The Sirens Call: A Jungian pilgrimage for The Soul
Capri Island & The Amalfi Coast
April 6-12, 2025
18 Continuing Education Credits
The incandescent cliffs and emerald waters of Southern Italy are far more than a beautiful destination; they are the ancient home of Western mythology and the cradle of the collective imagination. This coastline, shimmering with light and shadow, is saturated with the resonance of gods, heroes, monsters, and myths that continue to shape the human psyche. This week-long seminar invites you to explore the Amalfi Coast and Capri Island not as tourists, but as participants in a living Temenos—a sacred container for deep psychological work in the journey of Individuation.
The itinerary mirrors the heroic journey of Odysseus: from the Ego’s familiar world, across the threshold of the Unconscious, toward the integration of the Self, where he encounters the irresistible lure of the sirens. According to legend and the epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus encountered the sirens on Capri Island & its surrounding area. To survive their deadly, enchanting song, he had his crew plug their ears with beeswax and had himself tied to the ship's mast so he could hear their music without being driven onto the rocks.
The Archetypal Landscape: A Topos of Soul
Our exploration begins with the mythic geography of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The coastline, poised between the crushing forces of Scylla and the devouring whirlpool of Charybdis, has long been a threshold—a site of danger, transformation, and revelation that mirrors the challenges of one’s inner life.
The Archetypal Power of Place
In Jungian depth psychology, the physical landscape is never neutral; place itself functions as an archetype, or what James Hillman termed a topos of soul. The topography of Capri reflects the hidden architecture of the psyche: the luminous island rising abruptly from the sea (the vast Unconscious), with grottos and echoing chambers that mirror the hidden depths of the Self. By immersing ourselves in this landscape, we can accelerate the journey of Individuation.
Core Archetypal Themes
Drawing on Jungian thought and ancient myth, we move through the landscape and engage the primary forces that structure our inner lives through an embodied experience of “place”, or topos of soul.
● The Liminal Threshold: The psychology of crossing, transformation, and navigating ambiguous spaces.
● The Heroic Quest: Shedding what no longer serves us in the lifelong journey of Individuation.
● Odysseus & Leadership: The struggle between responsibility, vulnerability, and the demands of command.
● The Siren's Call: Encountering the seductive, powerful, and potentially destructive aspects of the Numinous Feminine.
● The Archetypal Power of Place
The Journey: Integration and Return
The itinerary mirrors the heroic journey of Odysseus: from the Ego’s familiar world, across the threshold of the Unconscious, toward the integration of the Self.
Part I: Vico Equense & The Amalfi Coast (The Ego Base)
We begin on the mainland to establish the Ego's Home Base and form our collective container (Temenos). Activities focus on engaging the Collective Unconscious through Social Dreaming and exploring the genius loci (spirit of place) through sensory experiences, including a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast.
Part II: The Crossing & The Descent (Capri)
The journey to Capri Island marks The Liminal Passage—a conscious separation from the known. Once on the island, we undertake a literal and metaphoric descent during a private boat tour to the famous Blue Grotto. This stunning chamber symbolizes the journey into the Shadow and the deepest layers of the psyche.
The Heights of Vision (Anacapri): Reaching the island’s highest point to gain perspective and engage the Higher Self or Aspiration in the light of the spectacular views & the mythology of the place.
A private bus tour to Anacapri to visit Villa San Michele.
Part III: Integration and Return
The pilgrimage culminates in a private boat journey to the legendary Faraglioni sea stacks: Stella, Saetta, and Scopolo. According to powerful local myth, these colossal rocks are the petrified bodies of the Sirens who turned to stone in despair after failing to lure Odysseus. They stand as monuments to the cost of conscious choice and the triumph of the integrated Self.
We will explore their unique lore:
● Saetta (The Arch Rock): Sailing through its natural arch for "eternal love" connects physical ritual to the deep human desire for lasting fulfillment—a powerful contrast to the Siren's fatal promise.
● Scopolo (The Outermost Guardian): The exclusive habitat of the rare Blue Lizard (Podarcis sicula coerulea), symbolizing the elusive, hidden truth only found at the furthest edges of the known world.
The final seminar, centered on the Siren's Call, explores mastering the unconscious forces that tempt the ego toward ruin.
We conclude with the Hero's Return, carrying the gifts and insights of the journey back to the mainland for incorporation into daily life.
Together, we will explore how the myths born on these shores—from the Siren’s irresistible call to the commanding heights of Anacapri—stand as enduring maps of the psychological process.
This program is a pilgrimage for anyone longing to encounter the Collective Unconscious not through theory alone, but by walking the ancient paths where myth was born. Ideal for Jungian enthusiasts, mental health professionals, scholars, artists, and cultural seekers, this journey offers unparalleled personal and professional enrichment.
“A place is not a place until people have been born in it, have grown up in it, known it, died in it. ... Some are born in their place, some find it, some realize after long searching that the place they left is the one they have been searching for”
This program is ideal for:
- Those looking for a unique, intellectually stimulating, and culturally immersive travel experience beyond the typical tourist path.
- Any professional committed to personal growth
- Mental health professionals seeking Continuing Education Credits while expanding their cultural and historical understanding.
- World Travelers: Expand your professional network and learn from diverse perspectives.
- Continuing Education seekers.This program goes beyond traditional coursework, offering a unique blend of travel and scholarly exploration.
- This pilgrimage is for anyone ready to step out of the textbook and encounter the Collective Unconscious by walking the ancient paths where myth was born. It is a powerful Temenos (sacred container) for those committed to deep psychological work and self-discovery.
- Preventing Burnout: Engage in a profound journey of self-renewal, replenishing your psychological reserves by immersing yourself in the topos of soul.
*No prior knowledge or experience required
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the mythic geography of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Scylla, Charybdis, the Sirens) and how these archetypal patterns are relevant to the journey of Individuation.
- Discuss & Deconstruct the Shadow Archetype: (as symbolized by the Siren's Song)
- Describe the importance of James Hillman’s concept of Topos of Soul and how physical immersion in a mythic landscape functions as a Temenos (sacred psychological container) to accelerate therapeutic work.
- Discuss the liminal threshold & the psychology of crossing, transformation, and navigating ambiguous spaces.
- Discuss & describe the principles of the Temenos and Mythopoetic Imagination to actively access and process archetypal material from the Collective Unconscious
- Discuss and apply the concepts of Social Dreaming and how to utilize The Social Dreaming Matrix in psycho-therapeutic settings.
What’s Included
Your journey is meticulously crafted for an immersive and intellectually enriching experience, including:
Luxury accommodations in an elegant Relais di Charme (type of small, boutique hotel in Italy that offers an elegant and authentic experience, in a historic and beautifully restored villa) with dramatic sea views.
A delightful Culinary Immersion: Start your days with included home made breakfasts, connect over a festive welcome dinner in Vico Equense and a farewell feast on Capri Island, and indulge in curated food & wine experiences of the region.
Visit iconic sites with deep meaning, including:
Boat journeys to discover The Breathtaking Amalfi Coast, with stops to explore the beautiful & charming towns
Crossing the sea to the dramatic shores of Capri where you will immerse in the myths & landscape
Limoncello workshop & tasting
Optional cheese, olive oil & local wine tastings
Walking the ancient myth laden paths of the island
A tour of the island & boat tour of The Blue Grotto
Tour of Anacapri & a visit to Villa San Michele
A tour by boat to Faraglioni
Walk the historic footpath Via Krupp
And more!!
Effortless travel and excursions via private coach. Entrance fees and guided tours are included, so you can fully relax and immerse yourself.
Daily Seminars & Social Dreaming: Engage in reflective morning sessions and guided afternoon seminars woven through the Italian landscapes.
Entrance fees for museums and private sites.
Lecturers
Dr. Leslee Brown, PhD
Dr. Leslee Brown is the visionary President and Director of Mind Body Passport Inc., where she designs and leads transformative international programs that offer continuing education credits to adult professionals worldwide. With a multifaceted passion spanning psychology, culture, art, psychoanalysis, and social dreaming, Dr. Brown excels at weaving diverse disciplines into rich learning experiences. She firmly believes that travel opens the mind, fostering new perspectives and profound personal growth.
Her extensive career reflects a deep commitment to global psychology. Dr. Brown previously served as The Director of International Seminars and Gastprofessor at Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, focusing on "psychologists without borders" and the advancement of international psychology.
With over two decades in private practice, Dr. Brown brings a wealth of clinical expertise. Her background also includes impactful roles as a research psychologist for The Neurologic Institute and as a faculty member at UCLA Medical School, where she taught psychology and rapport-building techniques to medical students. She was also an Assistant Professor and Director of Centers for International Studies at The Chicago School.
Leslee's life mirrors her work; she divides her time between Los Angeles and Paris, and the rest is spent traveling the world, continually seeking and creating opportunities for expansive learning.
Margot Estabrook Stienstra, M.I.M., Lic. Phil.
Margot Estabrook Stienstra, M.I.M., Lic. Phil. Is a Jungian psychotherapist trained and practicing in Zürich, Switzerland. She alternates spending time in her homeland of the U.S., nourished by the land, light and sea.
Margot is a Training Analyst and holds a
Diploma in Analytical Psychology, an
M.I.M. Thunderbird School of International Management (now ASU); w/ studies at Schiller International U., Heidelberg
B.A. 1978 Yale College, History, the Arts & Letters, w/ supplementary study in history of Chinese thought, in translation; Hampshire College (Classical Greek, Chinese and Indian thought, in translation)
Margot Estabrook Stienstra is a Jungian Training Analyst in private practice in Zürich, Switzerland. She looks forward to sharing and deepening the Capri experience with you.
Itinerary Highlights
The Siren’s Temptation: Crossing to Capri
We cross the very waters where Odysseus heard the fatal songs of the Sirens. This threshold initiates our week’s psychological work. Seminars focus on identifying your personal Siren’s Song, the seductive, destructive patterns emerging from the Shadow, and the Ego containment required before engaging deeper symbolic material.
Your journey is meticulously crafted for an intellectually enriching experience, including:
Luxury accommodations in an elegant Relais di Charme (type of small, boutique hotel in Italy that offers an elegant and authentic experience, in a historic and beautifully restored villa) with dramatic sea views.
Culinary Immersion: Start your days with included home made breakfasts, connect over a festive welcome dinner in Vico Equense and a farewell feast on Capri Island, and indulge in curated food & wine experiences of the region.
Visit iconic sites with deep meaning, including:
Boat journeys to discover The Breathtaking Amalfi Coast, with stops to explore the beautiful & charming towns
Crossing the sea to the dramatic shores of Capri where you will immerse in the myths & landscape
Limoncello workshop & tasting
Optional cheese, olive oil & local wine tastings
Walking the ancient myth laden paths of the island
A tour of the island & boat tour of The Blue Grotto
Tour of Anacapri & a visit to Villa San Michele
A tour by boat to Faraglioni
Walk the historic footpath Via Krupp
And more!!
Effortless travel and excursions via private coach. Entrance fees and guided tours are included, so you can fully relax and immerse yourself.
Daily Seminars & Social Dreaming: Engage in reflective morning sessions and guided afternoon seminars woven through the Italian landscapes.
The Isolated King: Villa Jovis
At Emperor Tiberius’s Villa Jovis in Anacapri, we examine the Archetype of the Wounded King, the figure who withdraws from the world in a misguided attempt to attain the Self. This site becomes a mirror for exploring isolation, authority, inflation, and the dangers of an incomplete individuation.
Social Dreaming: Dreaming the Myth
Each morning begins with Social Dreaming, a powerful method for accessing the group’s collective mythic field. Dreams illuminate the archetypal forces encountered during the day, helping participants track the subtle movements of psyche and symbol.
The Threshold of the Deep: Grottos & Faraglioni
Private coastal excursions include the Blue Grotto and the towering Faraglioni, offering a symbolic descent into the depths. Here we confront the elemental forces guarding the edge of the Self and encounter the primordial energy of the Great Mother.
Integration Through Embodiment
Our week culminates in a creative, somatic workshop where we enact and synthesize the archetypes encountered: The Siren, The King, and The Sea. This ritual integration anchors the psychological insights of the journey in embodied experience.
Costs
Secure your place on this transformative journey and save!
Investment & Early Bird Savings
Register by November 28 save $400, $5262 (Regular price after November 28, $5662)
For a single room, there is a supplement cost of $1800. For those desiring a private room,
If there are no double-shared rooms available, you will need to incur the single room supplement.
Custom Payment Plans: Need a more tailored payment solution? Please email us at info@mindbodypassport.com for inquiries on custom payment plans.
Once we receive payment, we will send you confirmation and all preliminary information via e-mail.
Our Commitment & Community Perks
At Mind Body Passport, community comes first, and we believe in giving back:
Referral Bonus: Refer a friend or colleague who registers, and we'll gift you a $200 discount on your next Mind Body Passport adventure!
Group Incentive: Organize a group of 5 participants for this extraordinary course, and your spot is FREE!
Once we receive your payment, you'll receive an email confirmation along with all preliminary information to prepare for your journey.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Leslee Brown for a free one-to-one consultation or e-mail us at info@mindbodypassport.com
Mind Body Passport is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. Mind Body Passport maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Mind Body Passport is also recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider - certificates are awarded upon successful course completion. CE credits are calculated based on lecture and seminar time. Outside activities, tours, and cultural programs are not included.
Health & Safety
The safety and well-being of Mind Body Passport Inc. participants and team are of paramount importance to us. For admission to our courses, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated with CDC-approved Covid-19 vaccines.
Refunds
Travel medical insurance is mandatory for participation. We recommend insurance that includes illness, travel delays, changes, and cancelation. Your insurance must cover personal injury, medical treatment, repatriation, and evacuation expenses.
We recommend insurance that provides “cancel for any reason” coverage, including personal property and trip cancelation. Trip cancelation insurance may be the only means of receiving reimbursement for flights and other non-refundable expenses in the event that the trip is canceled, postponed, or interrupted for any reason by you or us.
Once fees are paid, absent Mind Body Passport’s approval in its sole discretion, no refunds will be issued. MBP reserves the right to cancel any trip or any portion thereof for any reason it deems appropriate including, but not limited to, low enrollment numbers, political instability, and/or health concerns.