July 9, 2025 • 15 mins
Enjoy this AI generated, entertaining discussion of the book- The Power of Myth. Learn the essence of the book and take away 5 key lessons. Consider purchasing the book: https://a.co/d/2PwWcYS
Recommended by AI.
Healthspan360 areas: Spiritual/Intellectual
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ever felt a bit adrift? Maybe searching for
(00:02):
deeper meaning in, well, in ourcrazy modern world. There's this
legendary scholar, JasonCampbell, who studied myths his
whole life. And he basicallysaid the real answers, the
blueprints for a fulfillinglife, They're actually hidden in
plain sight. In those ancientstories you might think are, you
know, just for kids.
So today, we're diving deep intohis famous conversations, the
(00:23):
power of myth. We wanna pull outthe core wisdom, our mission, to
show you how these old talesoffer really practical maps.
Maps for your career, yourrelationships, pretty much
everything. Think of it as ashortcut to some, really
powerful ideas about life.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's a great way to put it. The source itself calls
them ideas worth pondering,That's exactly what they are.
We're aiming for a clear, kindof accessible summary here,
showing how these ancientnarratives connect directly to
your life. Right now, it's notabout dusty old book, it's about
seeing mythology as a livingguide. A guide to the human
spirit.
To truths that are, well,universal.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah. It's almost like a different kind of self
help, isn't it? You start seeinghow these stories shine a light
on our own struggles, you know,personal stuff, even how society
works. It's like uncovering thisamazing guidebook that was right
there all along.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Exactly. And the core idea in these conversations with
Campbell is that fundamentally,we all share similar
experiences. This idea of thehero's journey, for instance.
That's central. Campbell saysit's not just for mythical
figures and stories, it'sactually a pattern for
everyone's psychological growth.
Then there's the whole symbolicnature of religious stories. He
(01:32):
really stresses their metaphors,profound ones, not literal
historical accounts. And maybemost importantly, this idea of
finding and following your innertruth, what he famously called
your bliss. Mhmm. Ultimately,yeah, it's about how myths help
us grasp what it really means tobe alive.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Okay. So Campbell clearly sees immense power in
these ancient traditions. Butinterestingly, he and Bill
Moyers in their talks also pointout where modern society seems
to have maybe lost theconnection. Where have we kind
of dropped the ball according tothem?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, one really big critique is the reduction of
meaningful rituals. Think aboutthings like marriage ceremonies
or, coming of age rights.Historically, these were
designed to actually transformpeople psychologically and
socially. But now so many becomejust, well, form as Campbell
puts it. They lack that innerreality, that deep
(02:26):
transformative power they oncehad.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Right. Like going through the motions.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Exactly. Yeah. He gave this vivid contrast, you
know, between a modernconfirmation, like a quick smile
and a slap from a Bishop andancient initiation rituals.
Those old rituals could bephysically intense, ensuring the
person really changedpsychologically and socially
came out different. The functionmight still be there today, but
that deep change, often missing.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
A
Speaker 2 (02:57):
lot of it, he argues, stems from a loss of sacred
connection to nature. We mostlylive in cities now, right?
Cities of stone and rock, as thesource says. We've largely
forgotten the old ways that sawthe landscape itself as sacred.
And he points a finger at theinterpretation of the Biblical
idea that humans are masters ofthe world.
(03:17):
He suggests this led us to,well, destroy nature. And in
doing so, destroy our own naturetoo. We kind of killed the song
of life within us by separatingourselves from those natural
rhythms.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And this kind of fragmentation, this separation,
he sees it in how we approachknowledge too, right? Especially
in academia.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Oh definitely, that's another challenge. The Narrowing
Effect of SpecializationCampbell saw himself as a
generalist. He argued that whileacademics need to specialize,
that intense focus can actuallylimit the kinds of problems you
even think about. Thegeneralist, he believed, sees
the bigger picture. The broaderconnections across different
fields, connections he calledmore genuinely human, that the
(03:58):
specialist stuck in their silomight miss entirely.
It points to a kind offragmented way we understand the
world now. We lose the whole byfocusing too much on the parts.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, that makes sense. Another big issue they
discuss is how we oftenmisunderstand the myths
themselves by taking themliterally.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yes, this is crucial. When religions, or just people
generally, turn poetry intoprose, that's his phrase, when
they treat these powerfulmetaphors as simple facts.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Like God being literally a guy in the sky, or
Eden being an actual place on amap.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Exactly. That kind of literalism, he says, leads to
trouble. It actually blocks adeeper spiritual connection. It
prevents you from grasping theundefinable, inconceivable
mystery that the myths arereally pointing
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It misses the whole point.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It really does. It's like arguing about the color of
the finger pointing at the mooninstead of looking at the moon
itself.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And one final point of critique Thayre's, which
feels very relevant today, isabout heroism.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Right. The erosion of true heroism and the rise of
celebrity culture. He observesthat the, the often mundane
nature of modern life, maybeworking in an office, can lead
to feelings of impotence orennui, you know, boredom, a lack
of vitality. And instead oflooking up to genuine heroes,
people who sacrifice himself forsomething, maybe for others, for
(05:15):
an ideal.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Like first responders or people who stand up for a
cause?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Precisely. People who give of themselves. Instead, we
often end up worshipingcelebrities who are mostly
focused on name and fame. It'svery different energy. He
contrasts it with a story of apoliceman who risked his life to
save someone not just because itwas his job but because as the
policeman said, if I had letthat young man go, I couldn't
(05:38):
have lived another day of mylife.
That's inner heroism, actingfrom a deep place.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Wow. Okay, so those are some pretty significant
challenges Campbell identifiesin how we live today, how we've
disconnected from this deeperstuff. But the good news is, he
doesn't just leave us there,right? He offers really profound
wisdom, ways to reconnect. Let'spivot now to that.
We've pulled out 10 key insightsfrom his work that you can
actually apply to your lifestarting today.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Absolutely. Let's dive into those. First one,
mythology is a map for life.This is foundational. Myths
aren't historical records or,you know, lies.
They are profound metaphors.They help us navigate the actual
experience of being alive.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Okay. Like how?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, take marriage, for Mythologically speaking,
Campbell describes it as areunion of the separated duad.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
A separated God.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah. Meaning two parts that were originally one.
So marriage isn't just a legalcontract or a social thing. It's
seen mythologically as a deepspiritual reunification Two
becoming one flesh, truly.Understanding that metaphor can
completely change how youapproach a relationship becomes
a primary spiritual commitment,not just a practical
arrangement.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
So it's about finding the deeper meaning behind
everyday things, not just seeingthe surface. Okay, what's
another key insight from thesemythic maps?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Two. The Universal Hero's Journey And this isn't
just for Luke Skywalker ormythological heroes. Campbell
insists it's a fundamentalpsychological journey for
everyone. It's about growing up,essentially, a kind of death and
resurrection of the childish egointo a self responsible adult.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So when does that apply?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Oh, all the time. When you take on a big new role
at work, when you start afamily. He actually calls
motherhood a heroic deed initself. Anytime you face a
challenge that requires you toleave behind your old self, your
old comforts and step into a newway of being, a new level of
responsibility, that's yourhero's journey. It's the path to
(07:31):
becoming who you're meant to be.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That resonates because we all hit those points,
don't we? Stepping into theunknown. And speaking of
journeys, Campbell's most famouspiece of advice fits right in
here, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
It sure does. Number three, follow your bliss as
life's guiding principle. Thisis probably his most quoted
line. He strongly believed youshould find what brings you deep
joy, deep engagement, and pursuethat, regardless of money or
pressure from others or, youknow, what seems
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Easier said than done sometimes.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Oh absolutely, but he lived it. He tells the story of
being unemployed for yearsduring the great depression but
he called it his great timebecause he just spent his days
reading, following whatfascinated him. So for you, it
applies to career choices,hobbies, passions. It's about
listening to that innerresonance, that sense of
aliveness, even when it's toughor looks crazy to others,
(08:20):
following that thread.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
That's powerful. But life isn't always blissful, is
it? There's pain. How doesCampbell address that?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yes. That brings us to number four, embrace duality
and suffering. This is key.Campbell doesn't sugarcoat life.
He says life inherently involvessorrow, pain, destruction.
It has a horrendous power. Hisadvice: Say yes to life, and see
it as magnificent this way.Embrace the whole thing, the
light and the dark.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Saying yes even to the hard parts.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yes. He points out that good and evil are often
relative, and that if you'retruly alive, you're
participating in the cycle lifeeats life. This isn't meant to
be morbid, it's about buildingresilience. Accepting hardship
is part of the deal. He usesthis amazing symbol from Hindu
myth, the Kirtamooka.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The face of glory.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
That's it. It's this terrifying face that eats
itself. It symbolizes how lifeconstantly consumes and renews
itself. Embracing that wholecycle, the creation and the
destruction is part of sayingyes to life.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Wow. Okay. So don't run from the tough stuff.
Understand it as part of themagnificent, if sometimes
terrifying whole. Thatdefinitely shifts your
perspective.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It really does. And that leads naturally to the next
point. Number five, theimportance of inner
transformation for world change.Campbell was pretty clear on
this. Don't just try to fix upthe world by rearranging things
externally, you know,politically or socially without
changing yourself.
Instead, he said, the thing todo is to bring life to it. And
the only way to do that is tofind in your own case where the
(09:50):
life is and become aliveyourself.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
So personal growth isn't selfish, it's actually the
most effective way to make adifference.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Exactly. Become a vital person, find your own
life, and you naturally vitalizethe world around you. Inner work
has outer effects.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Start with yourself? Okay. About finding some peace
amidst all the chaos of life?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
That's number six. The still point within. He talks
about cultivating an innercenter of quietness, like an
athlete who's completely in thezone or a dancer lost in the
movement. He connects this tothe idea of nirvana, but it's
not about escaping the world.It's about finding this inner
state of balance and freedomwithin the world.
So you can act from choice, notdriven by fear or desire. It
(10:32):
allows you to, as he puts it,participate joyfully in the
sorrows of the world. Findingthat calm center helps you
navigate everything else. Andit's accessible right here,
right now.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That image of the athlete in the zone, that
clicks, that deep focus. Okay,what about love? How does
Campbell see love through thismythic lens?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Ah, number seven. Love as metaphysical unity. He
talks about real love, deeplove, not just as an emotion but
as a kind of divine visitation.It's a moment where you realize
your fundamental unity withanother person, that feeling
that you and that other are onebeyond just your separate egos.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Like when you feel completely connected to someone.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Precisely. He suggests this kind of love is a
profound spiritual experience.It transforms you. He even links
it to a transformation from likebasic animal instinct to
becoming an illuminated humanbeing. It elevates you.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
That's a really beautiful and much deeper way to
think about love.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And this idea of unity, it doesn't stop with
individuals, it expands. Numbereight, the planetary mythology.
Campbell argued that with ourmodern global interconnectedness
air travel communications, theonly mythology that really makes
sense anymore is one for theentire planet. We need stories
and symbols that help usrecognize the brotherhood of all
(11:46):
these beings as he says.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Like seeing the earth from space.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Exactly. He uses that image seeing the earth from the
moon with no visible borders, nonations. That symbolizes this
new unifying perspective we needfor humanity's survival and
flourishing. Identifying withthe whole planet, not just our
little group.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's a necessary perspective shift, isn't it?
Moving beyond tribal thinking.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Absolutely essential. And getting there, connecting
deeply often requires more thanjust logic. Which brings us to
number nine, reason andintuition. Campbell valued
reason, of course, it helps usorganize what we know. But he
believed that deeper truths,genuine connection, they come
more from intuition.
He actually references StarWars, interestingly, saying its
(12:28):
message is that technology isnot gonna save us.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Use the force, Luke.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Basically, yeah. We have to rely on our intuition or
our true being. It's aboutlearning to listen to that inner
voice, that gut feeling, thatsomething inside you that knows
when you're in the center as heputs it. Trusting that over just
external pressures or purerational thought.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Listening to your inner compass. Okay. And
finally, number 10.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Number 10 is that myth is a living, evolving
force. Myths aren't rigid dogmasor ancient relics frozen in
time. Campbell emphasizes theyare fluid and often self
contradictory. Why? Becausethey're trying to express an
undefinable mystery that'sbeyond simple logic.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So they change?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yes, they adapt. They find new metaphors in modern
times. He points out how thingslike cars and airplanes can
become modern symbols forfreedom, release, transcendence,
things myths have alwaysexplored. It means the deep
meanings within stories arestill incredibly relevant. They
just might wear differentcostumes today appearing in
(13:27):
movies, maybe even in ourdreams.
The power is still there.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Okay. Those 10 points offer so much to think about and
to actually use. Now, if thisdeep dive has sparked your
interest and you want to go evenfurther with Campbell's ideas,
we have a recommendation foryou.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Absolutely. If you found these insights into the
power of myth compelling, thenyou will almost certainly love
Joseph Campbell's landmark book,The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
It really is his foundationalwork. It's where he lays out in
incredible detail that universalpattern of the hero's journey we
talked about. It's so central toeverything we've discussed, and
the book itself is, well, quitea journey to read.
Highly recommended.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
A classic for a reason. Okay. To kinda bring the
feeling of all this together,we've attempted a haiku. We
think it captures some of theemotional heart of Campbell's
message.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Let's see how we did. Life's ancient song sings, I,
inner joy on spirit's wings, I,new wisdom it brings.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So after exploring all this, what does it really
mean for you listening rightnow? How can this help you live
a better life?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Well, think the core message is an invitation. An
invitation to constantly explorethe metaphorical power within
your own life. It encourages youto find your unique path, your
bliss, even if it'sunconventional, to embrace
life's challenges, the sorrowand the joy, as part of the
whole magnificent picture, andultimately to realize that
meaning isn't something you findout there somewhere, it's found
(14:49):
within your own active, engagedparticipation in the grand
symphony that this world is.It's about tapping into that
inexhaustible source insideyourself.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Yeah. It really comes back to connecting with that
still point in the turning worldinside you, realizing your own
potential. And like Campbellsaid, bringing life to your
world by becoming truly aliveyourself first. It reminds you
that the adventure, the journeyitself, that's the reward even
with all its difficulties. Mhmm.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
And maybe the most hopeful message comes from a
quote Campbell often used, TheKingdom of the Father is spread
upon the earth and men do notsee it. His point was that Eden,
paradise, the sacred, it isn'tlost, it is, it's right here,
right now. We just need to learnhow to see it. To see the
radiance, as he called it,shining through everything, even
the ordinary, even thesuffering.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
A powerful thought to end on. We really hope this deep
dive gave you some, maybesurprising insights, maybe a
chuckle or two, but mostimportantly, maybe sparked some
thinking about the myths playingout in your own story. Until
next time, keep diving deep.
Ever felt a bit adrift? Maybe searching for
(00:02):
deeper meaning in, well, in ourcrazy modern world. There's this
legendary scholar, JasonCampbell, who studied myths his
whole life. And he basicallysaid the real answers, the
blueprints for a fulfillinglife, They're actually hidden in
plain sight. In those ancientstories you might think are, you
know, just for kids.
So today, we're diving deep intohis famous conversations, the
(00:23):
power of myth. We wanna pull outthe core wisdom, our mission, to
show you how these old talesoffer really practical maps.
Maps for your career, yourrelationships, pretty much
everything. Think of it as ashortcut to some, really
powerful ideas about life.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's a great way to put it. The source itself calls
them ideas worth pondering,That's exactly what they are.
We're aiming for a clear, kindof accessible summary here,
showing how these ancientnarratives connect directly to
your life. Right now, it's notabout dusty old book, it's about
seeing mythology as a livingguide. A guide to the human
spirit.
To truths that are, well,universal.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah. It's almost like a different kind of self
help, isn't it? You start seeinghow these stories shine a light
on our own struggles, you know,personal stuff, even how society
works. It's like uncovering thisamazing guidebook that was right
there all along.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Exactly. And the core idea in these conversations with
Campbell is that fundamentally,we all share similar
experiences. This idea of thehero's journey, for instance.
That's central. Campbell saysit's not just for mythical
figures and stories, it'sactually a pattern for
everyone's psychological growth.
Then there's the whole symbolicnature of religious stories. He
(01:32):
really stresses their metaphors,profound ones, not literal
historical accounts. And maybemost importantly, this idea of
finding and following your innertruth, what he famously called
your bliss. Mhmm. Ultimately,yeah, it's about how myths help
us grasp what it really means tobe alive.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Okay. So Campbell clearly sees immense power in
these ancient traditions. Butinterestingly, he and Bill
Moyers in their talks also pointout where modern society seems
to have maybe lost theconnection. Where have we kind
of dropped the ball according tothem?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, one really big critique is the reduction of
meaningful rituals. Think aboutthings like marriage ceremonies
or, coming of age rights.Historically, these were
designed to actually transformpeople psychologically and
socially. But now so many becomejust, well, form as Campbell
puts it. They lack that innerreality, that deep
(02:26):
transformative power they oncehad.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Right. Like going through the motions.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Exactly. Yeah. He gave this vivid contrast, you
know, between a modernconfirmation, like a quick smile
and a slap from a Bishop andancient initiation rituals.
Those old rituals could bephysically intense, ensuring the
person really changedpsychologically and socially
came out different. The functionmight still be there today, but
that deep change, often missing.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
A
Speaker 2 (02:57):
lot of it, he argues, stems from a loss of sacred
connection to nature. We mostlylive in cities now, right?
Cities of stone and rock, as thesource says. We've largely
forgotten the old ways that sawthe landscape itself as sacred.
And he points a finger at theinterpretation of the Biblical
idea that humans are masters ofthe world.
(03:17):
He suggests this led us to,well, destroy nature. And in
doing so, destroy our own naturetoo. We kind of killed the song
of life within us by separatingourselves from those natural
rhythms.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And this kind of fragmentation, this separation,
he sees it in how we approachknowledge too, right? Especially
in academia.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Oh definitely, that's another challenge. The Narrowing
Effect of SpecializationCampbell saw himself as a
generalist. He argued that whileacademics need to specialize,
that intense focus can actuallylimit the kinds of problems you
even think about. Thegeneralist, he believed, sees
the bigger picture. The broaderconnections across different
fields, connections he calledmore genuinely human, that the
(03:58):
specialist stuck in their silomight miss entirely.
It points to a kind offragmented way we understand the
world now. We lose the whole byfocusing too much on the parts.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, that makes sense. Another big issue they
discuss is how we oftenmisunderstand the myths
themselves by taking themliterally.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yes, this is crucial. When religions, or just people
generally, turn poetry intoprose, that's his phrase, when
they treat these powerfulmetaphors as simple facts.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Like God being literally a guy in the sky, or
Eden being an actual place on amap.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Exactly. That kind of literalism, he says, leads to
trouble. It actually blocks adeeper spiritual connection. It
prevents you from grasping theundefinable, inconceivable
mystery that the myths arereally pointing
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It misses the whole point.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It really does. It's like arguing about the color of
the finger pointing at the mooninstead of looking at the moon
itself.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And one final point of critique Thayre's, which
feels very relevant today, isabout heroism.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Right. The erosion of true heroism and the rise of
celebrity culture. He observesthat the, the often mundane
nature of modern life, maybeworking in an office, can lead
to feelings of impotence orennui, you know, boredom, a lack
of vitality. And instead oflooking up to genuine heroes,
people who sacrifice himself forsomething, maybe for others, for
(05:15):
an ideal.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Like first responders or people who stand up for a
cause?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Precisely. People who give of themselves. Instead, we
often end up worshipingcelebrities who are mostly
focused on name and fame. It'svery different energy. He
contrasts it with a story of apoliceman who risked his life to
save someone not just because itwas his job but because as the
policeman said, if I had letthat young man go, I couldn't
(05:38):
have lived another day of mylife.
That's inner heroism, actingfrom a deep place.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Wow. Okay, so those are some pretty significant
challenges Campbell identifiesin how we live today, how we've
disconnected from this deeperstuff. But the good news is, he
doesn't just leave us there,right? He offers really profound
wisdom, ways to reconnect. Let'spivot now to that.
We've pulled out 10 key insightsfrom his work that you can
actually apply to your lifestarting today.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Absolutely. Let's dive into those. First one,
mythology is a map for life.This is foundational. Myths
aren't historical records or,you know, lies.
They are profound metaphors.They help us navigate the actual
experience of being alive.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Okay. Like how?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Well, take marriage, for Mythologically speaking,
Campbell describes it as areunion of the separated duad.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
A separated God.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Yeah. Meaning two parts that were originally one.
So marriage isn't just a legalcontract or a social thing. It's
seen mythologically as a deepspiritual reunification Two
becoming one flesh, truly.Understanding that metaphor can
completely change how youapproach a relationship becomes
a primary spiritual commitment,not just a practical
arrangement.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
So it's about finding the deeper meaning behind
everyday things, not just seeingthe surface. Okay, what's
another key insight from thesemythic maps?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Two. The Universal Hero's Journey And this isn't
just for Luke Skywalker ormythological heroes. Campbell
insists it's a fundamentalpsychological journey for
everyone. It's about growing up,essentially, a kind of death and
resurrection of the childish egointo a self responsible adult.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So when does that apply?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Oh, all the time. When you take on a big new role
at work, when you start afamily. He actually calls
motherhood a heroic deed initself. Anytime you face a
challenge that requires you toleave behind your old self, your
old comforts and step into a newway of being, a new level of
responsibility, that's yourhero's journey. It's the path to
(07:31):
becoming who you're meant to be.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That resonates because we all hit those points,
don't we? Stepping into theunknown. And speaking of
journeys, Campbell's most famouspiece of advice fits right in
here, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
It sure does. Number three, follow your bliss as
life's guiding principle. Thisis probably his most quoted
line. He strongly believed youshould find what brings you deep
joy, deep engagement, and pursuethat, regardless of money or
pressure from others or, youknow, what seems
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Easier said than done sometimes.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Oh absolutely, but he lived it. He tells the story of
being unemployed for yearsduring the great depression but
he called it his great timebecause he just spent his days
reading, following whatfascinated him. So for you, it
applies to career choices,hobbies, passions. It's about
listening to that innerresonance, that sense of
aliveness, even when it's toughor looks crazy to others,
(08:20):
following that thread.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
That's powerful. But life isn't always blissful, is
it? There's pain. How doesCampbell address that?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yes. That brings us to number four, embrace duality
and suffering. This is key.Campbell doesn't sugarcoat life.
He says life inherently involvessorrow, pain, destruction.
It has a horrendous power. Hisadvice: Say yes to life, and see
it as magnificent this way.Embrace the whole thing, the
light and the dark.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Saying yes even to the hard parts.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Yes. He points out that good and evil are often
relative, and that if you'retruly alive, you're
participating in the cycle lifeeats life. This isn't meant to
be morbid, it's about buildingresilience. Accepting hardship
is part of the deal. He usesthis amazing symbol from Hindu
myth, the Kirtamooka.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
The face of glory.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
That's it. It's this terrifying face that eats
itself. It symbolizes how lifeconstantly consumes and renews
itself. Embracing that wholecycle, the creation and the
destruction is part of sayingyes to life.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Wow. Okay. So don't run from the tough stuff.
Understand it as part of themagnificent, if sometimes
terrifying whole. Thatdefinitely shifts your
perspective.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It really does. And that leads naturally to the next
point. Number five, theimportance of inner
transformation for world change.Campbell was pretty clear on
this. Don't just try to fix upthe world by rearranging things
externally, you know,politically or socially without
changing yourself.
Instead, he said, the thing todo is to bring life to it. And
the only way to do that is tofind in your own case where the
(09:50):
life is and become aliveyourself.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
So personal growth isn't selfish, it's actually the
most effective way to make adifference.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Exactly. Become a vital person, find your own
life, and you naturally vitalizethe world around you. Inner work
has outer effects.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Start with yourself? Okay. About finding some peace
amidst all the chaos of life?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
That's number six. The still point within. He talks
about cultivating an innercenter of quietness, like an
athlete who's completely in thezone or a dancer lost in the
movement. He connects this tothe idea of nirvana, but it's
not about escaping the world.It's about finding this inner
state of balance and freedomwithin the world.
So you can act from choice, notdriven by fear or desire. It
(10:32):
allows you to, as he puts it,participate joyfully in the
sorrows of the world. Findingthat calm center helps you
navigate everything else. Andit's accessible right here,
right now.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That image of the athlete in the zone, that
clicks, that deep focus. Okay,what about love? How does
Campbell see love through thismythic lens?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Ah, number seven. Love as metaphysical unity. He
talks about real love, deeplove, not just as an emotion but
as a kind of divine visitation.It's a moment where you realize
your fundamental unity withanother person, that feeling
that you and that other are onebeyond just your separate egos.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Like when you feel completely connected to someone.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Precisely. He suggests this kind of love is a
profound spiritual experience.It transforms you. He even links
it to a transformation from likebasic animal instinct to
becoming an illuminated humanbeing. It elevates you.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
That's a really beautiful and much deeper way to
think about love.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And this idea of unity, it doesn't stop with
individuals, it expands. Numbereight, the planetary mythology.
Campbell argued that with ourmodern global interconnectedness
air travel communications, theonly mythology that really makes
sense anymore is one for theentire planet. We need stories
and symbols that help usrecognize the brotherhood of all
(11:46):
these beings as he says.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Like seeing the earth from space.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Exactly. He uses that image seeing the earth from the
moon with no visible borders, nonations. That symbolizes this
new unifying perspective we needfor humanity's survival and
flourishing. Identifying withthe whole planet, not just our
little group.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's a necessary perspective shift, isn't it?
Moving beyond tribal thinking.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Absolutely essential. And getting there, connecting
deeply often requires more thanjust logic. Which brings us to
number nine, reason andintuition. Campbell valued
reason, of course, it helps usorganize what we know. But he
believed that deeper truths,genuine connection, they come
more from intuition.
He actually references StarWars, interestingly, saying its
(12:28):
message is that technology isnot gonna save us.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Use the force, Luke.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Basically, yeah. We have to rely on our intuition or
our true being. It's aboutlearning to listen to that inner
voice, that gut feeling, thatsomething inside you that knows
when you're in the center as heputs it. Trusting that over just
external pressures or purerational thought.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Listening to your inner compass. Okay. And
finally, number 10.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Number 10 is that myth is a living, evolving
force. Myths aren't rigid dogmasor ancient relics frozen in
time. Campbell emphasizes theyare fluid and often self
contradictory. Why? Becausethey're trying to express an
undefinable mystery that'sbeyond simple logic.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So they change?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yes, they adapt. They find new metaphors in modern
times. He points out how thingslike cars and airplanes can
become modern symbols forfreedom, release, transcendence,
things myths have alwaysexplored. It means the deep
meanings within stories arestill incredibly relevant. They
just might wear differentcostumes today appearing in
(13:27):
movies, maybe even in ourdreams.
The power is still there.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Okay. Those 10 points offer so much to think about and
to actually use. Now, if thisdeep dive has sparked your
interest and you want to go evenfurther with Campbell's ideas,
we have a recommendation foryou.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Absolutely. If you found these insights into the
power of myth compelling, thenyou will almost certainly love
Joseph Campbell's landmark book,The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
It really is his foundationalwork. It's where he lays out in
incredible detail that universalpattern of the hero's journey we
talked about. It's so central toeverything we've discussed, and
the book itself is, well, quitea journey to read.
Highly recommended.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
A classic for a reason. Okay. To kinda bring the
feeling of all this together,we've attempted a haiku. We
think it captures some of theemotional heart of Campbell's
message.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Let's see how we did. Life's ancient song sings, I,
inner joy on spirit's wings, I,new wisdom it brings.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
So after exploring all this, what does it really
mean for you listening rightnow? How can this help you live
a better life?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Well, think the core message is an invitation. An
invitation to constantly explorethe metaphorical power within
your own life. It encourages youto find your unique path, your
bliss, even if it'sunconventional, to embrace
life's challenges, the sorrowand the joy, as part of the
whole magnificent picture, andultimately to realize that
meaning isn't something you findout there somewhere, it's found
(14:49):
within your own active, engagedparticipation in the grand
symphony that this world is.It's about tapping into that
inexhaustible source insideyourself.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Yeah. It really comes back to connecting with that
still point in the turning worldinside you, realizing your own
potential. And like Campbellsaid, bringing life to your
world by becoming truly aliveyourself first. It reminds you
that the adventure, the journeyitself, that's the reward even
with all its difficulties. Mhmm.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
And maybe the most hopeful message comes from a
quote Campbell often used, TheKingdom of the Father is spread
upon the earth and men do notsee it. His point was that Eden,
paradise, the sacred, it isn'tlost, it is, it's right here,
right now. We just need to learnhow to see it. To see the
radiance, as he called it,shining through everything, even
the ordinary, even thesuffering.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
A powerful thought to end on. We really hope this deep
dive gave you some, maybesurprising insights, maybe a
chuckle or two, but mostimportantly, maybe sparked some
thinking about the myths playingout in your own story. Until
next time, keep diving deep.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.