Last time I blogged I was entering an unpleasant period of medical treatment, but I’m thrilled to say that I’m nearly through and have been given the all-clear. So I’m getting back down to business and am in search of Helios' sunshine!
I’ve got something wonderful to look forward to, as
well, and some of you may even be interested in joining in. An enterprising company
called Travelgems run by some inspiring Greek ladies has invited me to lead a retreat
on the psychological relevance of Greek tragedy to today’s problems at an
excellent hotel in the old seaside town of Naflplio between 11th and
16th July 2023.
The culmination will be a group outing to a live
performance of an ancient drama at the stunning ancient theatre of Epidaurus. It
will be unforgettable.
I’ll lead all the sessions where we will explore these timeless plays; there'll also be a guest lecture by the incomparable Nat Haynes and expeditions to the marvellous concentration of museums and sites in Greece.
I’ve just finished a book coming out next year with Yale University Press called Facing down the Furies on how Greek tragedy and ethics can help us address even the most intractable emotional problems, and this retreat will give me a chance to offer participants a private preview of the book’s contents.
We will ask how Aeschylus’ Oresteia can teach us resilience, Sophocles’ Antigone the importance of patience in decision-making, Philoctetes how to maintain hope even in our darkest hours, and Euripides’ Heracles on how to move on even after disaster and depression. We will ask why the Greek tragedians returned time and again to the stories of strong women facing up to the emotional problems of a society which oppressed them.
We’ll laugh,
cry, swim, eat, explore, and get inspired by some of the most beautiful art,
poetry and archaeology in the world. I really can’t wait! To prepare myself, I’m
going to start blogging on different myths connected with the area, starting
next week with the healing sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidauros. The Greeks understood
a great deal about minds and emotions. I’d love you to come with me on this retreat for a
journey through their ideas.
