Inaugurated and supported by friends of James Hillman and by scholars of his founding work in archetypal psychology, the James Hillman Symposium is the leading forum for an ongoing discussion of the Uniform Edition, a 11-volume collection of his writings, co-published by the Dallas Institute and Spring Publications. The mission of the conference is to encourage conversations about Hillman's major ideas and concepts in conjunction with psychological and cultural topics as well as pay tribute to his life and career.
"Hillman makes a study of the transformative processes suggested by the arcane alchemical processes that were adapted in late life by Jung as a basis of understanding depth psychology. Hillman carries this idea forward, arguing that the images and language of alchemy provide a much more valid, less abstract picture of human nature: instead of cold concepts, sensate images. By incorporating the aesthetic approach, alchemy teaches, in Hillman's words, 'with its colors, and minerals, its paraphernalia and enigmatic imagistic instructions . . . an aesthetic psychology.'" --Joanne H. Stroud, Founding Fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, Director of Institute Publications, and Editor of the Gaston Bachelard Translation Series
"It is not the literal return to alchemy that is necessary but a restoration of the alchemical mode of imagining. For in that mode we restore matter to our speech - and that is our aim: the restoration of imaginative matter, not of literal alchemy."--James Hillman, Alchemical Psychology
"One of James Hillman's favorite ideas, one of his richest ideas, is psychological polytheism . . . the idea that we are not going toward wholeness; we are going toward a manifestation of our variety . . . having sorted ourselves out into all these elements." --Thomas Moore, 2016 James Hillman Symposium
Each of the James Hillman Symposiums takes for its subject a volume of the Uniform Edition of the Writings of James Hillman. The symposiums encourage participants to deepen their understanding of Hillman's writings by listening to talks given by leading scholars in diverse fields of psychology, art, theater, literature, and film--united by an appreciation of James Hillman's innovations--and by contributing to lively, stimulating discussions.
Conversing with James Hillman: Alchemical Psychology Includes works by: James Hillman, Gustavo Barcellos, Scott Becker, Pat Berry, Scott Churchill, Robert Kugelmann, Jean Lall, Stan Marlan, Margot McLean, David Miller, Safron Rossi, Robert Sardello, Michael Sipiora, Dennis Slattery, Joanne H. Stroud, and Gail Thomas.
Author Biography:
Joanne H. Stroud received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology and Literature from the University of Dallas and lectures in Dallas, New York City, and Connecticut. She is a Founding Fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, Director of Institute Publications, and Editor of the Gaston Bachelard Translation Series, which consists of seven works on elemental imagination written by the French twentieth-century philosopher of science. The 2002 Bachelard Symposium she chaired in Dallas, Matter, Dream, and Thought, attracted international attention. The series completion in 2011 was celebrated with a Bachelard Day on the 30th Anniversary of the Dallas Institute. She served on the Boards of Overseers of Harvard University (12 years) and the University of Dallas (15 years) and serves currently on the Southwestern Medical Foundation. She has taught literature and psychology and is author of The Bonding of Will and Desire; the four-volume series Choose Your Element: Earth, Air, Fire and Water; and Time Doesn't Tick Anymore. Gaston Bachelard: An Elemental Reverie on the World's Stuff and Towers 2 Tall. In 2017 the University of Dallas honored with her the Distinguished Alumni Award for sustained, distinguished accomplishment and contribution to any field of human endeavor. Selection as a Distinguished Alumna is one of the highest honors the university can bestow. Robert Sardello, Ph.D, is co-founder and co-director of The School of Spiritual Psychology, which began in 1992, and co-editor of Goldenstone Press. He is author of six books. His main emphasis has been to develop theoretical and practical approaches to perceiving and being in right relation with the Soul of the World, showing that humans are pulled from the time stream from the future rather than pushed from the past, and developing the interior consciousness of the heart. He has created new, yet very practical cultural visions in areas such as the meaning of books, the essence of service, the virtues, money, business, giving, healing, religion, living through the heart, and how to be in right relationship with and in the earth. He is an independent teacher and scholar. He is a Founding Fellow of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
