Above, Below, Beyond

A New Light for Pluto and the Archetypal Underworld

A six-week course revealing a new perspective on the archetypal underworld


Register Now

Wednesdays 5:30pm - 7:30pm ET, starting November 12th
Via Zoom — Classes will be recorded


In this course, we will explore the underworld—and beyond—as we reveal several unrecognized dimensions of the Pluto archetype. Drawing on lesser-known myths and ancient philosophy, each session will examine Pluto from a different angle, in a quest to see past the standard interpretations, and to know this energy in new ways.

Sessions begin November 12th. We will meet Wednesdays at 5:30pm ET. Each session will last about two hours, and will include teaching, storytelling, discussion, and experiential explorations. Classes will be recorded, but attending live is recommended.


Why Pluto?

Pluto is the god of depth, yet most of us use the same tired keywords when working with this archetype: death, rebirth, pressure, transformation, and so on. We can do better. In this course, we're going beyond the traditional understanding, as we follow the invisible threads toward a new world of meaning.

Starting with a brief analysis of the standard, "off-the-shelf" keywords and stories, we'll quickly move past them to go on a quest: what binds all of those things together? What is the true essence of Pluto? Is Pluto necessarily destructive? What does a light Pluto look like?

And once we start to see a bit more of the invisible god, we'll pull on those threads as hard as we can—just how deep can these new paths to the underworld take us?

Image by @rotislaw_ts

Who is with us

Archetypal Pluto is so much bigger than the stories of Hades. Throughout the course, we'll examine myths and legends that carry the Plutonian in ways you may have never noticed. We'll walk with some of the following:

  • Hekate
  • Odin
  • Penelope
  • Vulcan
  • Izanami
  • Sir Gawain
  • Christ, Satan, and a great many more
Image by @archaeologyart

Ancient Roots

We're going to look deeper into the ancient philosophy behind the elements, life and death, and the soul in order to anchor our exploration in the tradition.

We'll hear from old school thinkers like Empedocles, Plato, and Rumi, as well as modern writers such as Nietzsche, Jung, Rilke, and Whitehead.

Image by @archaeologyart

Who is this for

This course was developed primarily in an astrological context, but anyone with a symbolic, mythic, archetypal worldview will be able to enjoy it. Astrologers, mythologists, storytellers, occultists, tarot readers, psychologists, philosophers, and beyond.

And if you're not sure, just reach out and we can chat about it.

Un Chien Andalou

Applied Symbolism

Armed with new images and ideas, we'll take our evolving Plutonian eye, and apply it to all kinds of things—not just astrology and myth, but also art, music, psychology, and culture.

Along the way, we'll have the chance to test out Pluto in one of his potential new roles—as the god of symbolism itself.

Image by Dan Hillier

Embodied, not just theoretical

Archetypes are the living, dynamic patterns around which our psyches evolved. By knowing them, we gain a new sight. They are not to be merely understood, but experienced. In this course, we'll have several experiential invitations to help you come to know the many faces of Pluto in your life.

Options will include writing, art making, ritual, crafting, collaboration, chart reimaginings, agons, and more.

Image by @strange_house

The Course Includes

Here are just a few of the things we'll talk about:

  • What Pluto signifies when he’s not tied to death, destruction, compulsion
  • The philosophical and biological underpinnings of symbolism
  • The psychology of ghosts, zombies, and vampires
  • Pluto as a process
  • Fancy Greek words that make you sound smart
  • What a functional, "light" Pluto energy really feels like
  • Ways in which the abstract concept of death is actually quite beautiful

Here's what's included:

  • Six live online sessions, Wednesdays at 5:30pm ET from November 12th to December 17th.
  • Recordings of each class
  • Each session will also include experiential elements; this will vary from session to session, and may not be recorded. However, instructions will be provided to play along at home if you can't make it.
  • Optional group chat via WhatsApp to discuss the ideas and activities from the class
  • Optional Q+A Sessions
  • ...and a few other surprises
Enroll

$249
Payment plan available at checkout





John Selig

Meet the teacher

John Selig is a writer and educator who specializes in the psychology of myth, meaning, and the occult. He has traveled the world visiting the sacred sites of many cultures, and he's currently working on a book investigating the deeper meanings hidden within the world's myths and religious stories.

He's studied astrology and the philosophy behind it for many years, and he sees the world through symbol and archetype. He's also a lifelong rock musician.

John doesn't really like writing in the third person. This is by far the coolest course I’ve ever taught; it’s the product of a months-long underworld journey of my own, and I’m so excited to share it with you.