Entered Pacifica: 1999

Current Occupation: I teach World History,

Western Political Thought and Womens' History in

Harker School, San Jose, California.

Where You Live: Redwood City, California

What Brought You To Pacifica? James Hillman Archive,

and the dream to become a Jungian psychohistorian.

     

How Has Your Pacifica Degree Served You Professionally In Your Occupation/Vocation?

We had a school assembly to honor me. I received a pay rise :) I gave a school seminar on my PhD research. My students love calling me "Dr. Meyer."  I am fortunate enough to work with faculty who are always interested in research and new ideas. I have presented my research at two CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) Conferences and I am working on a committee with our librarians to develop new strategies for teaching online research. As a result of my Pacifica studies with Susan Griffin and Mary Watkins, I developed my own senior elective course (Women in World History), and I also expanded our Western Political Thought Elective to include Jung's ideas on the Collective Unconscious and the Shadow as factors in causing wars.

    

How Has Your Degree Served You Personally?

It was the first part of the completion of the dream. I knew I had a unique experience with history and I wanted others to share it, especially those involved in researching and teaching history.

 

What Was The Meaningful Or Memorable Part Of The Pacifica Experience For You?

Pacifica validated my experiences with the unconscious forces behind the creation of history, and gave me the inspiration, the tools and the confidence to write about them.

     

Dissertation Title

      Clio's Circle: Historians Who Dare to Embrace the Unconscious

Publications

For my book Clio's Circle: Entering the Imaginal World of Historians published by Spring Journal (2008). See my website http://www.clioscircle.com/

•Archive of the Soles: Walking into the Landscape of History (Spring Journal, 76, 2006)

•“Teaching Psychohistory in London: Clio’s Psyche (2006), available online: www.cliospsyche.org/articles_tpl.html.

•“My Journey from Oxford to Psychohistory”. Clio’s Psyche, Volume II, Number 4 (2005)

•“Mildred Harnack”, “Psychological Undercurrents of History”, ed. J. Piven (2001).

•“An Evaluation of CD-ROM Resources as a Tool for Teaching the Holocaust”, “Journal of Holocaust Education”, Issue 8.1 (2000).

•“Facing History and Ourselves: A Review of a Course for Teachers”. “Journal of Holocaust Education”, Issue 6.3 (1999)

PRESENTATIONS

•Pacifica Graduate Institute. Mythology of Violence Conference. Summoned by Blood: The Archetypal callings of Historians of Genocide and Trauma (2008)

•Pacifica Graduate Institute. Nature and Human Nature Conference. Walking in the Soulscape of History (2007).

•Pacifica Graduate Institute. When History Wakes Conference. Clio’s Circle: Historians Who Dare to Embrace the Unconscious (2004)

HONORS & AWARDS

•Robert Lorenz Prize: Best Paper, International Convention, Psychohistorical Association, New York (2000).

•Women’s Studies Award, International Convention, Psychohistorical Association, New York (2000).

•Robert Lorenz Prize (warded for Film and Paper), “Teaching the Holocaust”, International Convention, Psychohistorical Association, New York (1998).

Areas of Interest

Intersection between history and depth psychology

     

Contact Information

rutdal@yahoo.com

Ruth Meyer,  Ph.D.