How do you make sense of the world around you and your place in it? What challenges you to see things from a new point of view? What helps you relate to others on a more personal level?
When we share stories, we gain much needed insight, empathy, and perspective. And when we begin to shift our perspective, our black and white way of seeing the world begins to fade as we open up to the beauty and possibilities of ourselves and the world around us.
Myths provide explanations for why things are the way they are. How did the Earth come to be? How was humankind first created? Why does the sun rise in the East and fall in the West? Even though they are not scientific explanations of nature’s phenomena, they provide us with great comfort because they help us understand our world.
The same goes for our traditions. Why do we decorate evergreen trees in the Winter? Why do we set up altars for our deceased loved ones during All Saints Day and All Souls Day? Why do we light and release lanterns at the end of the Chinese New Year? The stories tied to these traditions and more help us connect to each other, and our community, more deeply.
Most importantly for me, myths help us determine how to live a meaningful life. When we progress through The Hero’s Journey (Joseph Campbell) or The Heroine’s Journey (Maureen Murdock), we learn how viewing our lives as stages on a greater journey can help unlock our own personal transformation.
Have you found yourself in dangerous waters? It could be because of the siren, and her tempting song of distraction. The siren is a dangerous creature from Greek mythology. Sirens would use their enchanting and magical songs to lure sailors to their deaths by causing them to crash upon the rocks. In The Odyssey, Odysseus
When we let our fears, worries, and bad habits control us, we are held back from pursuing our passions and living the lives we desire and deserve. It’s vital that we take a closer look at the fears, negative thoughts, and false assumptions that shape our mindset, and the concrete action steps we can take
What is The Hero’s Journey? The Hero’s Journey is a model derived from mythologist Joseph Campbell’s research into the great stories of the world. While he was compiling his Historical Atlas of World Mythology, Campbell realized that there was an archetypal story at work that manifested in the stories from diverse and unrelated cultures and
Calling all fans of mythology, legends, and fairy tales! Lessons From The Labyrinth is a book club for those who wish to explore classic stories and their applications today. Underworld goddesses, Native American star people legends, and Celtic fairy lore are just a few examples of what we’ll be covering. Are you ready? Let’s go on an adventure!
The Odyssey by Homer and Translated by Emily Wilson.
