Blue Fire (Hillman) Discussion Group

I am now favoring “If Women Rose Rooted.” This would begin with our first meeting in October 2026.

“Echo’s Subtle Body” by Patricia Berry—highly recommended and our original first choice—would certainly work in a more academic setting. The first chapter, “What’s the Matter with Mother?”, deals with the literal matter of mother, and thus seems to touch on alchemical themes. In trying to anticipate members’ reactions, however, I am concerned that it may feel a bit heavy-laden at this point in the life of our group.

At the Program Committee meeting a few days ago, it came up in passing that Film Nights and Reading Groups serve as a free and risk-free forum for any new member who has the time and inclination to explore the ideas of Jung, his adherents, and his colleagues with whom he collaborated and corresponded. Of course, this does not preclude engagement from those of us who have been in the loop a little longer.

As it is, Denise Horton has suggested another reading group, beginning with “The Power of Myth,” the filmed version of which was actually the Saturday group’s second subject—over Zoom during the early days of Covid.

Jeff Pinette’s Sunday group is finishing up with Monica Wikman’s “Pregnant Darkness,” moving next to a shortened encounter with Dana Sawyer’s “The Perennial Philosophy – Reloaded,” and next year beginning Erich Neumann’s “Depth Psychology and a New Ethic.”

So attention must be paid to what the Saturday group has to offer within this growing constellation.

Rooted invites participation partly through name recognition, but more importantly through its themes of power of place, mythic geography, and psychic geography. We seek Home: feminine rootedness, evoking Hestia—goddess of the hearth—as a counterpoint to Hillman’s roaming Hermes, trickster and crosser of boundaries.

Just thoughts—which, after all, is what the chatroom is about.

BTW: this post pairs with the invitation to join the Saturday Book Group on March 14 from 10–12. A separate discussion point has been posted in that regard.