The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie

The Art of Enchantment, led by Dr. Sharon Blackie, explores the interconnection of myth, fairy tales, and depth psychology to foster personal growth and ecological consciousness. It addresses personal milestones like midlife, emphasizes woman-centric narratives, and advocates for re-enchantment with nature and community through storytelling and psychological insights.

Depth Psychology Mythology and Folklore Personal Growth and Self-Discovery Women's Stories and Archetypes Nature Connection and Eco-Consciousness Creative Writing and Storytelling Psychological Interpretation of Fairy Tales Cultural and Environmental Sustainability Mental Health and Wellbeing Community and Belonging

The hottest Substack posts of The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie

And their main takeaways

Enchantment is resistance

4792 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Feminism Nature Events Psychology
  1. Enchantment can be a form of resistance, challenging the myths that contribute to ongoing issues and inspiring new ways of being.
  2. Writers and storytellers play a crucial role in resistance by offering stories that help people imagine and desire a better world.
  3. Resistance to everyday evils can involve living differently day by day, making small changes that collectively create a positive impact.

Curating your unique inner imaginarium

3394 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Myth Imagination Archetypes Soul
  1. The concept of an 'inner imaginarium' suggests that our imaginations are influenced by external sources and have an independent existence, impacting soul-making.
  2. The imaginal world is seen as a realm of psyche and soul, where archetypes, stories, and creative insights thrive, connecting us to a deeper reality.
  3. Developing a 'mythic sensibility' involves embracing and working with the unique collection of images, stories, and archetypes that resonate with us, contributing to soul-making.

The Heroine's Journey

2855 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Archetypes Personal Development
  1. The concept of the Heroine's Journey offers a new perspective that differs from the traditional Hero's Journey, focusing on women's experiences and acknowledging their diverse roles beyond stereotypes.
  2. Exploring narrative psychology through fairy tales provides a more relatable and inclusive framework for personal growth, as fairy tales represent the tales of ordinary people and offer a wide range of characters and situations.
  3. The Heroine's Journey encourages individuals to delve deeper into their own journey through life, reflecting on women's archetypes, personal mythmaking, and other narrative processes for self-discovery and understanding.

Home: beginnings

2236 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality
  1. The post discusses the Heroine's Journey and delves into the concept of the Fairy-Tale Heroine's Journey.
  2. The author emphasizes starting at the very beginning when exploring these concepts.
  3. The post is exclusive for paid subscribers, highlighting the value of the content for those who support the author.

On the couch 2

1897 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Reflection Psychology
  1. The post discusses combining multiple questions into one topic for discussion.
  2. The content is specifically for paid subscribers only.
  3. The link to the post provides insights from Dr. Sharon Blackie.
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The Father Wound

1198 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Personal Growth Emotional Healing
  1. The post discusses the concept of 'The Father Wound' and its impact on individuals, particularly on the Heroine's Journey.
  2. Dr. Sharon Blackie delves into the exploration of deep psychological themes and narratives in her writing.
  3. This specific post is only accessible to paid subscribers, showcasing exclusive content for those who have subscribed to the newsletter.

The Mother Wound

1477 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Healing
  1. The post discusses the concept of "The Mother Wound" and its role in the Heroine's Journey.
  2. It highlights the importance of paid subscriptions to access certain content on the platform.
  3. The author expresses gratitude for the readers' feedback and encourages further engagement and discussion.

How myth and story can help us belong to our places

5811 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Myth Connection Nature Imagination
  1. Find somewhere that draws you, connect with the place's ecology and folklore, tell stories to rocks and trees to build a relationship with the natural world.
  2. Imagine nature as a living creature with dreams, show up often in the same place, listen to the land's dreaming, and fall in love with the world.
  3. Connection with nature is about love, wonder, and awe, not about using nature for our needs; cultivate enchantment through myths and stories to feel connected and belonging.

On the Couch 1

1996 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality
  1. Living your calling may not always bring pleasure.
  2. The post is exclusive for paid subscribers only.
  3. Next live Fairy Tale Salon will take place next Saturday at 4pm UK time.

British myth and folk tales and the 'law of the land'

3574 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Mythology Folklore Traditions
  1. British myths and folklore contain principles for living in balance with nature, even without a clear set of guidelines, evident in stories passed down through generations.
  2. The concept of a Wasteland in legends like Arthurian tales symbolizes consequences for disrespecting nature and the feminine, resulting in infertility and disruption of the natural order.
  3. Flooding and inundation in Celtic literature serve as punishments for wrongdoing or carelessness, emphasizing the need to respect the land, the Otherworld, and the feminine to avoid negative consequences.

Strange things

2436 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📚 Literature Fiction Novel Authors Book Reviews
  1. The author rediscovered and reread her own novel, which had been set aside for years, reflecting on the transformative power of myth and fairy tales in her work.
  2. A new online fairy tale psychology training program will be offered at Pacifica Graduate Institute, focusing on narrative techniques for therapy and personal development.
  3. Recommendations for thought-provoking novels are shared, emphasizing the importance of being open to unsettling stories and the beauty of rich prose styles.

Finding Ourselves in Fairy Tales: a new online program at Pacifica Graduate Institute

1797 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🚌 Education Myth Psychology Therapy Narrative
  1. The program at Pacifica Graduate Institute offers an eight-month training in personal narrative work, suitable for clinicians/therapists and individuals interested in deepening their personal work with fairy tales and storytelling.
  2. Participants will explore fairy tales as a reflection of the collective unconscious, use fairy tales to rewrite self-narratives, and learn practices for personal growth and therapeutic applications.
  3. The course structure includes monthly recorded lectures, live Zoom discussions, resource lists, and creative prompts, aiming for an interactive and engaging learning experience.

Fairy Tale Salon: the Woman Who Became a Fox

2256 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Midlife Menopause
  1. The post discusses a Fairy Tale Salon focused on the story of a woman who became a fox, exploring themes of midlife, menopause, and elderhood.
  2. The Salon event was live but recorded for those who couldn't attend, catering to paid subscribers.
  3. To access the content, users need to subscribe, indicating the post is for paid subscribers only.

Welcome to 'On the Couch'

1777 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Advice Coping Challenges Life
  1. The 'On the Couch' advice column offers guidance for facing life's challenges and living an enchanted life
  2. This content is specifically for paid subscribers of 'The Art of Enchantment'
  3. Dr. Sharon Blackie shares insights and wisdom through her paid subscription-based content

Winter traditions

4652 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spiritual Practice Poetry
  1. The author celebrates Winter Solstice more than Christmas or New Year, finding meaning in its connection to nature and the shifting seasons.
  2. The author emphasizes taking breaks to reflect and connect with oneself, especially during the festive season, for personal growth and clarity.
  3. The author offers special subscriber discounts for courses and subscriptions, encouraging engagement with their content on living meaningfully and exploring folklore.

What I'm reading and listening to this holiday season

2835 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
📚 Literature Books Authors Songs
  1. Dr. Sharon Blackie shares her current reading and music choices for the holiday season, expressing gratitude for her subscribers.
  2. She highlights six books she plans to read, ranging from gothic novels to dystopian fiction, showing a diverse taste in literature.
  3. Blackie also lists six songs on her winter playlist, including nostalgic tracks and modern reworkings of traditional folk music.

The psychology of midlife

6689 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology Menopause Self-discovery Transition Emotions
  1. The midlife transition is a period of questioning and self-discovery, often coinciding with perimenopause, leading to existential angst and a search for meaning.
  2. Emotional correlates of the midlife transition can include a decline in happiness, aimlessness, self-doubt, boredom, and concerns about aging and death.
  3. Navigating the midlife transition involves embracing the challenges and exploring synchronicities, dreams, and solitude to find a new story and purpose in life.

Calling all rooted women ...

2935 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Rituals Folklore Beliefs Spiritual Practices
  1. The post highlights the focus on ancestral ties and the upcoming book 'Hearth', emphasizing the importance of place and heritage in storytelling and creativity.
  2. The author shares insights about the North Sea, childhood memories, and the inspiration that nature and history provide for her work on folklore and traditions.
  3. There are exciting updates about the upcoming 'Rooted Woman Oracle' and an online event 'The Descent', showcasing the author's exploration of myths, rituals, and empowerment through storytelling.

Fairy tale salon: Wild women and wolfskins

2775 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Archetypes Literature Creativity Imagination
  1. The post discusses the Wild Woman archetype, represented by the story of Mis, emphasizing the themes of transformation and madness as means of deep personal change.
  2. The Wild Woman archetype symbolizes instinctual wisdom, intuitive knowing, creativity, and a connection to nature.
  3. Exploration of folklore and stories, like the wolf-woman tale, provides insights into deeper psychological and societal themes.

Start here

4992 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
📚 Literature Storytelling Mythology Psychology Folklore
  1. Dr. Sharon Blackie focuses on reimagining women's stories, myths, and fairy tales, emphasizing the importance of these traditions in addressing modern cultural and environmental issues.
  2. The concept of enchantment, as defined by Dr. Sharon Blackie, involves a profound connection to the world, a sense of wonder, and engagement with creativity and nature, promoting a slow and ethical way of living.
  3. Dr. Sharon Blackie offers different engagement levels through free subscriptions, paid subscriptions with exclusive content on myth, fairy tales, and psychology, and an exclusive membership called The Hearth for deeper exploration and support.

The owl season

2536 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Folklore Spiritual Practices Mysticism Community
  1. The newsletter discusses folklore, book releases, and interviews about myths and legends, emphasizing the importance of nature and storytelling.
  2. The writer shares personal reflections on aging, seasonal changes, and the joy of creating in solitude, highlighting the cyclical nature of elderhood and the importance of setting boundaries.
  3. The post also features updates on community events, reading recommendations, and a workshop on the myth of Psyche and Eros, showcasing a diverse range of literary content and upcoming activities.

Giving it all away

3215 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
📚 Literature Books Writing Poetry Storytelling Novel
  1. Growing up in a working-class family, Dr. Sharon Blackie defied societal expectations to become a writer.
  2. Writing formula fiction wasn't for Dr. Blackie, who found her authentic voice in crafting scenes with compelling imagery.
  3. Through mentorship, Dr. Sharon Blackie learned the importance of the craft of writing, emphasizing the beauty of language and evoked images.

Sea Change

1317 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
📚 Literature Nature Writing
  1. The post is about early writing on place from 2008, dug up from the author's computer. They were living on a croft by Loch Broom at the time.
  2. The post is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive content on the topic.
  3. Readers can subscribe to get access to more of the author's content about 'Sea Change'.

The Post-Heroic Journey

6430 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Archetypes Journey
  1. The Hero's Journey is a popular but criticized narrative structure that focuses on individualistic, world-saving heroes, often ignoring feminine archetypes and values.
  2. The Eco-Heroine's Journey and the post-heroic journey offer alternative narratives that prioritize community, compassion, humility, and reconnection with nature.
  3. Post-heroic stories emphasize values of community, moderation, compassion, and re-enchantment with the world, providing new, enriching perspectives for living meaningful lives.

The Hagitude program – now available on-demand

1996 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Personal Growth Spiritual Practices Community Building
  1. The Hagitude program is now available as a self-study, on-demand course after the live yearlong membership program ended.
  2. The program focuses on navigation through menopause, understanding elder women in myth, embracing one's Inner Hag, and passing down wisdom to benefit the Earth community.
  3. The self-study program includes extensive resources like module workbooks, webinar recordings, guest teacher workshops, creative writing prompts, and dreamwork sessions.

Fairy Tale Salon: Valemon the Bear King

1078 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration
  1. The post explores the beautiful old Norwegian tale of Valemon the Bear King in a fairy tale salon.
  2. The story delves into themes of wild longings and facing the Death-hag.
  3. Access to the full content of the post is available for paid subscribers only.

Hearth members: win a 1:1 with me

199 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Community Connection
  1. Members of The Hearth plan have the opportunity to win a 1:1 session with Dr. Sharon Blackie.
  2. There is a special storytelling session scheduled for March 16 at 16:00 UK time for Hearth members.
  3. To participate in these exclusive events and sessions, one needs to be subscribed to The Hearth plan.

Drops of enchantment 2

1976 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Reflection Connection Events
  1. The author had to delay an essay on mermaids and selkies for paid subscribers due to travel for a book tour celebrating the launch of the 'Hagitude' paperback.
  2. The author shared about their first proper book tour in the southwest of England after facing challenges like the pandemic and health issues.
  3. During an event at Frome, the author accidentally sprained their ankle and spilled water on their notes, highlighting the humor in life's unexpected mishaps.

Recording of session with Audrey di Mola

139 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Arts
  1. The post shares a recording of a session with Audrey di Mola about storytelling at The Hearth.
  2. The content is for subscribers in The Hearth plan, encouraging upgrades or sign-ins for access.
  3. Feedback is requested, asking if more sessions like this one are desired.

The Old Woman Who Hexed Summer

2296 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology Book recommendations Poetry Community Engagement
  1. The author reflects on the joy of home nesting, finding comfort in familiar objects and creating enchantment through personal belongings.
  2. The newsletter introduces upcoming storytelling events exploring mythic stories to inspire and provide insight during difficult times.
  3. Book recommendations and poems are shared to encourage reflection and exploration of British folklore and the magic within everyday routines.

Fairy tale salon: The Fairy Mélusine

1737 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality
  1. The post discusses the fairy tale of Mélusine, focusing on themes of wildness, secrets, and women's mysteries.
  2. The content is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive access to in-depth discussions and insights.
  3. There are links for new subscribers to join and for existing paid subscribers to sign in.

So what about the men?

55 HN points • 30 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Archetypes Mythology
  1. There are limited studies on the masculine in fairy tales, primarily due to past perceptions of masculine experience as the norm.
  2. Key archetypes of the mature masculine include the Alchemist, Shapeshifter, Magician, Smith, Warrior, King, Wild Man, Trickster, Grandfather, and Wise Old Man.
  3. Many traditional tales depict few positive older male characters compared to female ones, with some notable exceptions in Greek mythology and Judeo-Christian traditions.

Greening the Hag

2116 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Folklore Women Nature Archetypes
  1. The Cailleach from Scottish and Irish folklore represents an archetype with profound teachings about connection to the land and aspects of aging.
  2. Older women in ancient stories like the Cailleach have an important role as guardians and protectors of the land, offering valuable lessons for contemporary society.
  3. Exploring folklore about the Cailleach as an ecofeminist figure can provide insight into the depth and richness of ancestral traditions surrounding giant old women in Europe.