Mythologies of the Underworld II: Indigenous American Cosmologies with Evans Lansing Smith, Ph.D, Begins September 10
Five week online course taught via Zoom
Wednesdays, September 10 - October 8, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ET (New York time)
$175 Paid Patreon Members/ $195 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: All classes will also be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time
Join us for a descent into the foundational mythologies of the journey to the underworld.
Over five weeks, we will examine the archetypal imagery of these myths of underworld journey by tracing the common “necrotypes,” or universal images and symbols, that have been generated by the human imagination to populate the culturally diverse narratives we will study. In our examination of the myth of descent to the underworld (the "Nekyia"), we will ask ourselves, what is the primary focus of the myths across time and culture? How and why do they change from one period to the next? And how do they reflect the changing intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and social issues of these periods?
Through lectures, suggested readings and discussion, we will focus on indigenous myths of American cultures from the Mayan underworld of Xibalba described in the Popul Vuh to the Navajo myth of the Hero Twins, from Masaaw the Hopi guardian of the underworld to the mystical visions described in Black Elk Speaks, from the Sun Dance ceremonies of the Plains cultures to the mythological worlds of the Haida Shamans.
Over the course of the class, we will interpret the primary myths and rituals from these rich, indigenous traditions focusing on the archetypal, spiritual, and symbolic nature of the narratives. To do this, students will learn to critically apply the hermeneutics of depth psychology to the themes, symbols, and narratives of the "Nekyia." Finally, we will address the syncretic aspect of the mythologies of the underworld, which typically bring together motifs from a wide range of mythologies and spiritual traditions.
Evans Lansing Smith is Core Faculty of the Mythological Studies Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has lectured widely and published ten books on comparative literature and mythology. In the 1970s he traveled with Joseph Campbell on study tours of France, Egypt, and Kenya.
Images: Diego Rivera watercolors for the Popul Vuh
Five week online course taught via Zoom
Wednesdays, September 10 - October 8, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ET (New York time)
$175 Paid Patreon Members/ $195 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: All classes will also be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time
Join us for a descent into the foundational mythologies of the journey to the underworld.
Over five weeks, we will examine the archetypal imagery of these myths of underworld journey by tracing the common “necrotypes,” or universal images and symbols, that have been generated by the human imagination to populate the culturally diverse narratives we will study. In our examination of the myth of descent to the underworld (the "Nekyia"), we will ask ourselves, what is the primary focus of the myths across time and culture? How and why do they change from one period to the next? And how do they reflect the changing intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and social issues of these periods?
Through lectures, suggested readings and discussion, we will focus on indigenous myths of American cultures from the Mayan underworld of Xibalba described in the Popul Vuh to the Navajo myth of the Hero Twins, from Masaaw the Hopi guardian of the underworld to the mystical visions described in Black Elk Speaks, from the Sun Dance ceremonies of the Plains cultures to the mythological worlds of the Haida Shamans.
Over the course of the class, we will interpret the primary myths and rituals from these rich, indigenous traditions focusing on the archetypal, spiritual, and symbolic nature of the narratives. To do this, students will learn to critically apply the hermeneutics of depth psychology to the themes, symbols, and narratives of the "Nekyia." Finally, we will address the syncretic aspect of the mythologies of the underworld, which typically bring together motifs from a wide range of mythologies and spiritual traditions.
Evans Lansing Smith is Core Faculty of the Mythological Studies Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has lectured widely and published ten books on comparative literature and mythology. In the 1970s he traveled with Joseph Campbell on study tours of France, Egypt, and Kenya.
Images: Diego Rivera watercolors for the Popul Vuh
Five week online course taught via Zoom
Wednesdays, September 10 - October 8, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ET (New York time)
$175 Paid Patreon Members/ $195 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: All classes will also be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time
Join us for a descent into the foundational mythologies of the journey to the underworld.
Over five weeks, we will examine the archetypal imagery of these myths of underworld journey by tracing the common “necrotypes,” or universal images and symbols, that have been generated by the human imagination to populate the culturally diverse narratives we will study. In our examination of the myth of descent to the underworld (the "Nekyia"), we will ask ourselves, what is the primary focus of the myths across time and culture? How and why do they change from one period to the next? And how do they reflect the changing intellectual, spiritual, psychological, and social issues of these periods?
Through lectures, suggested readings and discussion, we will focus on indigenous myths of American cultures from the Mayan underworld of Xibalba described in the Popul Vuh to the Navajo myth of the Hero Twins, from Masaaw the Hopi guardian of the underworld to the mystical visions described in Black Elk Speaks, from the Sun Dance ceremonies of the Plains cultures to the mythological worlds of the Haida Shamans.
Over the course of the class, we will interpret the primary myths and rituals from these rich, indigenous traditions focusing on the archetypal, spiritual, and symbolic nature of the narratives. To do this, students will learn to critically apply the hermeneutics of depth psychology to the themes, symbols, and narratives of the "Nekyia." Finally, we will address the syncretic aspect of the mythologies of the underworld, which typically bring together motifs from a wide range of mythologies and spiritual traditions.
Evans Lansing Smith is Core Faculty of the Mythological Studies Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He has lectured widely and published ten books on comparative literature and mythology. In the 1970s he traveled with Joseph Campbell on study tours of France, Egypt, and Kenya.
Images: Diego Rivera watercolors for the Popul Vuh