I was talking to someone, today, and I was asked about mythology. His interest was peaked by my re-reading Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces. His question was, what is mythology? I tried to explain that it was nothing more than theology and philosophy. The asking and answering of questions pertaining to the study of one's spiritual life. He looked at me as if I was speaking Spanish. So, I told him that it was Fairy Tales for adults. This resonated with him, but he then asked me, if I thought that the people were confused enough without mythology. I told him it quite the opposite mythology gives stability as fairy tales gave to us when we were children. We, mythologists, help with everything from rites of passages to journeys of a thousand steps within.
His question did get me to thinking. Story or reality, what comes first? In my humble opinion, story must come first. Look at the society of the world and one can see the absence of story, of a focal point, a goal. But then I think, where does story come from? Again, in my humble opinion, we get our stories from the collective energetic thought pool. That big jar with characters, plots, stories, and dramatic questions in it. For is it not the artist who pulls from the Creator who become a creator. Meaning, I'm back at square one with the question. The truth of the matter is the process of storytelling rises from within. Theme, when written correctly, will always present a valid point regarding life. I mean there are only four themes anyway. My favorite and probably the favorite of most mythologists is man v god. There can be no man v man without surrendering to the fact that, if science or Jehovah, you have a god; then and only then are you able to wrestle with this being. Otherwise, we have straw men arguments that no one wants to read. Then there is the message, that must be premeditated in delivery better than foreshadowing. Truth of the matter is there is a reality that lies dormant in the story until the writer chisels it out. Constantly homing in on what is it that is trying to be told. Because the true mythologist has an ear for story on top of her hours learning the craft and its theories. With that said, no, there is no way we can confuse the public by telling well-constructed myths. But the shit ain't easy! There is the bottom-line of how well of an experience the writer has provided. Has she entertained, explained, and expanded the mind of the listener? Is experience according to the standards and intentions of mythology? No mythologist worth their weight in gold or salt would forget that the final product needs to answer these two questions: is it a story and is it reality. It's the chicken and the egg question. What comes first the story or the religious reality? There will be no answer. There should be no question; because it's only those looking outside who dare to ask so. With that said, we've wasted valuable time on this issue. Time to return back to work and to design my current story that will be constructed to look like reality. Thanks for Listening! Sabrina Louise Andielle Crow Crew
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AuthorOne of those writer folk telling stories, reviewing the writer's adventure, and presenting the hero's journey. All wrapped in Spirit, the Kingdom of God, the Sanatana Dharma, the Tao, the Way, or the Absolute. Archives
February 2020
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