Reclaiming the Mythical Feminine
Class of 2021

2021 continued to be a year of adapting to a changing world, a year of expanding into moving freely and being contracted into isolation once more. Either we were being being boxed in Zoom or polarities of division, outwardly the year was once again marked by the unknown. What better ways to learn to work with the unknown than to plunge into the depths of the unconscious, and myth as always our vehicle. Being submerged in these ancient patterns of creation and destruction, gives us, in some strange and real way solace in the face of the outer turmoil, it reminds us that safety has never been part of the big stories that carried the ancients. It reminds us that it is the ferment of difficulty and suffering that creates a vehicle of wisdom that can carry us forward in life, and an ever changing world.

Another group of women journeyed through 7 cycles filled with creation stories and myths on the feminine, tended their dream images with curiosity and generosity of their time and creative impulse. Here is a glimpse into the final creative works called ‘The Crescendo’. It is again a joy to share these with the outer world.

Take you time to go through these expressions as you would in an art gallery, let them speak to you and through you and feel free to share with those you feel will appreciate.

all the best blessings,

Faranak Mirjalili
(Founder Anima Mundi School)

Dream Play into Yin & Jung
by Lolo

(Laurence Marguerite Marie-Louise Plouvier)

“With these two images, my intention was to gather both the Goddesses that we worked with during the Reclaiming the Mythical Feminine program as well as the masculine figures that showed up in my dreams during the same 9 month-period. In one of the dreams pictured there, I underwent a brain surgery - I like to think that it removed some patriarchal conditionings from my soul...."

Dear Kali
by Judy

dialoguing with the dark goddess

Sophia is Present
by Danielle

"As part of my therapeutic journey of working through a body complex, I created a piece of embodied poetry. Written in homage to the Goddess Sophia, I explored themes of patriarchal possession, feminine wisdom, and healing.
Every Sunday morning, I took my poem on a three hour walk and allowed my body to choreograph its own movements while I incanted my poetry aloud. Within the container of this weekly ritual, I was able to vivify my words with physical form. In the final stage, I wove a visual tapestry of images together to accompany my embodied recital by creating a short film. "

— Danielle

Mandala Messages from the Self
by Fabiola Quezada

Spoil & Soil
by Vanessa

The Bull on My Doorstep
by Svenja

“The specific idea of the piece came from a dream I had towards the end of the RMF cycle - I dreamt of a bullhead laying on my doorstep with the message "Greetings from Tehran" right after putting an intruder who tried to trick me in chains (in my garden). The bull had been a reoccurring symbol throughout the course and it seemed most natural to work with it in my final project. The materials are lava rock which I found close to the spot in my garden where I had chained the trickster and the robe is made from natural fibers. The eyes are made out of shells that I found in the ocean here in Hawaii.

Over the last year, the bull became some sort of guide, mostly alley, sometimes not. Again and again, we met in my dreams, the first time in the hellfire, the last time at home in peace. I guess he's an adventurous travel companion in the depth of my unconscious after all and bringing him into this world in form of a sculpture was the least I could do to give thanks.”

—Svenja

For Lily
by Alexandra