Lucy Goodison facts for kids

Lucy Goodison, born in 1945, is a British writer and expert in different fields. She has worked as an archaeologist, studying ancient times in the Aegean Sea. She has also been involved in a type of therapy called body psychotherapy, which helps people connect their thoughts and feelings. Lucy Goodison is also passionate about social justice, working to make things fair for everyone. She believes it's important to bring together thinking and feeling, which are often seen as separate in the Western world.

About Her Work

Lucy Goodison studied Classics and Languages at Newnham College, Cambridge. She then earned a PhD in Classical Archaeology from University College, London. She has been a research fellow at these universities.

She started her career writing for the BBC World Service and directing historical and archaeological TV shows for 'Chronicle' on BBC-TV. Later, her work focused on three main areas:

• Being an expert in ancient Aegean and early Greek religions.
• Working as a therapist and teacher of body therapies.
• Being an activist in community groups, especially for health, mental health, and disability.

These different interests have shaped her writing. She has written academic books, newspaper articles, and self-help books.

Archaeology and Ancient Religions

Lucy Goodison's early archaeological work looked at the importance of the sun in ancient Aegean religions. Her book, Death, Women and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion, explored this idea. She also studied ancient burial customs, especially in Minoan Crete. She believes it's important to understand how ancient people used their senses, spirituality, and social lives. She has given many talks about ancient Crete's art and rituals.

Body Therapies and Community Work

For 25 years, Lucy Goodison had a private practice in therapeutic massage. She also taught bodywork therapies. She worked to improve special education, self-help therapy, and the National Health Service. From 1997 to 2001, she was a Dance Therapist at Holloway Prison in London, helping people in difficult situations. She also taught self-help therapy, massage, dance, and dreamwork in adult education classes.

She wrote several books and articles on these topics. Her 1981 book, In Our Own Hands: A Book of Self-help Therapy, written with Sheila Ernst, helped people understand their choices in therapy. It became a popular book. Her writings on disability and special education were even used as teaching materials by the Open University.

Lucy Goodison has also been involved in the arts. She helped run a photo library and has been part of community dance and street theatre. Since 2010, she has helped coordinate Just Press, a non-profit publisher that releases unique books.

Books She Has Written

On Archaeology and History

• Holy Trees and Other Ecological Surprises, Just Press, 2010.
• Ancient Goddesses: The Myths and the Evidence, British Museum Press, 1998, co-edited with Christine E. Morris.
• Death, Women and the Sun: Symbolism of Regeneration in Early Aegean Religion, Institute of Classical Studies, 1989.

On Therapy and Community Issues

• A Darker Side of Dorset: Haunting Stories, Avenue Words and Turnpike, 2014, co-edited with Anne Denham.
• The Dreams of Women: Exploring and Interpreting Women's Dreams, The Women’s Press, 1995; W. W. Norton & Co., 1996.
• Understanding Mental Handicap, MIND Publications pamphlet, 1991, with Jane Armitage.
• Public & Private Parts: Songs and Tales of the War Years 1941–81 by Keith Horn, Community Press, 1981, co-edited with Deborah Daly.
• In Our Own Hands: A Book of Self-Help Therapy, The Women's Press, 1981, with Sheila Ernst.
• Divide and Rule — Never!, anti-racist booklet for schools, The Newsreel Collective, 1979.

Documentary Films

Lucy Goodison has also worked on several documentary films:

• Speaking with Sinclair, an interview with archaeologist Sinclair Hood, 2020, with Carlos Guarita.
• Breaking Point, Kestrel Films (for Mental Health Film Council), 1975, assistant director.
• Growing Together, Kestrel Films (for the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus), 1974, assistant director.
• The Fastest Con in the West, about the Wild West, BBC-2, 1971, writer/director.
• Marx Was Here, BBC-2, 1970, writer/director.
• The Alexandrians, BBC-2, 1970, writer/director.
• This is the Wonderful Year, about Sabbati Zevi, BBC-2, 1968, writer/director.