Welcome to The Art of Enchantment
A transformative interweaving of mythology, psychology and ecology
‘The Art of Enchantment’ is a gathering place for lovers of myth, fairy tales and (Jungian and Archetypal) depth psychology. Here, we explore the mysteries of the psyche, our relationship with place and planet – and whatever might lie beyond it all. My focus is on reclaiming and reimagining women’s stories, cultivating the mythic imagination, and delving into the relevance of myths and fairy tales to the personal, cultural and environmental issues we face today.
And enchantment? I’ve been researching and writing about it for many years. In my 2018 book The Enchanted Life, I wrote that ‘enchantment, by my definition, has nothing to do with fantasy, or escapism, or magical thinking: it is founded on a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world; a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life.’ In 2026 I founded The Nostos Institute, which offers a rooted, intellectually rigorous and deeply imaginative path to personal and collective re-enchantment. (Please also subscribe to our free Substack here.)
Subscribe today and receive a free gift – a PDF workbook on ‘Myth and Metamorphosis’ – for joining me.
Who am I?
I’m an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction. I’m a psychologist with an academic background in the mythology and folklore of Britain and Celtic Europe. I have a degree in Psychology, a PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience (on anxiety and panic), MAs in both Creative Writing and in Celtic Studies, along with many other academic and professional trainings in psychology, psychotherapeutic practice, mythology, folklore and philosophy. I’ve been awarded research fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and the Mental Health Foundation, have been a British Psychological Society-approved Chartered Psychologist and have worked as a psychotherapist – but these days I’m a full-time writer, teacher and lecturer.
I’m also the founder and director of the Nostos Institute, which integrates ancient Western philosophical traditions with tools and practices from contemporary depth psychology and related mythopoetic disciplines and so offers a rooted, intellectually rigorous and deeply imaginative path to personal and collective re-enchantment.
The transformative power of story has been at the heart of my work for decades. My unique approach to working with the mythic imagination, and with an archetypal approach to myth, fairy tales and folklore, highlights the insights these traditions can offer us into authentic and meaningful ways of being in the world. I’m a recognised pioneer in reclaiming women’s stories, and my 2016 word-of-mouth bestseller If Women Rose Rooted offered groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of British and Celtic myth, women’s spirituality and ecology. My books Hagitude and Wise Women led the way for women to reimagine the stories of midlife, menopause and the second half of life. I’ve also taught extensively on the Hero’s Journey – and its antidote, my conceptualisation of the Post-Heroic Journey – and on the soul’s journey and the nature of calling in the Western philosophical tradition.
As well as my books, my writing has appeared in several international media outlets – among them the Guardian, the i, the Irish Times and the Scotsman. I’ve been interviewed by the BBC and US public radio on my areas of expertise. My awards include the Society of Authors’ Roger Deakin Award and a Creative Scotland Writer’s Award.
I’m a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, awarded ‘in recognition of the importance of lifetime achievement and contribution to Jungian ideas in the world’. I’ve taught and lectured at several academic institutions, Jungian organisations, retreat centres and cultural festivals around the world. I’m also online faculty for Pacifica Graduate Institute, California, where I currently teach graduate-level programs on myth, narrative and archetypal psychology.
From 2013 to 2017 I was the founder and editor of EarthLines Magazine, described by Jay Griffiths as ‘a deeply intelligent publication’, by George Monbiot as ‘a rare combination and much needed’, and by Robert Macfarlane as ‘a real point of convergence for many thought-tributaries and philosophical paths’.
I’m represented by Jane Graham Maw at Graham Maw Christie Agency. You can find out more at my main website.
Why subscribe?
My commitment to those of you who choose to subscribe to The Art of Enchantment is to ensure that you receive something of value in return. Not just carefully crafted words, but ideas and inspiration for life. Because if I’m passionate about anything, I’m passionate about transformation – about the idea of life as a constant process of becoming. It’s only by transforming ourselves that we can hope to transform the world.
Join my community as a free subscriber to ‘The Art of Enchantment’, and you’ll receive a monthly newsletter with news and reflections. Since I’m not much on social media any more, this is the best place to find out more about upcoming books and events, and other projects. In addition, you’ll receive a gift for joining me here: a downloadable workbook on ‘Myth and Metamorphosis’. If you’d like new exclusive content from me in your inbox each week, do consider becoming a paying subscriber.
As a paying subscriber, you’ll also have access to weekly work focused on myth and fairy tales, on depth/ archetypal psychology and the mythic imagination, on women’s stories, on the nature of calling and finding our place in this world. If you’d like to access this exclusive new content from me, then for £7 a month/ £70 a year you can have it sent directly to your email inbox. You’ll receive:
Monthly ‘Myth & Fairy Tale Salons’, in which you can join me for live Zoom sessions to talk about these beautiful old stories in greater depth. Each year, I host a Myth Summer School: and intensive, weeks-long dive into a set of related stories. (All online sessions are recorded for later viewing.)
‘On the couch’, an occasional ‘advice column’ where I give a long-form answer to one of your questions about an aspect of our journey through life that you’d like help with
Long-form articles and opinion pieces in my specialist areas
‘Ask me anything’ opportunities
Priority early-bird access to my residential retreats, which have a tendency to sell out quickly
I firmly believe that professional authors should be paid for access to their writing, but as someone who grew up in poverty I also believe in making my work accessible to as many people as possible. So if you are genuinely unable to afford a subscription but think this community is for you, please email us at sharon@sharonblackie.org and we’ll offer you a 50% discount on an annual paid subscription, with no questions asked.
Copyright notice
Please be aware that all writing and other material at The Art of Enchantment is my copyright and it may not be used or reproduced in any form without written permission. For permission, please email sharon@sharonblackie.org.
Refund policy
If you have upgraded to paid status in error, you can request a pro-rata refund within 7 days of making the payment (less Substack’s nonrefundable transaction fees). Refunds are not available in any other circumstances. I hope you will understand that, if this publication should ever be forced to close due to death or severe illness, refunds in such an unfortunate situation will not be possible. Admin email for all such matters is sharon@sharonblackie.org; please note that I don’t reply personally from this address.
Rewards for referrals
If you enjoy ‘The Art of Enchantment’, I’d very much appreciate it if you would help to spread the word, and invite your friends to read it. If you refer friends, you’ll receive rewards that will give you free access.
When you use the personalised referral link below, or the ‘share’ button on any post, you’ll get credit for any new subscribers: one month free for 3 subscribers, three months free for 10 subscribers, and six months free for 25 subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media. Once you've reached a referral milestone, you'll receive an email with the reward. Please note that if you are a paid subscriber, your complimentary subscription will be applied at the end of your current billing period.
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