Introduction to Cultural Studies
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These curricula form an exploration of the cultural roots of European peoples. Although there are many mythological traditions, we have focused a majority of our study within the Northern Europeans traditions of the Celtic and Germanic/Nordic. These ancient traditions encompass many ethnicities and local traditions because they have mythological stories, symbols and cultural concepts in common.

Everyone has a culture, and these studies uncover two cultural traditions that lie at the root of European American and European culture. These classes explore the concepts, practices, myths, and symbols – the ways of thinking/knowing/being of these cultural traditions. This understanding is brought to our lives in the present to inform our thinking and our actions within a personal and community context.

Guiding Questions

These studies help us to answer such questions as:

℘  What does our culture teach us about our body, about our relationship with nature, and about how to work with our emotions?

 ℘  Is it possible to reconcile the individualism of Western Society with community and teamwork? How can we balance or harmonize our needs for both creativity/productivity/action with being and becoming?

℘  How can we draw upon elders to contribute their wisdom to community?

℘  How can we practice cultural integrity? What does our culture teach us about balance, boundaries and harmony?

℘  What is a meaningful creation story for us today?

℘  What is a healthy cultural identity for people of European heritage?

℘  What will cultural study teach us about taking responsibility for and reconciling with our past actions in order to improve our present and future relationships with those within our own culture and with other cultures?

℘  How can the wisdom of our cultural traditions inform our spiritual development?