Psychology of Mysticism Seminar

The following notes are from a Psychology of Mystical And Religious Experience Seminar presented by Todd Swanson in Abiquiu, New Mexico in June 2006.

Women in the Mysteries

Demeter

The role of women in the Eleusinian Mysteries, particularly in the early phases of the rituals, was likely significant, as suggested by the association with Demeter, a goddess deeply tied to agriculture and fertility — both realms traditionally linked to women in ancient Greece.

The Homeric Hymn to Demeter Synthesis

statue of Demeter

In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, after searching in vain for her daughter Persephone, Demeter disguises herself as an old woman and arrives at Eleusis.

Profanation of the Mysteries

statue of Aristophanes

The profanation of the Eleusinian Mysteries offers unique glimpses into the deeply secretive and sacred nature of the rites. These acts of sacrilege, particularly those from 415 BCE, provide scholars with valuable, if fragmented, evidence of what occurred during the rituals.

Comparative Analysis of Greek Mystery Cults

Comparative Analysis of Greek Mystery Cults

The ancient Greek world was a rich tapestry of mystery cults — esoteric religious groups that offered initiates secret knowledge, personal transformation, and often the promise of a blessed afterlife. Central among these were the Eleusinian Mysteries, but they coexisted with numerous other cults that provided varied spiritual experiences.

Silence and the Light

Eleusinian Mysteries

What is the Sacred? Is it objectively real, or is it a perception or an illusion, or the phenomenological presence of supernatural being(s)? If the Sacred is not real, what is the experience of the Sacred?

Womb of Fire: A Study of the Eleusinian Mysteries

statue of Demeter

The Eleusinian Mysteries deliberately induced an artificial crisis that led to significant emotional, spiritual, and psychological restructuring for the initiates. This transformative experience can be understood as a symbolic rebirth from a “womb of fire,” offering profound insights into the human condition and the potential for renewal.

Firewalking in the Land of Lightning

firewalking

Over nearly two years, I had the privilege of participating in lunar calendar ceremonies during Hindu festivals in Malaysia. These festivals, often spanning three days, enveloped me in a world where prayer rose amidst glorious clamor, and activities swirled like rushing water into a hollow, spinning and thrusting in predetermined courses shaped by the surrounding events.