speaking of the earth

as a vale of tears or philosophers looking on their bodies

as prisons of the mind and soul. This fl ight is a radical

repudiation of an Earth as the Mother of all who dwelled

upon it. It is a fl ight that changes one of the fundamen-

tal conditions of being human: an earth-dweller who is a

participator in earth’s nature. Our story will also portray

manifestation of this earthly fl ight in the modern creation

of artifi cial life and the undead. It is a tale of contempo-

rary people exchanging what was once a given for some-

thing they have made themselves. The story is important,

because it depicts our changing human condition from

the perspective of our newest experiences and our current

fears. A clearly articulated telling of the story can help re-

veal the origin of much of the confused political discourse

about what it is to be human in the modern world with a

dismissive attitude toward the earth.

A preliminary study of the Joseph Campbell collection

in the OPUS archives revealed Campbell’s puzzlement that

more was not made of such space events as the Apollo 10

moonwalk. These space-events made us “born anew…to a

new order of things…” where “there are no horizons.” We

learned that Campbell foresaw that the space age would

change the human condition. We look forward to continu-

ing explorations of the Campbell collection to learn more

about his insights into the changing human condition as

we transform from earth creatures to universe dwellers.

Working with the Joseph Campbell Foundation

Expanding the Campbell Collection

From left: Terry Pearce, Pacifi ca Board member; Roger Epstein, JCF Board member; Safron Rossi, OPUS Director; Bob Walter, JCF President; Elise Collins Shields, former OPUS Director; Stephen Kenneally, OPUS Board President

In March, OPUS, along with Pacifi ca Graduate Institute, hosted Robert Walter, Presi-

dent of the Joseph Campbell Foundation and Roger Epstein, Campbell Foundation

Board Member. Robert brought additional materials for inclusion in the Campbell

Collection including rare posters, artwork, images and documents. The collection

continues to be enriched and enhanced in collaboration with the Joseph Campbell

Foundation.

Upcoming EventPacifi ca Graduate Institute and OPUS Present

Jung in Dialogue: Practices of Soul MakingA Conference June 11-13 in Santa Barbara

This conference, which

will be held on Pacifi ca’s

Ladera Lane Campus,

will explore practices

recognized by Jung and

the post-Jungians, includ-

ing active imagination,

story and metaphor, al-

chemy, spirituality, au-

thentic movement, and

dreams. Drawing on the

same interior sources, we

will also explore social

processes that unleash the imagination in order to promote healing, peace, and justice

in the world.

OPUS is pleased to announce that we will be mounting an exhibit of Katie Sanford’s

paintings during the conference and hosting a fi reside chat with Katie.

For more information on the conference, call Pacifi ca’s Public Programs Depart-

ment at 805.969.3626 or email publicprograms@pacifi ca.edu.

“Liber Novus,” commonly

known as the Red Book,

launched its exclusive west

coast exhibition with a private

donor reception April 10 at The

Hammer Museum in Los Ange-

les. A project of the Philemon

Foundation, the extensive Red

Book exhibit will be on display

through June 6 and features a variety of lectures

and events, including a talk by Sonu Shamdasani,

Red Book editor and co-translator. Also, a series of

public dialogues will be held in which analysts and

scholars enter conversation with artists, writers and

cultural icons regarding the meaning and impact of

the Red Book.

Stephen Kenneally, President of the OPUS Board,

attended the opening. Here are his observations:

There was much excitement in the room, not only for the beauty of the text and the striking power of the drawings, but also for the way the exhibit showed the extensive work involved in making the manuscript. This document is not merely a raw personal journal, but a carefully crafted amplifi cation of Jung’s encoun-ter with his unconscious.

The magnifi cence of Liber Novus helped me to un-derstand Jung’s words that everything he developed over his career emanated from the experiences and thoughts he had while writing the Red Book.

Background documents such as the Black Book and supplemental art work help to demonstrate the genesis of Jung’s ideas and better understand their evolution. The exhibit is a testament to the impor-tance of good archival preservation of original source documents.

This rare exhibition laid to rest any personal doubts that my interest in Jung’s work was somehow an out-dated and esoteric passion. There was a palpable sense that this was a seminal event—a cultural acknowl-edgement of the need to understand and relate to one’s own process of making myth and meaning.

It felt like we were at a tipping point of awareness and appreciation for the gift of Jung’s work. There was great excitement in the air.

For more information visit www.philemon.org or

www.hammer.ucla.edu.

Practices of Soul Making

The Offi cial Newsletter of OPUS Archives and Research Center. Copyright 2010.

Safron Rossi, Ph.D., and Elise Collins Shields, Ph.D., Editors

OPUS Archives and Research Center is a non-profi t organization that is a dynamic center for the advancement of depth psychology, mythology and the humanities, and their place on the world platform, especially as they inform social justice and environmental sustainability.

801 Ladera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108

805-969-5750 www.opusarchives.org

C.G. Jung’s Red Book Makes an Appearance in Los Angeles