It is a fairy tale which follows the archetypal journey of a young prince named Tamino and a fanciful birdcatcher named Papageno as they struggle to find what will make their hearts complete. As we reflect upon the story, the music and the drama, using selections from Ingmar Bergman's award-winning film of the opera, take a front row seat and perhaps you will hear the magic of the flute. Every major world religion contains teaching stories and sayings which are paradoxical in nature. Be humble for you are made of dust. Be noble for you are made of stars.
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
The torch of doubt and chaos, this is what the sage steers by. Whoever would save their life will lose it, but whoever would lose their life will preserve it. Such statements appear radically self-contradictory, even absurd, yet they communicate truths about life which both provoke and fascinate us. You are invited to enter into the unorthodox world of paradox, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the individuation process as understood by various religious traditions. On the lighter side, there are also shocks of recognition, astonishing windfalls, and irreverent humor which turns things upside down, making us laugh.