Mythology and depth psychology are twin pathways into the symbolic life of the soul. Across centuries and civilizations, human beings have turned to myths to understand the origins of the cosmos, the meaning of suffering, and the rhythms of the natural world. Far from being relics of a primitive past, myths remain powerful carriers of psychological truths, revealing deep structures within the human psyche and collective imagination.

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Jaclyn’s training in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute has grounded her work in both ancient tradition and modern insight. In recognition of her research, she was awarded the OPUS Archives Fellowship, a prestigious honor supporting her dissertation on primordial chaos, water, and void in creation myths across Asia and the Middle East.

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Drawing from scholars such as Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade, Erich Neumann, Marie-Louise von Franz, and James Hillman, Jaclyn explores myth not as static doctrine but as dynamic expression—where psyche meets cosmos. Depth psychology, a field emerging in the early twentieth century, examines the layers of the unconscious, including the archetypes and shared symbolic patterns Jung called the “collective unconscious.” These archetypes surface in dreams, symbols, and, most profoundly, in myths.

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Mythology, as Jaclyn studies it, is not just about ancient gods and creation stories. It is about how a culture understands reality. Myths reveal how we imagine beginnings, identity, purpose, and transformation. Comparative mythology allows her to trace universal patterns—such as the cosmic void, the waters of creation, or the world tree—while honoring each culture’s distinct way of expressing the sacred.

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In her scholarly and healing work, Jaclyn views myth as a mirror of consciousness: it reflects where we are, where we have come from, and what is seeking to emerge. She believes that when we engage with myth symbolically and psychologically, we come into deeper relationship with the unconscious, the sacred, and the stories shaping our lives.