Ep363: Mythic Descent & the Dark Side of Dharma - Duncan Barford
Freitag, 29. Mai 2026 · 1 h 43
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Shownotes
In this episode I am once again joined by Duncan Barford, occult practitioner, counsellor, and author of “Occult Experiments in the Home”.
Duncan reflects on his training as a counsellor and the difficulties in sharing his occult interests in that context; his deep appreciation of Freud and Jung; and the links between psychoanalysis and mythic figures such as such as Uranus, Oedipus, and Narcissus.
Duncan considers whether Buddhism is merely a useful fiction, offers advice for those interested in learning how tp use mythology to gain insight into life, and explains why the emphasis of his spiritual practice has shifted from awakening to psychological wellbeing.
Duncan also talks about his new magical novel, “The Going Down”, describes its plot and messages, and reveals why he believes the practice of Pragmatic Dharma can accrue a profoundly dark karmic debt.
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Video version: www.guruviking.com
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
- Intro
- Duncan’s therapist hated the occult
- Misconceptions about Jungian therapy
- Psychopomp as therapist
- Freud, Jung, Skinner, Piaget, Rogers, and Carlyle
- Duncan was a fervent Freudian
- Freud vs trauma therapy
- What Freud did
- Buddhism’s useful fiction
- Where Freud went wrong
- The castration complex
- Castration myths
- Freud and Duncan’s childhood
- Universal or culturally specific?
- Oedipus, myth, and psychoanalysis
- Duncan’s novel
- Writing “The Going Down”
- Plot summary
- A life-changing ancestor working
- Duncan’s hope for the book
- Fiction and the occult
- Alan Chapman’s dismay at the novel
- The dark, karmic debt of Pragmatic Dharma
- Meeting a Dark Goddess
- The myth of Persephone
- A change in Duncan’s meditation practice
- This is the Underworld
- Bailey’s and Steve’s problems
- The Franklin’s Tale
- How occultists interpret their life situations
- Is everyone psychotic?
- Using depression and panic as portals
- Duncan believes in everything
- Internal vs external integration
- Why you need mythic literacy
- How to learn more about myths
- Should you read myths?
- The myth of Narcissus
- Scholar vs poet
- Finishing a novel
- Narrative fashions in fiction
- Haunting quality
- A companion in the Underworld
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Watch previous episodes with Duncan Barford:
- guruviking.com/search?q=barford
Read “The Going Down”:
- godsandradicals.squarespace.com/bookstore/p/th…
To find our more about Duncan Barford, visit:
- duncanbarford.uk
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
