Institute/Session Summary:

Learning professionals gather information, skills and maturity through their careers. All of these tools are helpful both in guiding and instructing the developmental student. Yet, in the busy life of the learning professional, s/he may forget to use some of those tools in his/her own behalf. We would like to suggest that the historic use of myth and story may jog or re-member skills which energize and refresh.

Campbell’s heroic journey has three phases. As the hero accepts the call, he is separated from his known world. As he begins his journey, which is fraught with trials, he is guided by “helpers”. As the hero returns home, his journey complete, he is aware of and shares his new knowledge. In the Southwest, helpers often take the forms of animals.

Southwestern mythology honors two opposites in coyote and deer. Coyote represents the archetype of Trickster/Fool; while deer represents the archetype of the Innocent. According to Pearson (1991):

The Trickster is the element of the psyche that represents multiplicity of consciousness, continually undercutting our sense of a unified self…. To the Fool, it does not matter what contributes to individual development, inner peace, wisdom, or productivity. The point for the Fool is to express all of one’s many selves because it feels good to do so. (p. 59-60)

A learning professional seduced by Coyote manipulates students for her own gratification. A learning professional permeated by Coyote will exhibit the following attributes. Coyote will:

• Encourage dependency and status quo,
• Allow her personal curiosity to prompt the questions,
• Listen to the student as a matter of pretense,
• Display an insatiable emotional appetite, and
• Loathe silences.

For the presenters, the counterpoint of the archetype of the Trickster is the Innocent. Pearson (1991) defines the Innocent as follows:

The Innocent is the part of us that trusts life, ourselves, and other people. It is the part that has faith and hope, even when on the surface things look impossible…. It is also the part that allows us to trust others enough to learn from them, so it is essential to learning the basic skills of life and work. (p. 71)

A learning professional influenced by Deer (the Innocent) guides students through the steps of their journey. Deer will:

• Foster problem solving steps and risk taking,
• Challenge the students to “dig deeper” into their questions,
• Actively listen to the student’s story,
• Balances emotional energy, and
• Feels comfortable with silence.

Learning Objectives

The participants will learn:

• How they, unknowingly, play the victim and allow their students to remain victims,
• The polar opposite Southwest Archetypes that may influence learning professionals,
• A safe method of avoiding negative labels.

Handouts

The handouts for this presentation will include a table of the above differences between Coyote and Deer learning professionals. Presenters will also provide a short, written Coyote Tale. A quiz at the end of the presentation will serve as a summative assessment.

Works Cited

Pearson, C. S. (1991). Awakening the heroes within: twelve archetypes to help us find ourselves and transform our world. San Francisco: Harper.