The Journey Begins: Unlocking the Wisdom of Myths
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
Why Do We Study Myths?
The ancients didn’t leave behind textbooks—they left myths. Carved into stone, whispered around fires, they passed down their secrets through gods and monsters, heroes and tricksters. Myths are not idle stories; they are blueprints. They are survival guides written in the language of symbols, mapping the twists and turns of the human soul. They teach us how to face the chaos within and, if we’re lucky, emerge whole.
For me, mythology wasn’t just an intellectual pursuit; it was survival. During some of my darkest moments—when the weight of depression clawed at my back and shadows whispered that I wasn’t enough—myths became a lifeline. Persephone’s descent into the underworld mirrored my own trips into the abyss, teaching me that even in darkness, there is the potential for return. The trickster archetype reminded me that chaos isn’t just destruction; it’s also creation. And Inanna’s journey into the underworld showed me that transformation often demands we strip ourselves bare.
Carl Jung, one of the most profound thinkers on mythology and psychology, believed that myths are the collective dreams of humanity. He called them the “archetypal language of the psyche,” revealing the universal patterns that shape our inner worlds. Jung’s work taught me that myths don’t just tell us stories about gods and heroes; they illuminate the hidden forces within ourselves. As he once said, “Myths are first and foremost psychic phenomena that reveal the nature of the soul.”
Why does anyone study myths? Because they reveal the truths we can’t see on our own. They remind us that our pain, our struggles, are not new. We are not alone. Myths are bridges between the past and the present, between the visible and the hidden, showing us that the gods and monsters we read about are reflections of ourselves.
Where Do We Begin?
If you’re standing on the edge of this world, peering into the vast expanse of mythology, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Where do you start when every culture has its own myths, each one a treasure trove of lessons and mysteries?
You start by asking, What am I seeking?
Are you searching for courage, like Perseus staring down the petrifying gaze of Medusa? Or wisdom, like Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, sacrificing himself for deeper understanding? Maybe you’re drawn to the underworld, like I was, where figures like Inanna and Orpheus venture, not for glory, but for truth. The myth you are drawn to is not random—it’s a reflection of what you need most.
When I began studying mythology, it wasn’t just curiosity. It was a desperate search for meaning. Depression has a way of stripping life of its color, leaving only shades of gray. Myths taught me that the gray isn’t the absence of meaning—it’s the place where transformation begins.
Jung’s concept of archetypes—the hero, the mother, the shadow, the trickster—helped me understand why certain myths spoke to me more than others. These archetypes live within all of us, shaping our dreams, fears, and desires. They are the threads that connect us to the collective unconscious, a shared reservoir of human experience. By studying myths, we begin to understand these patterns and how they play out in our lives.
Why Are Myths Still Relevant?
We live in a world that worships logic and technology, where we are told to measure, quantify, and rationalize everything. But what about the parts of us that don’t fit neatly into a spreadsheet? The fears we can’t explain, the longings we can’t name, the wounds we carry without knowing their origin? Myths speak to those parts of us.
Joseph Campbell called myths “public dreams.” And like dreams, they don’t explain—they reveal. They show us that the battles of Achilles, the wit of Loki, the resilience of Demeter—these aren’t just ancient stories. They’re psychological truths. They are archetypes that live within us, guiding us through love, loss, fear, and triumph.
Carl Jung expanded this understanding by showing how myths serve as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind. He believed that myths are not mere relics of ancient cultures but active, living forces that shape our psyches. As Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” By engaging with myths, we make the unconscious conscious, gaining insight into the forces that drive us.
To ignore mythology is to cut ourselves off from our roots. It’s to believe that we are alone in our struggles, that no one has felt what we feel. Myths remind us that heartbreak, fear, longing—they’ve all been felt before. And those who came before us didn’t just endure; they turned their pain into stories, into wisdom. Through myths, we learn how to navigate the storms that threaten to pull us under.
Beneath the weight of an ominous shadow, a solitary figure sits in stillness, a faint light emanating from within. Above, a dark, horned entity with piercing eyes looms, embodying the unspoken fears and suppressed truths that haunt the psyche. Below, the faint outline of a doorway glows—a fragile beacon of hope and transformation, whispering of possibilities yet to be discovered. The textured brushstrokes and stark contrasts pull the viewer into a liminal space, where despair and resilience coexist.
As Carl Jung once said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” This enigmatic image mirrors the journey of confronting inner shadows to unlock the profound mysteries of the self.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Ourselves
Studying myths isn’t an escape—it’s a descent. It’s walking into the dark, armed with nothing but the hope that you’ll find a light. Myths are mirrors, reflecting our inner worlds back to us. They help us decode the symbols and archetypes that shape our lives, giving us the tools to rewrite the narratives that no longer serve us.
For example:
The Hero’s Journey: Are you being called to leave your comfort zone, to face a challenge that feels insurmountable? The hero’s journey shows us that growth often requires leaving behind what is safe.
The Trickster Archetype: Are you navigating chaos, trying to find meaning in disorder? The trickster reminds us that what feels destructive can also be creative.
The Underworld Descent: Are you in the midst of a dark night of the soul? Myths of descent and return teach us that transformation requires confronting our shadows.
In my own life, these stories were not just lessons—they were anchors. When I felt like I was drowning, Persephone taught me that there is a way back. When I was lost in chaos, the trickster reminded me to find humor and possibility in the unpredictability.
Your First Steps
This section of the website is more than just words on a page. It’s a map, guiding you through the labyrinth of mythology. Here’s how we’ll navigate:
Foundational Myths: Explore the stories that form the backbone of human culture, like Persephone’s descent or the Norse myth of Yggdrasil.
Archetypes and Their Power: Dive into the universal figures—heroes, tricksters, shadows—and see how they manifest in your life.
Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Life: Discover how myths can guide us through personal struggles, societal challenges, and creative endeavors.
Interactive Exploration: Engage with reflective prompts, creative exercises, and art journaling to deepen your connection to these stories.
A Call to Adventure
Carl Jung once said, “In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.” Myths help us find that order. They don’t eliminate the chaos, but they give us a compass to navigate it. They remind us that we are not alone, that others have walked these paths before us.
This is your call to adventure. Whether you are seeking meaning, healing, or inspiration, mythology offers a doorway. Step through, and you’ll find not just stories, but yourself.
Next week, we’ll explore The Hero’s Journey, guided by Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Together, we’ll unpack the universal structure of growth and transformation, showing how it manifests in myths and in our lives. Don’t miss it.
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope that you enjoyed your stay.
April Martin is a writer, illustrator, and USAF veteran with a bachelor's degree in photography. Specializing in cerebral, emotionally charged storytelling, her work delves into the complex realms of mental health—including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe personality disorders—bringing a raw, unfiltered perspective to the human experience. With a background spanning from military service as a B1-Bomber crew chief to working closely with the neurally diverse community, April brings a unique depth to her narratives. Her current graphic novel project, The Chaos of Lucifer, is a testament to her commitment to creating gritty, resonant stories that explore the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.
Instagram: @purpleinkwellstudios
Facebook: Purple Inkwell Studios