Walking the Hero’s Journey: The Power of Myth

Self-discovery

Jan 16

*The Garden* (2018), illustration courtesy of Sveta Dorosheva

Many people who embark on a journey of self-discovery will, at some point, encounter the works of Joseph Campbell. It's been twelve years since I read the book The Power of Myth, which opened my eyes to a new way of seeing myself and my relationship with the world. Through his work, I developed a far greater appreciation of world religions and it has deepened my interest in cultural anthropology.

Campbell is a great teacher of the human soul and has inspired countless seekers and artists. We continue to experience the influence of his work through the books and films we engage in today. So, I was delighted when the whole TV mini series, Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth, showed up in my YouTube feed over the holiday break. It appears that you can really use the algorithms to your advantage by watching more educational content. (Japanese food videos have since infiltrated my feed again.)

People sometimes say to me that myth is irrelevant to our modern times. The stories of old are just ‘made up’ by people who didn't have the scientific knowledge to understand reality. We now know better. In response to that, I would suggest that much of our lives today still operate from a place of mystery — we only choose not to acknowledge this, perhaps because it makes us uncomfortable.

Myths emerge from the human psyche, out of the collective consciousness, and have, as Campbell argued, symbolic significance. They reveal patterns in how we enter, engage and depart this world. It would be a shame to dismiss them as mere fantasy and not inquire into what they reveal about the human condition.

I agree that we live in a different time where more information is available. When it comes to myths, it's unnecessary to get caught up in true or false, real or fantasy. Instead, we can turn to myths to ask questions about our own lives. Who were we and who are we becoming? What are the myths of my ancestors that continue to shape my world view? How have people navigated pain and despair to find hope and redemption? How is the Hero’s Journey different for different genders? Are we fated to repeat old stories or can we consciously create new ones? Are stories really necessary and what role do they play?

You can watch the whole mini series, Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth, on Youtube from the links below. Special thanks to Kino Lorber for making this content available so it can continue to enrich the lives of all who come across it.