Musings on "Psychosophy & A New Mythological Consciousness"

By: William Bento, Ph.D.

February 13, 2012

Category: - Western Region, Psychology-Psychosophy

Looking toward the conference May 11-15 in Fair Oaks, CA

The following notes were supplied in connection with the upcoming conference at Rudolf Steiner College. Follow the link at the end or view the attached flyer for more information.

This theme began with an intuition that a Renaissance is breaking into our time similar to what was launched by the Platonic Florentine Academy of the late 15th century. Although there was no formal discipline as psychology at that time, there was an implicit focus on soul life. The need to re-engage with mystery wisdom as a source for the renewal of culture and an impetus to liberate minds from a dogmatic blind of the prevailing Christian Churches became the unwritten creed of the Platonic Florentine Academy. Today something like a re-emergence of this impulse exists within a small circle of creative individuals searching for ways to advance the life of soul in the spirit of Anthropos – Sophia.

The idea of a new mythological consciousness seemed to capture the content and the mood of the intuition. Yet, its novelty was far more compelling than any true cognitive grasp of what was really being implied. At least that has been the case with my own process. For some months it stood before me as a riddle. The language of the Florentine Academy was as much visual as audible. Myths of the ages past were fused with the mysteries of the Christ events, and each artistic, poetic, sculptural masterpiece held a letter of the alphabet of a new mystery language for the Consciousness Soul Age. Embedded within this language were the ancient universal consonants of the zodiac and the vowels of the planets. Astrology in its last forms of purity was still a vital text of grammar for the Florentine Academy.

And how is it now, 500 plus years hence? 

My own thoughts have moved in the direction of seeing mythology in a new light. I am now seeing myth not only as an article of truth about a principle of evolution located in some ancient past, but as a formative archetypal principle streaming toward us out of the future. In this sense Psychosophy represents a set of new soul faculties capable of apprehending the spirit through all matter of phenomena. The phenomena can be seen as the appearance of a new creative mythological force shaping our time. To see it and anticipate its development gives rise to prophetic consciousness. In a very aphoristic way, I could say this time of critical transition we are facing is about a particular flowering of Consciousness Soul that is about to produce seeds for the Spirit Soul. Much of humanity cannot see this transition for what it promises, for the veil of fear is too vast and heavy upon the soul. But there are always forerunners who will suffer the way before others can follow and remove the veil of fear to see the light. Being prophetic is not about predicting anything specific, but anticipating what the Heavens are asking Humanity to become in the here and now, in the eternal moment of ‘presencing’ the Good Spirit among us.

Seeing spirit in all matter of phenomena is for me beholding the sacred, uniting with the immanent divinity in all life upon the Earth. This perception must become a consistent attitude of gratitude and a feeling for the sacrament…the sacrament that makes all things sacred and whole once again. Out of this ideal I am seeking to join hands with those who are willing to explore what the new mystery language of Spirit Soul may be in vision and speech. The conference is but one small step in this pursuit.

If I have come off as a naïve idealist, so be it. I am only a striving fool for something more than I can see, touch or know with the faculties I have now. Thank goodness, I trust these faculties can unfold to something much more. Yet, without the engendering dialogue between friends the path is arduous and lonely. Thank you for lending a soul ear to my musings.

William Bento, Ph.D., is a Transpersonal Clinical Psychologist in private practice and Associate Academic Dean at Rudolf Steiner College, Fair Oaks, California.