Think of a myth as a typical pattern of living and relating, with the processes that belong to that pattern. Think of the many myths in all countries and cultures as models for relating and living that have been passed down through the generations world-wide.
The stories about the mythical gods were orally passed down until they were eventually written down. The gods symbolized the psyche. Mythology explained the environment, natural phenomena, the origin of the gods and how to live life. For these reasons, we are hardly likely to be guided by one specific myth or even 10 myths as some courses claim when they write, “Discover your top ten myths.” Instead, every aspect of our lives is underpinned by the themes and stories, of patterns with their processes going back tens of thousands of years and still evolving as we live into the future – the patterns and processes we call myths.
Although mythological events belong to the ancient past, their themes are still tantalizingly present in modern life. With respect to this, Mircea Eliade (1969) noted, “Myths reveal the structure of reality, the multiple modalities of being in the world. That is why they are exemplary models for human behavior.[1] With respect to Roman and Greek mythology, Achilles’ Heel continues to stand for our weak spots. The Elysium Fields continue to conjure up paradise and Gordian Knots, Pandora’s Box and the Midas touch are part of everyday language and mythological themes continue to underpin film, literature and art.
In his book, Self Comes to Mind, written in 2010, Antonio Damasio writes about one of the aims of evolutionary’s objective as being the regulation of life. To further this, the organism’s drive to maintain homeostasis, or balance, “invented forms of consolation for those in suffering, rewards for those who helped the sufferers, injunctions for those who caused harm, norms of behavior aimed at preventing harm and promoting good, and a mixture of punishments and preventions, of penalties and praise” (Ibid: Page 497). The solution for making this “understandable, transmissible, persuasive, enforceable” was a “storytelling” brain, which he says, brains do (Ibid). As a result, Damasio tells us that it is not surprising that mythical beings spelled out human problems and that their behaviour offered assistance to suffering, enabling the future to be changed (Ibid).
About Leslie
Leslie Zimmermann is a Jungian Analyst trained in the philosophy and psychology of C.G. Jung in Zürich and is based in Johannesburg. She offers a range of services, which she integrates, to meet the needs and aspirations of people. In a word, her work is in the service of wholeness. Wholeness includes both our vulnerabilities and our strengths, becoming conscious of our own unique mix of these, honoring our own unique way of functioning and with this knowledge and confidence, contributing as only we each can in our own way, to this evolving world we find ourselves to be a part of.
Besides having a Diplomate qualification in Analytical psychology, which qualifies me to write about the theory and practice of dream interpretation, I also have an Honours degree in Applied Psychology and a Masters degree in Research psychology, which qualify me to write about theories of human development, personality, abnormal psychology, social psychology, sociology and ethics. Also, theories and knowledge pertaining to sleep and dreams from a perspective of neuropsychological and biological systems.
Leslie specializes in Analytical Psychology, Voice Dialogue, Life Coaching solutions for business executives. Consulting and coaching for family owned and home-based business
For an appointment Leslie Zimmermann can be contacted on:
Email: leslie.zimmermann@gmail.com
Mobile: +27 (0)83 384 9812
Member: SAPC (South African Psychoanalytic Confederation); SAAJA (Southern African Association of Jungian Analysts); IAAP (International Association for Analytical Psychology); International Association for the Study of Dreams