Who Cares?

Who cares about myth when the world is falling apart?

Corruption, pollution, dysfunction, extinction, disaster, displacement, poverty, homelessness, racism, abuse, terrorism, war, cultural destruction, and the looming possibility of nuclear annihilation… Of what possible relevance is mythology? Well, I'm here to tell ya, so gather round.

If one’s social and psychological experiences are frequently reduced to true/false, yes/no, for/against, black/white thinking, then frustration and anxiety result. When this dichotomous way of thinking becomes compulsive, as I believe it has in our culture, then people view difference as opposition, and communication is difficult. But, although I may have a different view than you, that doesn’t mean I’m against you. It is through engaging the imagination that we are able to transcend our differences, build connections and discover solutions.

Yet, a participatory, community experience of the imaginal is hard to find: We need more social opportunities to experience life in a fluid, imaginative way – in community.

This is exactly what mythology does: by engaging the imagination and encouraging us to think metaphorically, we relax, we listen, and we understand.

Just listen. You don’t have to say “yes” or “no” to someone else’s lived experience.
. . . . . Just . . . . . listen . . . . .