Understanding Mythological Systems

Mythic QuestionsMythic Questions

1. Where do I come from?

2. Why am I here?

3. Why do I do the things that I do?

4. Is there anything more?

5. Where am I going?

Mythic systems rarely call themselves “mythic.”

Usually they go by such terms as. . Usually they go by such terms as. . ..

1. Christian

2. Native American

3. Scientific

4. Realistic

5. The TRUTH!

The important Question to ask oneself is. . .

““Which mythic system Which mythic system answers the important answers the important questions the best?”questions the best?”

ArchetypesThe Subconscious Whispers The Subconscious Whispers

of the Divineof the Divine

C.S. Lewis wrote. . .

““There is, then, a particular kind There is, then, a particular kind of story which has a value in of story which has a value in itself--a value independent of its itself--a value independent of its embodiment in any literary embodiment in any literary work.”work.”

An Experiment in An Experiment in CriticismCriticism

Sigmund Freud

"Myths are the Dreams of the RaceDreams are the Myths of the Individual"---------------------Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Freudian Thought

C.G. Jung(1875-1961)

Jungian Thought

Types of Archetypes

1.1. The The JourneyJourney Archetype Archetype

2.2. The Archetype of The Archetype of RebirthRebirth

3.3. The The FemaleFemale Archetype Archetypei.i. Positive--Mother Positive--Mother ((Nurturing))

ii.ii. Negative--Seductress Negative--Seductress ((Devouring))

4.4. The The TricksterTrickster Archetype Archetype

5.5. The Archetype ofThe Archetype of the Shadow the Shadow

6.6. The Archetype of The Archetype of the Herothe Hero

While not official Jungian thought, but it makes sense to also include at least one other:

Defined by the use of physical powerDefined by the use of physical power

Male Archetype:

•Negative the Conqueror--OppressingNegative the Conqueror--Oppressing

•Positive Father--ProtectingPositive Father--Protecting

Males Striving for Balance

HOW TO RECOGNIZE ARCHETYPAL IMAGES: 1.1. they carry a high emotional charge (positive, negative, or they carry a high emotional charge (positive, negative, or

both simultaneously); they have a powerful, compelling both simultaneously); they have a powerful, compelling effect effect

2.2. for an individual, they frequently recur in situations for an individual, they frequently recur in situations when the rational, conscious mind is not in full control when the rational, conscious mind is not in full control (e.g., recurring dreams and fantasies, obsessive behavior (e.g., recurring dreams and fantasies, obsessive behavior patterns which have no fully rational explanation) patterns which have no fully rational explanation)

3.3. this recurrence occurs also in many different eras and this recurrence occurs also in many different eras and cultures (e.g., commonly used symbols in literature, art cultures (e.g., commonly used symbols in literature, art and life; recurring types of dreams; mythic patterns, etc.) and life; recurring types of dreams; mythic patterns, etc.)

The Nature of Archetypes

1.1. It is It is impossibleimpossible to fully express an to fully express an archetype.archetype.

2.2. Human thought can at best only express Human thought can at best only express a portion of meaning.a portion of meaning.

3.3. Archetypes are the foundation elements of Archetypes are the foundation elements of most myths.most myths.

4.4. They They could be could be the whispered thoughts of the whispered thoughts of God.God.

The The JourneyJourney Archetype ArchetypeAlso the Archetype of Also the Archetype of RebirthRebirth

1.1. The Traveler can go The Traveler can go either physically or in either physically or in spiritspirit

2.2. An individual must travel An individual must travel to the edge of human to the edge of human comfort.comfort.

3.3. At the edge the seeker At the edge the seeker will encounter the will encounter the fantastic (the divine or fantastic (the divine or the infernal).the infernal).

4.4. The seeker returns with The seeker returns with a treasurea treasure

5.5. The traveler returns to The traveler returns to his or her people his or her people altered, bringing altered, bringing something for them.something for them.

The Traveler can go either The Traveler can go either physically or in spiritphysically or in spirit

• Traveling Traveling physicallyphysically• By land: foot, donkey, camel, etc.By land: foot, donkey, camel, etc.• By sea: swim, boatBy sea: swim, boat• By air: birdBy air: bird

• Traveling Traveling spirituallyspiritually• By dreamBy dream• By visionBy vision• By deathBy death

To make such a Journey the individual must travel to the edge of human comfort: To the top of aTo the top of a mountain mountain Deep within a Deep within a cavecave Out into theOut into the ocean ocean Far into the Far into the wildernesswilderness Into the Into the woodswoods Down into the Down into the AbyssAbyss Ravished up to Ravished up to HeavenHeaven

Beyond Physical Location, travelers sometimes encounter the fantastic during certain times, typified as border-times:

Early MorningEarly MorningMidnightMidnightDuskDusk

At the edge, the seeker will At the edge, the seeker will encounter encounter the fantastic (the divine or the infernal)(the divine or the infernal)• A Dragon--or some other terrible monsterA Dragon--or some other terrible monster• FairieFairie• Alien beingsAlien beings• Hell (the infernal)Hell (the infernal)• Heaven (blessed vision--God)Heaven (blessed vision--God)

The seeker returns with a treasure• A Gold Cup and other physical treasureA Gold Cup and other physical treasure• A new understanding of self (internal)A new understanding of self (internal)• A word from God (external)A word from God (external)

The traveler returns to his or her people altered, bringing something for them.

• WealthWealth to help the people prosper to help the people prosper• KnowledgeKnowledge to improve the quality of life to improve the quality of life

(even if it is only in the individual him or (even if it is only in the individual him or herself)herself)

• A A WordWord, direction from The Almighty, direction from The Almighty• LifeLife

How altered?

o Physically changedPhysically changedo MosesMoses’ glowing face’ glowing faceo SaulSaul’s blindness’s blindnesso ChristChrist’s power’s power

o Mentally changedMentally changedo JonahJonah view’s about Ninivah view’s about Ninivaho Jacob’Jacob’s views about Essaus views about Essauo PeterPeter’s views about gentiles’s views about gentiles

The The FemaleFemale Archetype: Archetype:

The Great Mystery:The Great Mystery:

She’s the bringer of life,She’s the bringer of life, but no one knows how. but no one knows how.

““I am I am notnot a fairy tale.” a fairy tale.”Mercury Thunder of the Mercury Thunder of the Grass DancerGrass Dancer

An Archetype with 2 sides:• Positive--Positive--MotherMother

• NurturingNurturing• Life givingLife giving• Self SacrificingSelf Sacrificing• symbolized by bowls or horns of plentysymbolized by bowls or horns of plenty

• Negative--Negative--SeductressSeductress• DevouringDevouring• ConsumingConsuming• symbolized by the vortexsymbolized by the vortex

Other important female symbols:

• Connected with the moonConnected with the moon• Going in cyclesGoing in cycles• Manifesting herself in three forms: full, half Manifesting herself in three forms: full, half

and newand new• Perceived as manifesting Perceived as manifesting

herself as threeherself as three• the maidthe maid• the matronthe matron• the cronethe crone

Some Other Important 3’s

• The Three FatesThe Three Fates• The Three RhinemaidensThe Three Rhinemaidens• The Three GracesThe Three Graces• The Three Stygian WitchesThe Three Stygian Witches

The Trickster Archetype

““Boo!”Boo!”

The Joker from The Joker from BatmanBatman

The Trickster can never be pinned down:

Shape shifter--not what he appearsShape shifter--not what he appears Lives by wits--CleverLives by wits--Clever Strategy, guile, cheatsStrategy, guile, cheats FunnyFunny Usually can manifest itself forUsually can manifest itself for eithereither good good

or or evilevil--but this depends on the moral --but this depends on the moral universe in which he functions.universe in which he functions.

So even the following is limited!

More Trickster Qualities

• Displays self-interest.Displays self-interest. • This often takes precedence over community This often takes precedence over community

allegiance, thus maximizing his “short-term allegiance, thus maximizing his “short-term (economic)” gain at the expense of long term social (economic)” gain at the expense of long term social cohesion.cohesion.

• Chooses a dupe who is “hard-working and honest.”Chooses a dupe who is “hard-working and honest.”• Is a being who formants disorder and discord.Is a being who formants disorder and discord.

• He/She will “steal, cheat, coerce, mock, deceive, and He/She will “steal, cheat, coerce, mock, deceive, and serve as instrument of torture and death.serve as instrument of torture and death.

• Moves swiftly and impulsively back and forth Moves swiftly and impulsively back and forth across all borders with virtual impunity.across all borders with virtual impunity.

Some examples of the tricksterin Mythic systems. HermesHermes from Greek Belieffrom Greek Belief PrometheusPrometheus from Greek Belieffrom Greek Belief Loki Loki from Norse Belieffrom Norse Belief CoyoteCoyote in Native American Beliefin Native American Belief SpiderSpider in African Belief in African Belief SatanSatan from Judeo-Christian Belieffrom Judeo-Christian Belief ChristChrist from Christian Belieffrom Christian Belief

Some literary examples of the Trickster• SatanSatan in in Paradise LostParadise Lost• GandalfGandalf from from The HobbitThe Hobbit• OdysseusOdysseus from from The OdysseyThe Odyssey• Ghost Horse Ghost Horse from from The Grass DancerThe Grass Dancer• DionysusDionysus in in The BacchaeThe Bacchae

The Shadow

““What is Light without Dark?”What is Light without Dark?”Darkness from the film Darkness from the film LegendLegend

We tend to see it in "others." That is to say, we project our dark side onto others and thus interpret them as "enemies" or as "exotic" presences that fascinate.

• The Shadow is the personification of that part of The Shadow is the personification of that part of human, psychic possibility that we deny in ourselves human, psychic possibility that we deny in ourselves and project onto others. and project onto others.

• The goal of personality integration is to integrate the The goal of personality integration is to integrate the rejected, inferior side of our life into our total rejected, inferior side of our life into our total experience and to take responsibility for it. experience and to take responsibility for it.

http://www.acs.appstate.edu/~davisct/nt/jung.html#shadow

We see the Shadow (the other) everywhere in popular culture• The ShadowThe Shadow• Batman. Batman. • DraculaDracula• Raven Raven • Ninga Turtles. Ninga Turtles.

We see it in We see it in popular popular prejudice prejudice as well.as well. Some Whites people think the Some Whites people think the

Black Man is the enemy; Black Man is the enemy; Americans think that Communists or followers of Americans think that Communists or followers of Islam are devils. Islam are devils. Of course, Satan is the great Shadow image of popular Of course, Satan is the great Shadow image of popular religion (Consider: the word only occurs 54 times in the religion (Consider: the word only occurs 54 times in the entire Bible.) entire Bible.)

The More it is Denied the More Terrible the Shadow Is:

. . .there can be no doubt that man is, on . . .there can be no doubt that man is, on the whole, less good than he imagines the whole, less good than he imagines himself or wants to be. Everyone carries a himself or wants to be. Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. If an inferiority is conscious, denser it is. If an inferiority is conscious, one always has a chance to correct it. one always has a chance to correct it. Furthermore, it is constantly in contact with Furthermore, it is constantly in contact with other interests, so that it is continually other interests, so that it is continually subjected to modifications. But if it is subjected to modifications. But if it is repressed and isolated from consciousness, repressed and isolated from consciousness, it never gets corrected.it never gets corrected.

Taken From: http://psikoloji.fisek.com.tr/jung/shadow.htm

The Hero

““Sometimes a man’s Sometimes a man’s gotta do what a gotta do what a man’s gotta do”man’s gotta do”

Marshal Will Kane Marshal Will Kane from from High NoonHigh Noon

Who is the Hero? Slays the dragon or monster—often with a special Slays the dragon or monster—often with a special

weapon.weapon.• Hercules's club, Hercules's club, • Arthur’s ExcaliburArthur’s Excalibur

Suffers punishment for others.Suffers punishment for others. Rescues the vanquished and the downtrodden.Rescues the vanquished and the downtrodden. Is often Is often notnot a part of the society he helps. a part of the society he helps.• Does not appear to come from anywhere important. Does not appear to come from anywhere important. (“(“Can Can

anything good come from Nazareth?”anything good come from Nazareth?” “ “Who is this GuyWho is this Guy?!”?!”• Does not remain after the task is finished. Does not remain after the task is finished. ((Rides into the Rides into the

sunsetsunset “ “The Shire is saved, but no for meThe Shire is saved, but no for me”)”)

Can a Woman Be a Hero?• Not common in our Not common in our

western history, but western history, but with changing gender with changing gender roles of the last two roles of the last two centuries this has centuries this has become far more become far more acceptable.acceptable.

Joan of ArkJoan of Ark Wonder WomanWonder Woman MulanMulan Riply (from Riply (from AliensAliens))

Visual Archetypes:

Jung’s Mandalas

Pictures on the Archetypal Pictures on the Archetypal WallWall

What is a Mandala?

MandalaMandala is Sanskrit for whole world or is Sanskrit for whole world or healing circle. It is a representation of the healing circle. It is a representation of the universe and everything in it. Khyil-khor is universe and everything in it. Khyil-khor is the Tibetan word for mandala and means the Tibetan word for mandala and means ""center of the Universe in which a fully center of the Universe in which a fully awakened being abidesawakened being abides." Circles suggest ." Circles suggest wholeness, unity, the womb, completion wholeness, unity, the womb, completion and eternity and eternity (Goodwin).(Goodwin).

Jung’s Comments

““The `squaring of the circle’ is one of the The `squaring of the circle’ is one of the many archetypal motifs which form the many archetypal motifs which form the basic patterns of our dreams and fantasies. basic patterns of our dreams and fantasies. But it is distinguished by the fact that it is But it is distinguished by the fact that it is one of the most important of them from the one of the most important of them from the functional point of view. Indeed, it could functional point of view. Indeed, it could even be called the even be called the archetype of wholenessarchetype of wholeness.” .” - from - from MandalasMandalas. [C. G. Jung. trans. from . [C. G. Jung. trans. from Du (ZurichDu (Zurich, 1955] , 1955] (Qtd. in Benard (Qtd. in Benard Emphasis Mine)Emphasis Mine)

Jung discovered Manalas while studying Eastern Religions ““For Jung, mandalas are "vessels" into For Jung, mandalas are "vessels" into

which we project our psyche. It is then which we project our psyche. It is then returned to us as a way of restoration. He returned to us as a way of restoration. He recognized that archetypes from many recognized that archetypes from many cultures were seen in this spontaneous cultures were seen in this spontaneous expression of the unconscious. Circles are expression of the unconscious. Circles are universally associated with meditation, universally associated with meditation, healing and prayer” healing and prayer” (Goodwin).(Goodwin).

More from Jung ““I had to abandon the idea of the superordinate I had to abandon the idea of the superordinate

position of the ego. ... I saw that everything, all position of the ego. ... I saw that everything, all paths I had been following, all steps I had taken, paths I had been following, all steps I had taken, were leading back to a single point -- namely, to were leading back to a single point -- namely, to the mid-point. It became increasingly plain to me the mid-point. It became increasingly plain to me that the mandala is the centre. that the mandala is the centre. It is the exponent of It is the exponent of all paths. It is the path to the centre, to all paths. It is the path to the centre, to individuation.” individuation.” ““... I knew that in finding the mandala as an ... I knew that in finding the mandala as an expression of the self I had attained what was for expression of the self I had attained what was for me the ultimate. - C. G. me the ultimate. - C. G. Jung. Memories, Dreams, Jung. Memories, Dreams, ReflectionsReflections” ” (Qtd. in Benard Emphasis Mine).(Qtd. in Benard Emphasis Mine).

The End

Is it Really?Is it Really?

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