J. Vankirk, M: Awakened Heart's Archetypal Refuge

In this dissertation, a contemplative and depth psychological lens is used to examine motifs of refuge in myth, fairytale, and sacred text. Refuge speaks to the collective need for quiet and retreat that ultimately helps one abide in the present moment. The awakened heart implies a counter intuitive move whereby we are asked to become intimate with feelings of fear, anger, equanimity, and love. From an archetypal psychological point of view, the psyche provides images of refuge if we sensitize ourselves to her showings. In this way, there is a reciprocal nature between our interior life and what appears to us.