Lucy Goodison (born 1945) is: a writer who has combined work as an archaeologist of the: prehistoric Aegean with involvement in theââpractice. And teaching of body psychotherapy and engagement with issues of social justice. She has focused on actively challenging the mind/body split and bridging the divide between thinking and feeling that is basicââto the "western world view." Her books include: Death, Women and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion; Moving Heaven and Earth: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Change; and Holy Trees and Other Ecological Surprises.
Careerâ»
Lucy Goodison was educated at Bushey Grammar School and "Newnham College," Cambridge, where she graduated in Classics and Modern & Medieval Languages. She obtained a PhD in Classical Archaeology from University College, "London." She has been an Honorary Research Fellow of University College, London; a Leverhulme Research Fellow; and a Phyllis and Eileen Gibbs Travelling Research Fellow of Newnham College, "Cambridge."
She started work in the media, as staff scriptwriter for the BBC World Service, then as writer and director of historical and archaeological documentaries for âChronicleâ on BBC-TV. She retained an interest in film and the arts. But her subsequent career followed three main concurrent and intertwined trajectories: as an independent scholar specializing in prehistoric Aegean and early Greek religion; as a practitioner, workshop leader and trainer in body therapies; and as an activist in community campaigns, especially around health, mental health and disability. These different strands of activity have informed her writings, which range from academic textsââto journalism and books for the lay reader on self-help therapy and on symbolic, somatic and social issues.
Her earliest archaeological work, the monograph Death Women and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion, presented an innovative synthesis of evidence for the importance of the sun in Aegean religion; she is also concerned with investigation of other physical aspects of prehistoric religion, especially in funerary rituals at the Mesara-type tombs of Minoan Crete. She has been an advocate of integrating sensory, spiritual and social awareness in the consideration of ancient lives, and has published numerous academic papers on various aspects of early Aegean religion. From 1990â1997 she was an occasional Lecturer for the British Museum (Education Service); 2001â2004 she taught Modern Greek in Adult Education; and she has lectured nationally and internationally on the iconography and embodied/performative ritual practices of prehistoric Crete.
Concurrently she trained in. And ran a 25-year private practice in, therapeutic massage; has been a practitioner and teacher of bodywork therapies; and has campaigned around special education, self-help therapy and the National Health Service. Work in these fields has included 1977â1988 as a Workshop Leader at The Womenâs Therapy Centre in London; 1988â1991 as Information Worker for Mencap in London; 1997â2001 as a Dance Therapist (currently a Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist) in the Drug Addiction Unit at Holloway Prison, London; and 1979â2003 as occasional tutor of self-help therapy, massage, dance, dreamwork and disability issues in Adult Education, including at the Mary Ward Centre, The Open Centre, Shoreditch Health Centre and Westminster Pastoral Foundation in London, and the Dorset Adult Education Service. In this field she has authored several books and a number of articles, including for The Guardian, Social Work Today, Open Mind, Psychotherapy and Politics International and Health Service Journal. Her 1981 book In Our Own Hands: A Book of Self-help Therapy (co-authored with Sheila Ernst) clarified the possibilities for choice and autonomy for those undertaking therapy, and became a Time Out and City Limits Alternative Bestseller; her writings on disability and special education were used as teaching materials by, the Open University.
An ongoing interest in iconography, literature and performance in the field of the contemporary arts has been reflected in occasional work, including at Inter-Action Community Arts Trust 1970â1972; as Co-Director and Administrator of Reportage Photo Library 1991â1994; a continuing involvement in writing and performing in community dance and topical street theatre; and work since 2010 as a Co-ordinator of the non-profit imprint Just Press, publishing alternative titles ranging from studies of early documentary photographers to histories of radical theatre.
Selected publicationsâ»
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Writings on archaeology and historyâ»
Booksâ»
Holy Trees and Other Ecological Surprises, Just Press 2010.
Ancient Goddesses: The Myths and the Evidence, British Museum Press 1998, co-edited with Christine E. Morris.
Moving Heaven and Earth: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Change, The Women's Press 1990.
Death, Women and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion, Institute of Classical Studies 1989.
Articles and chaptersâ»
'âSeeingâ Stars... or Suns?' in Aegaeum 44 (Neoteros) 2020, 169â179.
âJourneys with Death: Spatial Analysis of the Mesara-type Tombs of Prehistoric Creteâ, in Unlocking Sacred Landscapes: Spatial Analysis of Ritual and Cult in the Mediterranean, edited by G Papantoniou, C E Morris and A K Vionis, Ă ström Editions 2019, 121â138.
âThoughts about Light and Water at the Oval House of Chamaiziâ, in Von Kreta nach Kuba: Gedenkschrift zu Ehren des Berliner ArchĂ€ologen Veit StĂŒrmer, edited by K MĂŒller, B Schiller and Der Fachschaftsrat des Winkelmann-Instituts der Humboldt-UniversitĂ€t zu Berlin, Logos Verlag Berlin GmbH 2018, 101â119.
âSunlight, Divination, and the Dead in Aegean Ritual Traditionâ, in The Oxford Handbook of Light in Archaeology, edited by C Papadopoulos and H Moyes, Oxford University Press 2017 (online), 1â25.
âWhere did the Mesara-type Tombs Travel From?â in Proceedings of 12th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Heraklion 21stâ25th September 2016 (online), 1â15.
âGoddesses in Prehistoryâ, in A Companion to Gender Prehistory, edited by D Bolger, John Wiley and Sons 2013, 265â287, with Christine Morris.
ââNatureâ, the Minoans and Embodied Spiritualitiesâ, in Archaeology of Spiritualities, edited by K Rountree, C Morris and A A D Peatfield, Springer 2012, 207â225.
âAt Deathâs Door: New Evidence and New Narratives from the Mesara-type Tombsâ, in Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Rethymnon, 21stâ27th October 2011, 277â293.
ââWhy All this About Oak. Or Stone?â: Trees and Boulders in Minoan Religionâ, in Archaeologies of Cult: Essays on Ritual and Cult in Crete in Honor of Geraldine C Gesell, edited by A L DâAgata and A Van de Moortel, American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2009, 51â57.
âGender, Body and the Minoans: Contemporary and Prehistoric Perceptionsâ, in Aegaeum 30 (Fylo) 2009, 233â241.
âHorizon and Body: Some Aspects of Cycladic Symbolismâ, in Orizon: A Colloquium on the Prehistory of the Cyclades, edited by N Brodie, J Doole, G Gavalas and C Renfrew, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research 2008, 417â431.
âWearing Wings and Falling: Ikaros in Archaeology?â, in Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Chania, 1â8 October 2006, 579â596.
âBeyond Feasting: Activities with Animals at the Mesara-type Tombsâ, in Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Chania, 1â8 October 2006, 179â 195.
âA New Catalogue of the Mesara-type Tombsâ, in Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 47 2005, 171â212, with Carlos Guarita.
âFrom Tholos Tomb to Throne Room: Some considerations of Dawn Light and Directionality in Minoan Buildingsâ, in Knossos: Palace, City, State, edited by G Cadogan, E Hatzaki and A Vasilakis, British School at Athens 2004, 339â350.
âHelen Waterhouse and her âPriest-Kings?â paper', in Cretan Studies Vol.7 2002, 89â96, with Helen Hughes-Brock.
âDivination with Water: A Diachronic Perspectiveâ, in Proceedings of the 9th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Elounda, 1â6 October 2001, 369â383.
âRe-constructing Dialogues with the Deadâ, in Proceedings of the 9th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Elounda, 1â6 October 2001, 325â340.
âFrom Tholos Tomb to Throne Room: Perceptions of the Sun in Minoan Ritualâ in Aegaeum 22 (Potnia) 2001, 77â88.
âTheatre of the Sunâ with photographs by Carlos Guarita, in The Independent on Sunday April 2000.
âA Female Sun Deity in the Bronze Age Aegean?â in Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 35 1988, 168â173.
Writings on psychotherapy, disability, and community issuesâ»
Books and bookletsâ»
A Darker Side of Dorset: Haunting Stories, Avenue Words and Turnpike 2014, co-edited with Anne Denham.
The Dreams of Women: Exploring and Interpreting Womenâs Dreams, The Womenâs Press 1995; W W Norton & Co. 1996.
Moving Heaven and Earth: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Change, The Womenâs Press 1990; (abridged) Pandora 1992.
Understanding Mental Handicap, MIND Publications pamphlet 1991, with Jane Armitage.
Public & Private Parts: Songs and Tales of the War Years 1941â81 by Keith Horn, Community Press 1981, co-edited with Deborah Daly.
In Our Own Hands: A Book of Self-Help Therapy, The Womenâs Press 1981, with Sheila Ernst.
Divide and Rule â Never! anti-racist booklet for schools, The Newsreel Collective 1979.
Articles and chaptersâ»
âNarcissism: Fragile Bodies in a Fragile Worldâ, in Psychotherapy and Politics International 7(2) 2009, 81â94, with Sue Cowan-Jensson.
âCelebrity and the Flight from Mortalityâ, in Free Associations: Psychoanalysis Groups Politics Culture 11(4) No.60 2004, 465â476, with Sue Cowan-Jenssen.
âA Dance to the Music of Timeâ on dance therapy work in HMP Holloway, in Health Service Journal October 1999, with Helen Schafer-Cohen.
âWhile you were sleepingâ, in New Woman (Australia) 1997.
âPortrayal or Betrayal?â on public images of people with special needs or in mental distress, in OPENMIND, journal of MIND June/July 1992, with Jane Armitage.
âSnapshots of a Revolutionâ, obituary of photographer Osvaldo Salas, in The Guardian May 1992.
âThe Story of the Jarâ, in Sacred Space, edited by Marsha Rowe, Serpentâs Tail 1992, 173â191.
âHome and Awayâ on parents from ethnic minority groups who have children with special needs, in Social Work Today November 1991, with Jane Armitage.
âThe Common Touchâ on the healing effects of massage, in OPENMIND, journal of MIND August/September 1990.
âFriends and Neighboursâ on befriending schemes for people in mental distress, in OPENMIND journal of MIND April/May 1990.
âIntegration â Whose Ideal?â on special education, in New Society July 1987.
âSpecial Effectsâ on special education, in The Guardian January 1987.
âOnly They Know How it Feels: Self-help therapy for parents of handicapped childrenâ, in MINDOUT, journal of MIND September 1981.
âSelf-help Therapy: What does it offer you?â in MINDOUT, journal of MIND March 1981.
âWith a Little Help from your Friendsâ on self-help therapy, in The Observer February 1981, with Sheila Ernst.
Selected documentary filmsâ»
Speaking with Sinclair, interview with archaeologist Sinclair Hood 2020, with Carlos Guarita.
Breaking Point, Kestrel Films (for Mental Health Film Council) 1975, assistant director.
Growing Together, Kestrel Films (for the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) 1974, assistant director.
The Fastest Con in the West, the mythologizing and reality of the Wild West, BBC-2 1971, writer/director.
Marx Was Here, BBC-2 1970, writer/director.
The Alexandrians, BBC-2 1970, writer/director.
This is the Wonderful Year, the story of Sabbati Zevi, BBC-2 1968, writer/director.
Referencesâ»
- ^ Ernst, Sheila; Goodison, Lucy (1981). In Our Own Hands: A Book of Self-Help Therapy. London: The Women's Press. pp. 3â6. ISBN 0704338416.
- ^ King, Ursula (19 April 1991). "Glimpses of a Whole World - Review of Lucy Goodison, Moving Heaven and Earth: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Social Change". Times Educational Supplement.
- ^ "The Quarto". The Quarto: The Magazine of Bushey Grammar School. 11 (9): 16. October 1961.
- ^ "Newnham College Report". Newnham College Report: 16. March 1965.
- ^ "Classical Tripos Part I". Cambridge University Reporter. XCV no.48 (4466): 2090. 24 June 1965.
- ^ "Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos Part II". Cambridge University Reporter. XCVI no 46 (4517): 2220. 24 June 1965.
- ^ Goodison, Lucy (1985). Some aspects of religious symbolism in the Aegean area during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. London: Institute of Classical Studies Library, University of London.
- ^ Goodison, Lucy; Morris, Christine (1999). Ancient Goddesses: The Myths and the Evidence. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. Editors' Biographies on book jacket. ISBN 0299163245.
- ^ "Recent Gibbs Travelling Research Projects". Newnham College. Cambridge University. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Goodison, Lucy (OctoberâNovember 1988). "Special Options". Openmind.
- ^ "Lucy Goodison". Book Depository. The Book Depository Ltd. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Renfrew, Colin (December 1990). "Review of Death, Women and the Sun". Antiquity. 64 (245): 969â970. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00079187. S2CID 163921435. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Cullen, Tracey; Goodison, Lucy (Winter 1991). "Death, Women, and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion by Lucy Goodison (Review)". Journal of Field Archaeology. 18 (4): 498â501. doi:10.2307/530412. JSTOR 530412.
- ^ Burgess, Yvonne (August 1991). "Moving Heaven and Earth...being the book that tries to pull it all together". The New Internationalist (222): 30.
- ^ "Lunchtime Talks at British Museum". The British Museum. The British Museum. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ E.g. Colloquium on the Prehistory of the Cyclades 25â28 March 2004, published as Horizon, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research 2008,see pp. xxiii, 417; Conference of Theoretical Archaeology Group, Programme and Delegate Information 19â21 December 2016, University of Southampton 2016, Session 20.
- ^ E.g. 12th International Congress of Cretological Studies 21â25 September 2016, Program/Abstracts, Society of Cretan Historical Studies 2016, p.120; Spatial Analysis of Ritual and Cult in the Mediterranean 15â17 May 2015, Programme & Abstracts, Trinity College Dublin 2015, pp.5
- ^ Goodison, Lucy (1990). Moving Heaven and Earth: Sexuality, Spirituality and Social Change (First ed.). London: The Womens Press. pp. 379â397. ISBN 0704350386.
- ^ Goodison, Lucy; Schafer-Cohen, Helen (October 1999). "A Dance to the Music of Time". Health Service Journal.
- ^ Grant, Sandra (27 February 1981). "Finding the right therapy". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Alternative Bestsellers". Time Out. 2 April 1981.
- ^ "Alternative Bestsellers". Time Out. 16 April 1981.
- ^ "Year's Alternative Bestsellers". City Limits. 31 December 1981.
- ^ Block 5: Equlity and Education. Exploring Educational Issues. London: The Open University. 1989. pp. 6â7, 30â33. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Just Press". Just Press. Retrieved 6 July 2021.