Mythical Journey: The Oracles and Fables That Reforged the Soul

Author: (English) Liz Greene
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This book is a life guide that helps readers navigate conflicts with family and childhood, and confront their conscience. We discover that only by bravely and resiliently facing life's challenges can we achieve true self-awareness. Beauty, talent, power, and wealth can all bring us suffering, yet in the endless darkness of solitude and failure, we will always find new light and hope. The author delves into the profound meanings of numerous mythological traditions, reinterpreting stories from Greek, Roman, Hebrew, Egyptian, Celtic, Norwegian, and Eastern civilizations: how Sir Pellinor, a knight of King Arthur, escapes the overindulgent grip of his mother; how the goddess Sibyl destroys her love out of jealousy; and how the sorrowful Orpheus, grieving by his lover's tomb, embodies an indelible tragic figure. Love, desire, sorrow, birth, death, and all the mysteries of life are captured within. "Myths have a powerful therapeutic effect, one of which is to help us understand that our emotions, worries, inner conflicts, and desires are not unique to modern times."—Excerpt from the Preface The Greek gods, Norse heroes, Polynesian magicians, and Native American warriors all offer valuable lessons for us to learn. Since the dawn of humanity, myths, fairy tales, and fables have been used to explain the secrets of life and illuminate human nature. Liz Greene and Julie Schamman Burke reinterpret these timeless stories from a fresh perspective, showing modern readers that their own life journeys can find comfort and guidance in the legends and folklore of the past. The Myth Journey explores psychological themes in various mythological traditions, retelling stories from Greek-Roman, Hebrew, Egyptian, Celtic, Norwegian, and Eastern civilizations. The book discusses Sir Pellinor of King Arthur, describing how he escapes the overindulgent grip of his mother; it covers how the goddess Sibyl destroys her love out of jealousy; and it portrays the tragic figure of Orpheus, grieving by his lover's tomb. Here, more than 50 captivating myths are retold, each followed by a psychological analysis explaining the relevance of the myth to our modern lives. The book is adorned with exquisite artworks by renowned artists such as Rubens, Klimt, Renoir, and Blake, who drew inspiration from these myths, bringing them to life. The Myth Journey is a life guide that helps readers navigate conflicts with family and childhood, resolve issues of love, hidden emotions, and ambition, and ultimately confront their conscience. We discover that only by bravely and resiliently facing life's challenges can we achieve true self-awareness. Beauty, talent, power, and wealth can all bring us suffering, yet in the endless darkness of solitude and failure, we will always find new light and hope.