A guest post by Mary A. Wood

“The essential function of art is moral. Not aesthetic, not decorative, not pastime and recreation. . . . But a passionate, implicit morality, not didactic. A morality which changes the blood, rather than the mind. Changes the blood first. The mind follows later, in the wake.” —D.H. Lawrence

“Alchemy starts in desire; desire needs direction.” —James Hillman

Blood is thicker than water—or so the saying goes. Like a myth in miniature, a complete worldview is illuminated in just five words. The bond of family or tribe, whether formed through birth, marriage or intense shared experiences (such as military service) is evident as well when we speak of “blood brothers,” “bloodlines,” and “blood oaths.” Blood itself has always been highly symbolic. It “evokes life’s precious value” as it courses through veins, yet when it escapes it “congeals into a dark haunting symbol of death” (Ronnberg 396). Those that work with blood, such as the surgeon and nurse, share a specialized sphere with the priest who daily transforms water and wine into imaginal blood. Through a multitude of ritualized signals and ceremony (such as uniforms, insignia, and dedicated locations where their work is conducted) all continue to be set apart from the rest of society much like the ancient shaman, alchemist and healer. As “workers of blood” these modern-day practitioners fulfill vital and even sacred roles, yet they are not alone—the artist and the poet are also inheritors of the talents, and the duties, of those who work with blood—“the poet is the transcendental doctor” (Novalis, qtd. in Hillman, Alchemical 340). When the bonds of blood begin to boil over and congeal into unconscious, ominous masses, it is not the physician, nor even the politician, but the artist and poet that can best halt the contagion.

A guest post by Pacifica Alumna Jacqueline Spoehel O'Connor

With news of the Thomas fire nearing and passing Pacifica's campuses, we turned towards the media to bring us images of what was happening. Firefighters silhouetted small against the walls of flame, showing us the immensity of nature's power, surpassing a human's strength to control it. Maps of dots, squares, or illustrated flames depicting the advancing fire gave us imaginings of a vast creature consuming the overabundant growth of match-stick dry vegetation.

Thomas Fire update from Pacifica Graduate Institute
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 3:50 p.m.
Photos taken on Monday, December 18, 2017

Dear Pacifica Community,

Season’s greetings to all of you from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Throughout the last two weeks of wildfires in our region, which gratefully are now more contained, both of Pacifica’s campuses have remained free of harm, safe and completely intact. We remain very appreciative of your many expressions of concern, care and for your prayers; we also are deeply grateful to the brave, skillful fire-fighters who selflessly have protected so many properties with extraordinary diligence and perseverance.

Updates and current photos of the Lambert Road and Ladera Lane Campuses
Photos taken on Monday, December 19th at noon.

Yesterday, our local firefighters let a few senior staff members up to see our beloved Ladera Lane Campus at Pacifica Graduate Institute. We are pleased to report that Pacifica stands unharmed from the Thomas Fire. Our heroic firefighters stopped the fire at Romero Canyon, with spot fires less than a mile from Ladera Lane.

Thomas Fire update from Pacifica Graduate Institute
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 9:40 a.m.

Dear Pacifica Students,

Heartfelt greetings to you from Pacifica Graduate Institute. We are very grateful for your many expressions of prayers and caring. Throughout the wildfires, both of the Pacifica campuses have remained safe and fully intact.

We are looking forward to holding classes as scheduled beginning January on both Pacifica campuses. As usual, your academic program staff or faculty will be in touch with you prior to the first session of this new year.

Thomas Fire update from Pacifica Graduate Institute
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 3:08 p.m.

Dear Community and Friends,

The past 11 days has been unique in Pacifica's history as our campuses have had to remain closed since Wednesday afternoon, December 6, due to the Thomas fire, which has threatened much of the local area. The sudden intensification of winds has made the job of fighting the fire much more difficult, yet through the remarkable efforts of the fire-fighters many residences have been saved—their skill, perseverance and generosity has been truly impressive to witness, we are most grateful to them. We join them in grieving the loss of Corey Iverson the young engineer and fire-fighter who tragically was killed during his work on the fire.

A guest post by Craig Chalquist, Ph.D.

Now and then I’ve heard the criticism that depth psychology is not useful in emergencies. I beg to differ.

As I write this, the enormous Thomas Fire burns in the hills above Pacifica. Whether it remains there or sweeps down on the buildings below is largely up to the wind. Sitting with this disturbing fiery symbolism, I reflect that the dichotomy between psychologizing and safeguarding is a false one. We have taken all possible steps to make sure Pacifica people are safe. We have also removed vital equipment and materials, supported each other, and conversed every day about how to operate the school with the possible loss of buildings by fire.

Yet even as we act, we sit with the larger story of what this fire might mean. Why? Because in tending a different view, we make sense of apparent chaos and give ourselves a place to stand within the whirling sparks of uncertainty. A place from which to support our friends and neighbors and each other in a time of devastating loss.

Dear Prospective Students,

We want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we respond to the impeding Thomas Fire. As of right now, voluntary evacuation orders are in effect for residential neighbors near our Lambert Road Campus and mandatory evacuation orders have been given to our residential neighbors near our Ladera Lane Campus here in Santa Barbara.

Thomas Fire update from Pacifica Graduate Institute
Monday, December 11, 2017 at 4:32 p.m.

Dear Pacifica Community and Friends,

This is an update on Pacifica Graduate Institute’s status during the state of emergency due to the Thomas wildfires. At the moment we remain closed until further notice; we are waiting for our campuses to be free of any danger. Both campus are free from harm, though there is significant amounts of ash in the area. Our email systems have been removed to safety so unfortunately email communication is currently unavailable. We are exploring ways to update our website. However, in the meantime if you need to be in contact with us, please respond via our social media channel and we will attempt to direct inquiries to appropriate staff.

Pacifica Update: Monday, December 11, 2017 at 2:07 pm