Modern Western medicine and psychology evolved from the ancient Greek tradition founded by Asklepios, god of healing. It was also formulated through the dialectal method of Socrates, philosophy, and Dionysian worship in tragic theatre. These combined into a sophisticated holistic healing system, involving incubation for “big dreams” that spread all over the Mediterranean world for more than 2,000 years, offering ritual and holistic practices that recognized that healing begins at the soul level.
In tonight’s lecture, based on my new book, Soul Medicine, I will share an in-depth look at ancient Greek practices that gave birth to modern medicine and depth psychotherapy. Big dreams, oracles, and visions reveal the condition of the soul and offer restoration. Ancient and modern techniques and practices, case studies, and stories reveal how these methods achieved great healing both in the distant past and in the present. We seek intimacy with the god-powers and the eternal.
Ancient and world spiritual traditions teach that the key to healing is restoring the soul & re-aligning with the cosmic order. Healers facilitated altered states of consciousness without drugs or medicines to bring dreams, visions & oracles that healed through catharsis, identity transformation, providing life guidance, revealing prescriptions & destinies, recovering buried memories, and reconnecting to the sacred.
Western medicine & psychotherapy originated in these practices over 3,300 years ago using holistic and naturopathic methodologies combined with “dream incubation" that brought seekers what Jung called “big dreams” providing direct healing or prescriptions. These resulted in thousands of “miracle cures” to intractable conditions of body, mind, heart, and spirit.I have been studying and practicing this tradition for decades & have led more than 20 pilgrimages overseas to replicate them. My new book
Soul Medicine explores spiritual & holistic healing through the original healing practices of dream incubations, sacred theatre, vision & oracle seeking, philosophy & mythology. Join us to explore these ancient practices that are the origins of medicine and psychology and the blueprints of healing today.
PLEASE NOTE: Masks are required per Smith College policy. If you are local, please join us LIVE AND IN PERSON or register for Zoom participation.
Admission is $20 for Zoom (sliding scale payment option available).
When attending in person, admission is by donation. Your generosity is appreciated.
