Following the Marga

Joseph Campbell believed that "...each of us has an individual myth that's driving us, which we may or may not know." This forum is for assistance and inspiration in the quest to find your own personal mythology.

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Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

I have recently been reading through passages of Stephen Larsen's awesome book: " The Mythic Imagination - The Quest for Meaning Through Personal Mythology ".
Funny, James, that you mentioned this book. Just yesterday I ordered it. Years ago I read a library copy and decided to get one of my own.

8)
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

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Post by CarmelaBear »

In the imagination, one can be whatever one needs to be, finding and fashioning the perfect metaphors. The trick is when there is something much larger at stake and the challenges before us become all too real. Then, the myth becomes adventure, and meaning is an afterthought.

For children and young people, the reality of school, parenthood and starting a work life.
For those in the middle, finding favorable winds and keeping the boat from sinking.
For the aging, accepting and making the best of irreversible changes, one by one.

~

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Post by JamesN. »

Thank you for your thoughtful input Carmela.

Here is what Stephen and Robin Larsen are involved with now:

http://symbolicstudies.org/center/our-mission/

http://symbolicstudies.org/css-programs ... und-table/

http://stonemountaincenter.com/site/about-us/


Cindy if you haven't seen this you might find it interesting:

http://symbolicstudies.org/css-programs ... eam-group/

And this:

http://symbolicstudies.org/css-programs ... am-portal/


And Clemsy you have ( got ) to click on the " Story " button on this: :lol:

http://symbolicstudies.org/special-proj ... ch-engine/
What do I know? - Michael de Montaigne

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

And Clemsy you have ( got ) to click on the " Story " button on this: Laughing

http://symbolicstudies.org/special-proj ... ch-engine/
Cool, James, but too bad that ready access to the stories is unavailable.


***


Here's another site to consider: Folklore and Mythology: Electronic Texts


:)
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

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Post by JamesN. »

Cindy B. wrote:
And Clemsy you have ( got ) to click on the " Story " button on this: Laughing

http://symbolicstudies.org/special-proj ... ch-engine/
Cool, James, but too bad that ready access to the stories is unavailable.


***


Here's another site to consider: Folklore and Mythology: Electronic Texts


:)

Hey Cindy.

Yes I noticed the site stories themselves being unaccessible right after I posted and yes it sure is too bad. ( Still 46,000 entries is an " overwhelming " compilation to consider. )

By the way that is a " friggin awesome " link you also left
. 8)
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Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

Clemsy wrote:Theseus has always resonated with me, and Renault's timeless version holds a treasured spot in my lifetime top five. You must walk your inner labyrinth and slay the beast, but you also must embrace the help of the goddess if you want to find your way out again. The thread is her gift.
Just curious, Clemsy, about which story version it is that you share with your students regarding Adriadne's fate after assisting Theseus and running off with him. Was he a demi-cad or not? :lol:
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

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Post by Clemsy »

If read literally all the heros are cads! lol!
Give me stories before I go mad! ~Andreas

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Post by CarmelaBear »

Yeah, the ladies have their own version, too, I expect. :lol:

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Post by CarmelaBear »

"Here's my thread", says Ari...

Down the primrose path...

:roll:

Image

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

CarmelaBear wrote:Yeah, the ladies have their own version, too, I expect. :lol:
Ariadne (This is a cool website, by the way, a keeper for serious study and/or comprehesive information on Greek mythology.)



And sorry, James, for momentarily derailing your thread. I shall stop now.


:)
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

JamesN.
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Post by JamesN. »

Cindy I think you brought up something quite interesting to stop and consider for a moment.

I find it " endlessly fascinating " to consider how these " Greek Myths "; or in a broader sense the ( Great Myths ); give us these ever widening and deepening insights into ourselves and who we are; and how some of these in particular; evolve over time and take on different personifications and have such unique applications. The stories, the cultural inflections or aspects in which they are presented, and indeed the Gods themselves are over time constantly being renewed and reinterpreted into new and different ways.

Joseph Campbell really got the message of this understanding; and because of that was able to help redefine it's importance for us all not only in the understanding of our behaviors; but in their cross-cultural similarities of manifestation.

And deep within our subconscious they live within us still. :idea:

( BTW; Thank you for being so considerate about the thread direction; although I think you really added to it in this case. Oh and also for adding " another " great link resource. ) :wink:
What do I know? - Michael de Montaigne

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Post by Cindy B. »

This might interest you, James.

I decided to read the 1988 article again, Personal Myths Bring Cohesion to the Chaos of Each Life, only to find the same Dan McAdams included who's involved with the 2008 Life Story Model that you recently shared with us. No wonder his Life Story Interview appealed to me so much as a personality research tool--the guy is steeped in Campbell and a knowledge of archetypes. Have another look at this article when you have time, and you'll see what I mean and a bit about why his Interview might have stood out for me as "not the usual science."

8)


P.S. And obviously McAdams isn't well known to me or we wouldn't be having this conversation. :P
Last edited by Cindy B. on Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

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Post by JamesN. »

" Eureka " as Archimedes would say!
Cindy wrote:

This old NYT article may be of interest to some: Personal Myths Bring Cohesion to the Chaos of Each Life
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/24/scien ... all&src=pm

I want to draw attention to something not emphasized enough, though, in this introductory material: The instinctual archetypal/mythic dimension of the human psyche (the collective unconscious) shapes our perceptions and experiences as human beings, that is, what it means to be "human" and what is meaningful about being human, and is pluralistic in nature; and just as the universal human story has many archetypal themes and associated character types that may be expressed, so does the individual human story. I mention this since the question, "What is your personal myth?" can be misleading, it seems to me, and prompt one to look for a single archetypal link for understanding and meaning when the individual psyche, too, is pluralistic in nature. So when uncovering your "personal myth or story," consider what archetypal themes have emerged for you during the course of your lifetime, because each will have shaped where you find yourself in the here-and-now as well as offering clues as to where you might head next. As Jung said, "Anything psychic is Janus-faced: it looks both backwards and forwards. Because it is evolving, it is also preparing the future."

:)


Well done Cindy! :idea:
What do I know? - Michael de Montaigne

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

Just one more thought about Ariadne... :)

However she and Theseus become separated, the myth tells that it must be so, a transition in each's storyline. So for Ariadne, the more important male association is with Dionysus who next finds her (in some versions, asleep), falls in love with her, and weds her. Her story moves into the context of spiritual love, and Ariadne becomes a heavenly Queen. Dionysus honors her by placing her Crown among the immortal stars. http://chandra.harvard.edu/graphics/con ... a_hev2.jpg

As for Theseus, it was his lot to die a grisly human death upon being pushed from a cliff. No doubt he endured it heroically. (And with hubris intact. ;)) His bodily remains and spear were eventually found and entombed in Athens.
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

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Post by JamesN. »

Hey Cindy.

I just spent some time on the " Ariadne " thread you posted and found this listing of 3 pages on " The Muses "; ( wow ). I think there is a major connection in many different ways with the " Marga " and much of what we have been discussing. I remember Joseph Campbell stating in his acceptance speech for the " Medal of Honor for Literature " by the Arts Club of New York on the " Hero's Journey " video where he says in reference to what he was trying to do that he wanted to give people a ( Key ) to the " Garden of the Muses ".


http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Mousai.html


( BTW check your PM message box for another Greek reference I left for you. ) :)
What do I know? - Michael de Montaigne

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