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Listen "8. Menopause through the Lens of Mythology with Dr. Christine Downing"
Episode Synopsis
Today I share a conversation about the soul journey of menopause with the remarkable Dr. Christine Downing. Christine is a powerhouse in the academic fields of mythology and religion, but also she’s a powerhouse in life! She was a beloved professor of mine during grad school and served as the chair of my dissertation committee. Dr. Downing is 88-years-old and full of vitality, wisdom, and perspective about all phases women traverse in a lifetime.
In this episode, Christine and I discuss:
Mythology & the menopausal transition
Why it’s important for men to understand menopause
The value of taking trips at the brink of life changes
When to acknowledge the finality of things
Recognizing your limits
The importance of mourning
Female friendships as medicine
How there’s always a way in which we’re not quite ready for change
“It’s scary to let go of who you’ve been. To feel like you didn’t choose to be where you are. ” - Christine Downing
More about Christine:
Christine is a core faculty member in the Mythological Studies Department at Pacifica University. She has made extensive scholarly contributions to the fields of Religious Studies, Mythology, and Gender Studies. She is Professor Emeritus in Religious Studies from San Diego State University where she taught for almost twenty years. In 1974, Dr. Downing became the president of the American Academy of Religion, making her the first woman to do so. She has also taught concurrently at the San Diego campus of the California School of Professional Psychology, and at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. She lectures frequently to Jungian groups both here and abroad. Christine Downing has forged a career in the academy and in the evolution of feminist thought through the unique blending of rigorous scholarly work with the personal voice of biographical writing and self reflection.
Dr. Downing is the author of numerous scholarly essays and important books in the field such as:
The Goddess: Mythological Images of the Feminine
Gods in Our Midst: Mythological Images of the Masculine – A Woman’s View
Long Journey Home: Re-visioning the Myth of Demeter and Persephone for Our Time
Myths & Mysteries of Same-Sex Love
Psyche’s Sisters
Women’s Mysteries
In this episode, Christine and I discuss:
Mythology & the menopausal transition
Why it’s important for men to understand menopause
The value of taking trips at the brink of life changes
When to acknowledge the finality of things
Recognizing your limits
The importance of mourning
Female friendships as medicine
How there’s always a way in which we’re not quite ready for change
“It’s scary to let go of who you’ve been. To feel like you didn’t choose to be where you are. ” - Christine Downing
More about Christine:
Christine is a core faculty member in the Mythological Studies Department at Pacifica University. She has made extensive scholarly contributions to the fields of Religious Studies, Mythology, and Gender Studies. She is Professor Emeritus in Religious Studies from San Diego State University where she taught for almost twenty years. In 1974, Dr. Downing became the president of the American Academy of Religion, making her the first woman to do so. She has also taught concurrently at the San Diego campus of the California School of Professional Psychology, and at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. She lectures frequently to Jungian groups both here and abroad. Christine Downing has forged a career in the academy and in the evolution of feminist thought through the unique blending of rigorous scholarly work with the personal voice of biographical writing and self reflection.
Dr. Downing is the author of numerous scholarly essays and important books in the field such as:
The Goddess: Mythological Images of the Feminine
Gods in Our Midst: Mythological Images of the Masculine – A Woman’s View
Long Journey Home: Re-visioning the Myth of Demeter and Persephone for Our Time
Myths & Mysteries of Same-Sex Love
Psyche’s Sisters
Women’s Mysteries
In God we trust