The Well of Remembrance: Rediscovering the Earth Wisdom Myths of Northern Europe

by Ralph Metzner

In his introduction to The Well of Remembrance, author Ralph Metzner provides a telling explanation of the theme of his work: "This book explores some of the mythic roots of the Western worldview, the worldview of the culture that, for better and worse, has come to dominate most of the rest of the world's peoples. This domination has involved not only economic and political systems but also values, basic attitudes, religious beliefs, language, scientific understanding, and technological applications. Many individuals, tribes, and nations are struggling to free themselves from the residues of the ideological oppression practiced by what they see as Eurocentric culture. They seek to define their own ethnic or national identities by referring to ancestral traditions and mythic patterns of knowledge. At this time, it seems appropriate for Europeans and Euro-Americans likewise to probe their own ancestral mythology for insight and self-understanding" Focusing on the mythology and worldview of the pre-Christian Germanic tribes of Northern Europe, Metzner offers a meaningful exploration of Western ancestry.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Religion, History, Spirituality

360 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1994

About the author

Ralph Metzner Ph.D. was an American psychologist, writer and researcher, who participated in psychedelic research at Harvard University in the early 1960s with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later named Ram Dass). Dr. Metzner was a psychotherapist, and Professor Emeritus of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he was formerly the Academic Dean and Academic Vice-president. He received his undergraduate degree at Oxford University and his doctorate in clinical psychology at Harvard University, where he was also the recipient of an NIMH Post-doctoral Fellowship in psychopharmacology at the Harvard Medical School. He had a life-long interest in the many different realms of consciousness and its modifications.

He is the author of The Well of Remembrance, The Unfolding Self, Green Psychology, Birth of a Psychedelic Culture (with Ram Dass); editor of two collections of essays on ayahuasca and on psilocybe mushrooms; and author of a new series of seven books on The Ecology of Consciousness.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent thesis. I enjoyed what I read for the most part, but I admit I skimmed the second half rather than truly reading it closely.

[Susanne van Doorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books explaines the history of the tribes that took over Europe and America centuries later on. The warrior tribes who used the chariot, who had weapons and submitted the more peacefull agricultural tribes. I like the fact that mythology is put in a larger cultural reference that still holds value in this time. In my interview with him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJcY...) Ralph talks about how the one eyed Odin, the mythological god of the Norwegian people made sacrifices to unite two ways of living. The one way based on agriculture, the other the hunter gatherers. This mutual respect, the ability to sacriface something dear for the greater good for all and the fact that wisdom can be put into consciousness by diving deep into the collective unconscious is still needed today. This bookis a great reminder for those wisdoms. Read more about Well of rememberance by reading my review on http://mindfunda.com/well/

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the Vanir and Aesir mythology of the Norse/Indo-Germanic tribes. Metzner provides some interesting conjectures and analyses of these myths, with a focus on their relevance to our lives in the twentieth (now twenty-first) century. At times the information falls into redundancy, but despite this pitfall the book delivers many passages that provoke thought and insight. I especially enjoyed the unique format. The book is written mainly by Metzner, but contains interregnum chapter contributions by his colleagues and associates. The introduction by Marija Gimbutas is especially appropriate, given the influence of her work on Metzner and the development of some of the ideas in the book. Highly recommended.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myths and memories from Northern Traditions. There are lots of books on Eastern philosophy, religions, and myths. Metzner opens up the Western stream of mythological heritage. Packed with info. AND a very enjoyable read.
By the way, Metzner was one of the "notorious three" from Harvard back in the 60's along with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (now Ram Dass).

[John Fredrickson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a very frustrating read, and ultimately I could not stay with it. It felt like the author could not determine whether to write a scientifically informative book on Norse mythology, or whether to produce instead a book on 'what Norse mythology means to me' while in a drug- or fasting-induced states. At least two of the chapters fit cleanly into this latter fuzzy experiential category.

The book contains a ton of interesting information on the characters of Norse mythology, and appears to be very well-researched. Having said that, there are numerous cross-cultural parallels made in the book that appear without any real evidence provided. Equating Norse Gullveig with the Hindu Sri Lakshmi may indeed be correct or at least defensible, but if it is not to be explored, then perhaps it is wrong to include it. When the author equated elves with fairies and with angels as the same beings represented in different cultures, I abandoned the book.

[John Eric Pollabauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When looking forward leads one to depression, the only alternative is to look back and examine history to find our way forward

Studying the subject of Germanic Neopaganism or Heathanism for persons having Northern European Ancestry can be the spark that kindles the fire bigger and brighter to light the way to a purposeful life, maybe? Maybe not, but it is worth a try. Afterall, what do you have to lose, only a better understanding of where you stand today.

[Devon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this look as I had read reviews which highly praised the book as being an introduction into Norse mythology. In a way it does do that, but I found myself put off by this book.

In a way, this book does act as an encyclopedia to Norse Mythology. However, Metzner incorporated psychology into this work, which was at first was confusing for myself until I checked the back and saw that he is a psychotherapist and a psychology professor. Furthermore, I feel like this work was hampered with Metzner discussing his "vision quests."

For example when discussing berserkers he writes, "I would like to tell about my own transformation as a berserker" and "Almost ten years before I began the investigations of the Odin mythos that are related in this book... I was given a series of visions." There are plenty more examples.

I feel like this is more of a New Age book rather than an academic work. All in all, I was very disappointed by this book (which places me in the minority).

[Roelofsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Metzer knows a lot about the Norse myths, but he presents some theories as facts and builds alot on it. For example the proto Europeans being peaceful and the Indo Europeans being their aggressive conquerers. And by this siding the Vanir with the aboriginal Europeans while the Aesir represent the Indo Europeans. Odin as a shaman was an interesting theory though and well explained. Parts of the book especially the parts written by different people felt a bit like new age nonsense. Wasn't bad over all but it wasn't great either.

[jack]

i read this a while ago, but really liked it at the time. this one covered more shamanistic aspects of the northern tradition, and has an "inspirational" plants section in the index. i might read it again soon.

[Inara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title in German:
Der Brunnen der Erinnerung. Von den mythologischen Wurzeln unserer Kultur

[Lisa]

very good

[Dreamersemporium]

very good