Unladylike: The Irreverent and Inspiring Character of Baubo

Mythological stories reveal who we are and guide us toward who we may become. Rich with imagery and emotion they could be considered companions on our journey through life and role models from which we can discover greater complexity and nuance within ourselves. Jung says that myths are “symbols pregnant with meaning” (Jung, 1960/1971, p. 474) – a meaning that is made more familiar and more immediate by being present in narrative form.

In this presentation, Claire Savage, PhD candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute, will introduce you to a powerful and funny little lady named Baubo who can be found tucked into the middle of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter.  Baubo’s actions inspire courageous exploration of some of the deeper aspects of the psyche and give us permission to live fully into your own playful (and at times irreverent) nature.

Through the introduction of Baubo, Claire will guide us through how we can cultivate a place within ourselves that honors both consciousness and the unconscious.

Some non-required, but always highly suggested, reading for this month’s discussion includes the following:

Estes, C.P. (1992). Women who run with the wolves: Myths and stories of the wild woman archetype. Ballantine Books.

Lubell, W. M. (1994). The Metamorphosis of Baubo: Myths of woman’s sexual energy. Vanderbilt University Press.

Paris, G. (1998). Pagan meditations. Putnam, CT: Spring Publications.

Tannen, R. S. (2007). The female trickster: The mast that reveals: Post-Jungian and postmodern psychological perspectives on women in contemporary culture. Routledge.

A bit about our Presenter!

Claire Savage is a doctoral student in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She has a master’s degree in educational psychology, is a credentialed teacher and resource specialist, and has taught regular and special education in Milwaukee and the San Francisco Bay Area. Claire has written for The Journal for Career Assessment and Psychological Perspectives and has an upcoming chapter entitled “The Soul’s Calling in Teacher Education” in New voices and New Visions: Explorations in Archetypal Pedagogy.

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