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When the goddess Aphrodite claims us too fully, over time, our bodies become abandoned temples of physical perfection, sexual allure, and romantic passion.\xa0

\xa0Her seductive archetypal power has captivated us for eons, but in today\u2019s world, the enhancements of fashion, beauty, and physical appearance have intensified veneration of this goddess. However, her enchantments can have profound consequences, particularly when it comes to aging and the pressures of perfection.

\xa0In this episode, we delve into the mysterious realm of the archetype with guest Arlene Landau, Ph.D. - a Jungian analyst, mythologist, lecturer, and author of Tragic Beauty: The Dark Side of Venus Aphrodite and the Loss and Regeneration of Soul.

\xa0An intricate and complicated relationship exists between women and the goddess of love. Arlene fills a gap in Jungian literature from the female gaze, providing a reflective 21st-century examination of the Aphrodite archetype\u2019s dark shadow. When pressured to concretize Aphrodite symbols -- pursuing beauty can be a treacherous path, especially for women in the entertainment industry who must always be young, beautiful, sexy, and attractive. In addition, body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia are common challenges among the daughters of Aphrodite.

\xa0Arlene shares her Hollywood experiences, including a declined opportunity to date Elvis Presley. In addition, she sheds light on the tragic fate of \u201cdead blondes\u201d like Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith, who over-identified with Aphrodite goddess of love.

\xa0Fairytales warn us the aging Aphrodite type may feel bitter and dangerous as her beauty fades. She prompts us to engage in extreme beautification measures leaving us vulnerable to disfigurement or grotesque approximations of her qualities. She can poison our hearts against seeming rivals, leaving us hollow and alienated from love. Men are not immune to her demands for perfection either.

\xa0To balance the psyche, we explore embracing the goddesses sisters Athena, Hestia, and Artemis and developing a relationship with them to counteract the hold of Aphrodite. Finally, we explore an alternative to her excesses - to nurture character and embrace the beauty of selfhood and laughter as we age.

\xa0Seeking wisdom offers a crucial balance in our appearance-driven, youth-oriented culture. Arlene writes: \u201cI have had to carry powerful Aphrodite energies, along with a numinous yearning to learn\u2014holding both. It is my task to understand Sophia not just from my mind and animus but from my imagination and soul\u201d.

\xa0Join us as we embark on a journey of exploration, navigating the perils and pleasures of Aphrodite and discovering the hopeful path toward the regeneration of soul.

\xa0Here\u2019s the dream we analyze:

\xa0\u201cI\u2019m looking down from the terrace of a house, which could be the house I grew up in as a child. Down in the front garden, I see two men cooking something in a bucket. The two men are chit-chatting and mingling with a certain ease. I have this packet of beans with me that I want to cook, and I\u2019m tempted to try to toss the beans down into their bucket without them noticing but abandon that idea as impractical. In any event, when I finally tear the package of beans open, I realize they are dry beans, not soaked. I\u2019m a bit daunted now. So I decided to microwave them for ten minutes to soften them up and try to eat them.\u201d

\xa0REFERENCES:

Arlene Landau. Tragic Beauty: The Dark Side of Venus Aphrodite and the Loss and Regeneration of Soul.\xa0

\xa0Arlene Diane Landau. Professional Website.

\xa0Douglas Stuart. Shuggie Bain: A Novel.

\xa0Jean Shinoda Bolen. Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women\u2019s Lives.

\xa0Walt Whitman. Eidolons: a poem.

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