Program Curriculum

Three pilgrimages of solve et coagula, to dissolve and reconstitute

Month One: Outer Pilgrimage

During the first month, you’ll study the three-fold stages of American mythologist Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from departure, through initiation, to return, leading you across the outer pilgrimage from aimlessness to a higher purpose. You’ll discover the power of myth, select a personal myth from world literature to live by, critique and rewrite your life narrative, and experience the world anew as a vibrant, multidimensional theater encoded with meaning.

Month 1 Class:

• C1: Mythology: Rewriting Your Story
• C2: Departure: Leaving Your Comfort Zone
• C3: Initiation: Facing Trail, Finding Treasure
• C4: Return: Bestowing Your Boon

Reading:
Campbell, J. (1991) The Power of Myth. Anchor Edition. PDF included.

Month Two: Inner Pilgrimage

During the second month, you’ll study the three-fold stages of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung's process of individuation, from ego, through shadow, to the Self in the collective unconscious, leading you on an inner pilgrimage from restrictive fear and reactivity to greater freedom and authenticity. You’ll work with the shadow, defenses, and wounded parts of your psyche, rediscover the power of your intuition, keep a dream journal, draw mandalas, or track synchronicities, and follow the lead of your inner compass, which innately knows both your true source and destination.

Month 2 Class:

C5: Psychology: Reclaiming Your Soul

C6: Ego: Working with Trauma

C7: Shadow-work: Following Your Intuition

C8: Self-actualization: Straddling Nondual Worlds

Reading:
Jung, C. (1961) Memories, Dream, Reflections. Vintage Books. PDF included.

Moacanin, R. (1986). Jung’s Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism. Wisdom Publications. PDF included.

Month Three: Secret Pilgrimage

During the third month, you’ll study the three-fold stages of manifestation rehearsed in the Tibetan Buddhist tantras, from death, through bardo, to rebirth, leading you along the secret pilgrimage from deconstructing the tragic self, to reverse engineering a heroic self through archetypal imagery, to embodying a flow-state, compassion-driven, re-engagement with the world. You’ll discover the power of role-modeling visualization, positive affirmation, and breath work, acting like a flight simulator to optimally rewire your mind, brain, and nervous system.

Month 3 Class:

C9: Tantra: Reimagining Your World

C10: Dissolution: Entering Clearlight

C11: Bardo: Merging with Archetypes

C12: Rebirth: Embodying Your Ideal

Reading:
Lama Yeshe (2014). Introduction to Tantra. Wisdom Publications. PDF included.

Neale, M. (2018). Gradual Awakening. Sounds True. PDF included.

By the end of three months, you will have ventured on three successive pilgrimages, outer, inner, and secret, explored three interrelated disciplines, mythology, psychology, and Tibetan tantra, rehearsed a set of practices, myth-making, self-healing, and soul-sculpting, to carry you forward on your onward journey with greater clarity and confidence.  

The Crucible Library

Mystical literature to guide and inspire your pilgrimage of transformation