Chapter I of Dionysus: Myth, Cult and Psychology (2013).

The individual parts of this chapter will be published gradually.

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Concerning the structure of this thesis, I will approach the subject, meaning and purpose of Dionysus from three directions: myth, cult and individual material. All three represent manifestations of the same archetypal dynamics in myth, society and the life of the individual. These approaches partially overlap and are divided into four parts which, in psychological language, more or less correspond to the following:

Part I – a state in which consciousness is in danger of being overwhelmed by the unconscious (corresponding to the alchemical nigredo);

Part II – a state in which consciousness adopts a particular attitude toward the contents of the unconscious (or represses them);

Part III – the birth of a reconciling symbol between consciousness and the unconscious (corresponding to the alchemical albedo);

Part IV – a meaningful relationship between consciousness, instinct, archetypal image and the accompanying emotions (corresponding to the alchemical rubedo).

With this in mind, we will begin with the psychological foundations of the Dionysian experience as seen from the perspective of analytical psychology.

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Part I – Instinct and Image

Part II – Consciousness and Culture

Part III – Emotions

Part IV – Dionysus and Apollo

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The complete contents of the manuscript can be found here:

Dionysus: Myth, Cult and Psychology (2013)