Dear Roberta,

Thank you for analyzing this well-known myth. Excavating different versions of the same classical myths sheds light on the historical shift from matriarchy to patriarchy, as one poet's version would supercede another's version. This pattern highlights the role of the storyteller/poet in (often unconcious) partnership with political powers. When I was in college, Elaine Pagels's discourse on Gnosticism turned my life around. I would love to hear you do a whole series on myth. We live in renaissance; and it's people like you who are midwifes.

Sincerely yours,

Antonia

Dear Roberta,

I enjoyed your analysis of the Persephone myth as it reflects the shift from a matriarchal to patriarchal culture. It was the first Greek myth I found fascinating as a child and now I think I understand why. Do you like Barbara Walker's work?

I think we are living in a cultural renaissance, a shift from patriarchy to fraternity (or sorority, if you like). Germaine Greer pointed out that both patriarchy and matriarchy are heirarchical, and that the true step forward is the spontaneous cooperation of fraternal structures. Well, cooperation sounds good to me. I also think that this cultural renaissance is linking the right and left hemispheres of both individuals and societal organs.

Sometimes I see you as a midwife, witnessing and safeguarding the birth of a new, bright era. Sometimes I see you as a corpus callosum, a singularly authoritative voice for complementary knowledge, medicine and spirituality, doggedly tracing the links between science with intuition. Go, Roberta!

I'm looking forward to the next Ciao workshop! My inner goddess will give you a big hug!

Blessings,

Antonia