Podcast Summary
Myth and Psychology in Counseling Urban Youth: Using myths in counseling can lead to objective discussions and understanding, allowing for effective communication and healing with inner city youth
Myth and psychological perspectives can bring healing and understanding to various aspects of life, particularly when working with inner city youth. Kwami Scruggs, a Jungian analyst and founder of Alchemy Inc., shares his journey of using myth and depth psychology to connect with and help urban youth. Introduced to the works of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell through an African-based rights of passage, Kwami was inspired to follow his bliss and play his drum and tell mythological stories. He began using myths in his counseling work, finding that they allowed for objective discussion and understanding. Over the years, he continued to find success in this approach, adapting it to fit different situations and populations. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, and he remains dedicated to using myth and psychology to make a positive impact in the world.
Myth and drum storytelling: Myth and drum storytelling can effectively engage and encourage deep introspection from various groups, creating a safe environment for exploring complex questions and ideas in a simple and immediate way.
Storytelling through myths, particularly when using a drum and a safe environment, can effectively engage and encourage deep introspection from high school dropouts and other groups. The myth of the golden age sets the stage for these sessions, creating a sense of safety and wonder. By telling the myth to the beat of a drum and encouraging journaling, participants can explore complex questions and ideas in a simple and immediate way. This method has been successful in various settings, even in chaotic environments, and has the potential to bring groups together for extended periods of time. The process of unpacking the myth can go on for weeks or months, fostering a deeper connection to the story and its underlying themes.
Myth of the Water of Life: Storytelling through the myth of the water of life fosters a sense of community and understanding by allowing individuals to reflect on their lives and the roles they play in their communities, leading to meaningful conversations and personal growth.
Storytelling, specifically the myth of the water of life, can help individuals connect with each other and their past experiences, fostering a sense of community and understanding. This myth, which involves a king seeking a cure for his sickness and his oldest son's quest for the elusive water of life, resonates with listeners on a personal level, allowing them to reflect on their own lives and the roles they play in their communities. During group discussions, participants identify what resonates with them, share their perspectives, and engage in meaningful conversations, creating an environment of open-mindedness and trust. Through this process, they discover that the experiences of others can serve as mirrors, helping them make choices and grow. Alchemy, a nonprofit organization, uses this method to facilitate such discussions among young people, resulting in profound personal development and a sense of initiation.
Universal human experiences and myths: Incorporating themes of sacrifice, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles from myths can help individuals find meaning and hope in their own stories, becoming the hero in their own lives.
The power of universal human experiences and myths can help individuals find meaning and hope in their own stories. Lisa emphasizes the importance of becoming the hero in one's own life by incorporating themes of sacrifice, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles from myths. Through her personal growth and therapeutic journey, Lisa has deeply connected with the objective psyche and unconscious, trusting that the universe will work things out even in difficult times. The myths serve as a mirror, encouraging individuals to look deeply into their own lives, identify challenges, and work on them. Lisa's connection to the myths and her role as a healer and storyteller have been transformative, inspiring her to help young people find their own paths to healing and self-discovery.
Opportunity and support: Opportunity and support from the right people at the right time can significantly impact the work we do and the lives we live. Never underestimate the power of holding onto hope and the transformative power of myths in finding meaning and purpose.
Sometimes, opportunity and circumstance can play a significant role in shaping our lives and the work we end up doing. The speaker, Joseph, shares his personal story of how he started Alchemy, an after-school program for at-risk youth, through a combination of being in the right place at the right time and the support of the right people. He also emphasizes the importance of holding onto hope and the power of myths to provide us with a sense of meaning and purpose. Through his work with Alchemy, Joseph has come to believe that the death of hope can mean the loss of access to the deep unconscious and the mythic level of our psyche, which can be replaced by suffering and pain. However, he encourages us not to give up on hope and to continue seeking out our bliss, no matter what age we may be. Ultimately, Joseph's story is one of perseverance, sacrifice, and the transformative power of myths in helping us find our place in the world.
Alchemy in Education: Founder Kwame Alexander's Alchemy program in NYC uses mythological stories to teach critical thinking skills, leading to high graduation and college attendance rates.
Kwame Alexander, the founder of Alchemy, has dedicated his life to bringing the ancient practice of using mythological stories to teach critical thinking skills to young people, particularly in New York City. He has seen remarkable success with this method, as evidenced by the high graduation and college attendance rates of his students. Despite facing challenges in funding and convincing skeptics, Alexander remains passionate about sharing this unique and effective approach with more youth. Through his work with independent schools and the upcoming training program, he is expanding his reach and helping to distribute the "water of life" to more people.
Storytelling and Mythology: Storytelling and mythology inspire and transform young urban men facing adversity by encouraging belief in their potential and perseverance through incorporating hero traits and continuous progress.
The power of storytelling and mythology lies in their ability to inspire and transform, particularly for young urban men who may be facing adversity and negative messages on a daily basis. By sharing stories of heroes and myths, these young men can be encouraged to believe in their own potential and persevere, rather than giving up hope. The process involves incorporating the character traits of these heroes into their own lives and continuing to make progress every day, even if it doesn't happen overnight. This approach can help boys and men reconceptualize their relationship to themselves and others, rather than relying on external sources for transformation. Myths are not just stories, but lies that tell the truth and offer a means of revitalizing archetypal energies to create new images and behaviors.
Reimagining Masculinity: Reimagining masculinity involves fostering emotional connection through storytelling, encouraging empathy, compassion, and understanding of others to create generational change.
The work being done with young men involves reimagining masculinity and fostering emotional connection through myths and storytelling. This process aims to bring balance between masculine and feminine energies, encouraging empathy, compassion, and understanding of others. The ultimate goal is to create generational change by helping these young men become better parents, partners, and community members. By sharing their own stories and experiences, the facilitators create an environment where the boys feel seen and understood, fostering a sense of belonging and hope. The transformation that takes place is essential not only for the individual but also for the community, as these young men carry the potential to make a positive impact on those around them.
Adult-Youth Connection: Sharing personal stories and experiences in a trusting environment can help build trust and understanding between adults and youth, leading to deeper connections and self-exploration.
The sharing of personal stories and experiences, even in a trusting environment, can help build trust and understanding between adults and youth. This was exemplified in a discussion about the use of a drum to help youth express their emotions, leading to a deeper level of connection and trust. The dream analysis revealed a complex inner conflict, possibly related to a chronic illness and feelings of shame or isolation. The use of archetypal symbols, such as the talking snake and the moat-surrounded barn, added depth to the interpretation. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces for open communication and self-exploration.
Inner Conflict and Clothing: Clothing can represent our adopted persona, but inner conflict may prevent us from aligning it with our authentic self, causing resistance to change and growth
Clothing can represent the persona we adopt to navigate social environments, but the psyche may resist this persona if it doesn't align with our authentic self. The snake, a symbol of feminine wisdom, may be particularly opposed to a persona that doesn't fit well. The dreamer in this discussion is at a threshold in her life, trying to leave home and enter the professional world, but she's held back by illness and the inner conflict between her persona and her authentic self. The snake, representing wisdom and potential regression, may be preventing her from leaving or may be attacking her to protect the unconscious. The dreamer's persona and the inner snake are versions of herself, and their conflict may be preventing her from adapting to the outer world and crossing important thresholds. The dreamer's attempts to leave may be met with resistance, and the inner conflict may lead to a sense of being trapped and unable to move forward. The dreamer's encounter with the snake may result in important insights, but these insights may be difficult to integrate and may require a period of regression before true growth can occur.
Inner wisdom and power: The dream may reflect a need for the dreamer to embrace her inner wisdom and strength, rather than remaining in a helpless state, with the recurring image of a snake symbolizing the importance of balancing venom and wisdom.
The dream may represent feelings of helplessness and a longing for wisdom, but also a fear of being cut off from potential sources of growth or masculine energy. The dreamer's inability to connect with a past suitor and feeling ignored by him may symbolize a sense of rejection or disconnection from her own inner masculine or power. The dream also suggests that the dreamer may need to embrace her inner wisdom and strength, rather than remaining in a childlike or helpless state. The recurring image of a snake, which represents both venom and wisdom, highlights the importance of finding a balance between these two aspects of herself. Overall, the dream may be encouraging the dreamer to trust her intuition and inner guidance, rather than relying on external validation or help.