As I reflect on the journey that led me to the creation of paleophenomenology, I am reminded of a single thread connecting everything: the human need to understand, to make sense of the world, and ultimately, to leave a mark. My background as a psychotherapist, a Jungian aficionado, and a researcher delving into consciousness studies, has always driven me to explore what it means to be human.
From a desire to combine my interest in the past and the human mind with a profound admiration for ancient landscapes and their symbolic and embodied meaning, the concept of paleophenomenology was born.
Paleophenomenology, at its core, is a methodology for exploring the relationship between ancient consciousness and modern human experience. It’s not merely about looking at rock art or archaeological findings from a historical or anthropological lens, but about tapping into the lived experience of ancient peoples—their sensory worlds, their impulses to create, and the moments of recognition that shaped their reality.
My Journey: not just a Seeker
The seed of paleophenomenology was planted first in 1989 and then [again!] during my academic PhD research into consciousness and phenomenology, particularly as I delved into Neanderthal rock art, like that found in La Pasiega. While most people's initial interest lay in understanding the origins and significance of these markings, I quickly realized that what fascinated me most was the need to create them — the drive behind those first human marks, and what they reveal about the birth of awareness.
Rather than focusing on what these early symbols may have represented, paleophenomenology looks at the act of creation itself from a multidisciplinary perspective. What must it have felt like to leave a mark on a stone wall, to push through that initial awareness of one’s ability to change the environment, to communicate through action? This question resonated deeply with my work in existential psychotherapy, and it set me on the path to developing this framework.
What Paleophenomenology Offers
Through this methodology, I invite fellow seekers to step out of the purely analytical mind and into the experiential realm. Whether you are an academic, an artist, a neurobiologist, an ecologist, an anthropologist or someone simply intrigued by ancient history, paleophenomenology offers a unique lens through which to engage with the past.
I am excited to offer workshops that will immerse participants in a blend of lectures, hands-on exercises, and landscape engagement. Here’s what you can expect:
Short-Weekend Workshops: These are experiential, field-based residential experiences designed for diverse groups of participants — ranging from students and artists to professionals in anthropology, psychology, and phenomenology. We will explore how ancient peoples might have experienced their world, guided by concepts drawn from Jungian psychology, material culture, shamanism, and phenomenology.
Two-Week Residential Workshops: For those who wish to delve deeper, these longer workshops offer the chance to fully engage with both the theory and practice of paleophenomenology. Participants will not only learn but also experience sites in an embodied way, questioning concepts of reality and truth through immersive, reflective practices. These workshops are meant to foster connections across disciplines and create a space for collaborative integration of knowledge.
Paleophenomenology Lectures: These will provide a theoretical foundation, exploring the connections between consciousness studies, phenomenology, and the ancient impulse to create. Jungian analysis will be woven throughout, offering a bridge between ancient and modern thought.
The Call to Create
Paleophenomenology isn't just an academic pursuit — it is meant to be a journey into the very heart of what it means to be and create. By understanding the impulse that drove our ancestors to leave their marks on the world, we can better understand our own creative drives today. I look forward to welcoming you into this exploration, and to see how this journey might inspire your own mark upon the world.
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