In this episode, Béa sits down with author Shylashri Shankar for a rich and layered conversation about her debut novel, Blood Caste. Set in 1895 Hyderabad and loosely inspired by the mystery of Jack the Ripper, the novel becomes a launching point for a deeper exploration of themes like prejudice, identity, and the tensions between cultures and values.

Shankar shares how writing the book was more than a creative project—it was a personal journey of transformation. The discussion moves fluidly between the novel’s historical roots and the inner landscapes both authors navigate in their own creative processes. Along the way, they reflect on the role of fiction in uncovering truth, the power of inner work, and why audiobooks can offer a more embodied reading experience.

Blood Caste is published in the UK and in all English-speaking countries by Canelo Crime, [DK/Random House]. It will be available on Audio on August 7th.

Shylashri Shankar | Canelo Crime

In this episode Béa interviews award-winning literary scholar, poet, and Jungian thinker Roula Maria Dib. Together, they explore Jung’s evolving place within feminist thought, the role of the feminine archetype in the psyche, and the power of poetry and art as healing practices. The conversation moves through themes of visionary art, dreams, creativity, and how artists serve as vessels for the collective unconscious. Roula offers insights into her own work, including her books The Jungian Metaphor: Modernist Literature and Simply Being--and speaks to the necessity of creating spaces for meaningful dialogue and community.

The episode also features a powerful personal story about how a dream helped Roula recognize a life-threatening illness in her daughter—underscoring the importance of cultivating an ongoing relationship with the unconscious. For anyone drawn to Jungian depth psychology, feminist perspectives, and the transformative nature of art and dreams, this conversation offers rich ground for reflection.

Books & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Jungian Metaphor: Modernist Literature (2020) by Roula Maria Dib https://labrc.co.uk/roula-maria-dib/

In this episode of Gatherings, we welcome writer and mythic guide Carly Mountain, author of Descent and Rising. Together, we explore the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna, a powerful narrative of descent, embodiment, and feminine transformation.

Carly shares how the myth mirrored her own personal journey and why it continues to speak to modern women facing burnout, identity shifts, or creative rebirth. We explore the myth’s cultural resurgence, its symbolic contrast to artificial intelligence, and its call to reclaim erotic intelligence, surrender, and embodied wisdom. Carly reframes surrender not as weakness but as the courage to meet what’s real—and sees descent not as failure, but as the doorway to collective healing.

For those navigating inner thresholds, this episode may serve as both map and medicine.

For more information about Carly’s book and workshops: Writer, Psychotherapist and Women's Initiatory Guide.