When myth shows what the mind does not reach (original) (raw)

Notes on Mythological Psychology: Reimagining the Historical Psyche

Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 1981

T he recovery of mythological language in the interpretation of experience lies at the heart of modern psychological and religious concern. From Wagner to Nietzsche, and from Freud and Jung to Eliade, Ricoeur, and Hillman, it seems that the Western soul is facing the future by recalling from the archaic past the rich tradition of myth and lore. For mythology bears the promise of an existential poetic that can reground modern man and woman's experience in the humus of storytelling and imagination. The following paper involves itself with the task of reimagining the historical psyche within the mythological context. It asks how the individual faces in his or her lifetime the universal questions of meaning that arise in the confrontation with death and suffering in the flow of time. Themes from Greek mythology, Plato and the Renaissance neoPlatonists, and from the archetypal psychology may offer a mythological illustration of the human journey through the "series" of life's seasons. The paper is inspired by the words of Thomas Mann:

Anthropological perspectives on Myth

Anuário Antropologico, 2002

In this paper, I explore anthropological interpretations of myths. Myths have fascinated scholars in various disciplines - as well as ordinary people. They have recorded and presented history, expounded philosophical ideas and moral values (Plato, Sophocles, Aeschylus), as well as provided patterns for interpreting language, (Müller), psychology (Freud, Rank, Jung) and structure (Lévi-Strauss, Greimas). One of the more puzzling moments in all these studies was the apparent incommensurability between “myth” and “reality.

Mythological conceptualization, cognitive and ego development: Is there a correlation?

Indian Journal of Mental Health, 2019

Background: In today's world there is a continuous struggle between science and spirituality, with a lot of doctors feeling that religion gets in the way of scientific treatment and sometimes also leads to very dire and dangerous consequences. While a lot of older concepts are invalid today, there is a reason why such concepts existed in the first place and they were also backed by some sort of logic and rationale. It is therefore essential to compare and correlate the older concepts with the newer ones since they shall also give an insight regarding the existing psychological concepts at that time. Methodology: We studied and compared the various stages of ego development currently accepted mainly including Loevinger's and Piaget's stages of ego and cognitive development and correlated it with the Indian mythological concepts of Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahamkara. They can also be correlated with certain concepts by Freud, Jung and Erikson. The sources of this information were various religious scriptures like the Vedas and the Bhagwad Gita and at the same time we have correlated it with various interpretations mentioned in encyclopaedias like Britannica and DK. Result: While the study is our interpretation of the review of literature, we do realize that mythological concepts are very abstract due to the wide time span; and various writers and scripture producers and their interpretations are also very subjective. The clinical significance of this paper comprises of correlation of various symptoms with older concepts like disorders in Manas may mean perceptual disturbances or disturbances in Buddhi may translate to disturbances in executive functions. Conclusion: While a lot of mental healthcare professionals do have a lot of scepticism in being open to the mythological concepts of human psychology, this paper emphasises that there was a certain observable and objective basis to these concepts exist, which can also be co-related with the modern-day concepts of psychology.

Meaning, Origin and Functions of Myth: A Brief Survey

Myths are traditional tales which are shared by a group of people. Every culture has its own myths which transfer the beliefs of primitive people about the creation of the universe and its content. Knowledge, like a river flowing down a mountain, has a source. Thus, Myths are regarded as the first source of knowledge for the primitive people to acquaint themselves with the world around. The origin of the word myth and its different interpretations along with its uses has to be surveyed briefly for giving a complete idea about myth. This survey is an attempt to shed the light on the origin of the word myth, to review the different meanings of myth and to present into light the various uses of myth.

Myth as the Phenomenon of Culture.pdf

National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts Herald, 2018

This paper aims at exploring myth as a phenomenon of culture. The authors have used anthropological integrative approach, semiotic method of representing myth as a language of culture, as well as phenomenological method. Myths provide meaning and purpose to all elements of culture. Myth underlies cultural reality – it is a core of culture. If we imagine culture as an onion comprised of different layers (the “onion” model of culture), than myth is the center of it – it is a core beyond articulation. It generates our beliefs and assumptions that are rarely explicated, however there beliefs and assumptions shape both the structure of personality and culture. They are taken for granted, but support any culture. They manifest themselves in an explicit form in values, purposes, goals, strategies, philosophies, which motivate us and shape our reality. Mythology is one of the ways to comprehend and interpret the world around us. Its basic concepts are the “world” and “human”. Through the lens of these concepts, people realized their destiny in the world and formed life attitudes during the early stages of human development. Giving place to philosophy and science, mythology has not lost its important place in human history. Mythological narratives were borrowed by many religions. In recent decades, representatives of literature and art have intentionally used myths to express their ideas. They have not only rethought ancient myths, but have created new mythological symbols. Nowadays, an interest in myths and mythologies has dramatically increased, and it is not by chance. The famous researchers of the primitive cultures and mythologies as the ways of mastering and interpreting the world have demonstrated the creative power and heuristic potential of myths that will be manifested in the future.

Medicine and Mythology: Health and Healing in Indo-European Myths

Mentalities/Mentalities, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2014).

This paper examines myths that deal with issues of sickness and health from the Indo-European cultures of pre-Christian Europe, including the Ancient Greeks, the Vedic Indians, the Celts, and the medieval Scandinavians. The themes explored include: the relationship of physical perfection to moral excellence; mortality and attempts to avoid or reverse death; and the figure of the healer as exponent of both positive and negative powers. It will be demonstrated that the concepts of wellness and illness were located within a complex cosmological and social mythology that is common to all these Indo-European cultures, although there are certain cultural specificities identifiable within particular mythological texts.

Exploring modern theories and functions of myths

This study aims at exploring the mostly discussed and used modern theories and functions of myths in literature, creative art and literary criticism. The finding of the study shows that a clear understanding of different theories and functions of myths is inescapable. It manifests myths as one of the vital cultural products, what do not limit them within the metaphorical and abstract meaning only. On the contrary, they perform some social and practical functions too. Especially, in literature, myths befit as a network of symbols, intriguing allegories, allusions, metaphors, suggestive archetypes, schemas etc., and create alternative narratives when necessary. Theorists show that myths help diverse audience and users towards making human communication effective, unveil the collective unconscious or the pattern of human behaviour, the inner psyche of mankind. Myths appear as a "rainbow bridge" which connects the present and the past, men and gods, questions and answers. An in-depth knowledge about various meanings, theories and functions of myths thus helps the modern world possible for life and art, by making diverse and alternative use of myths, and bringing social order and harmony for all.