I want to precurse this post that the intent is not a 'religious' discussion nor does it invalidate Faith. The intent IS to compare myths such as (EXAMPLES ONLY - THERE ARE TONS OF MYTHS TO CHOOSE FROM AND MORE INTERESTING TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CHOICE) The Labours of Hercules; Odysseus; Persephone; or even Icarus and see if they could be intertwined into todays political and cultural events.

I suspect several who opened this post are now moving their mouse to exit - and that is okay - this topic is not going to be for everyone (I'm just hoping it is for anyone to be interested) - For some, it may even be entertaining.

Okay - so for everyone to be on board with the topic - mythology should be defined as the study of myths - cultural stories, traditions or beliefs {determining whether Greek or Roman - or just keep it generic??? MONDO????} This may be turning into a homework assignment. TEXRA is going to have something to say about that

The mythology of a message board - considering the Persona's presented at any given time - and what archetype(s) said persona exhibits. For example, some may consider the board trolls to be Tricksters (defined below in the Jung manner).

ARCHETYPES – universal symbolic patterns that appear in myths across cultures. Usually characters, stories, or themes. Jung asserts there are four main archetypes: The Persona (how we present ourselves to the world), The Shadow (life instincts), The Anima/Animus (anima-feminine part of the male psyche; animus-male part of the female psyche) and The Self (unified consciousness and unconsciousness of an individual).

Jung suggests that the number of existing archetypes was not static or fixed. Many different archetypes may overlap or combine, creating new archetypes as the twelve described below.

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS:

•The Hero: character thrown into extraordinary circumstances and must fight for an objective
•The Sage: A wise person who guides the hero on their journey
•The Caregiver: a nurturing and compassionate person
•The Outlaw: character who rebels against authority and pursues freedom
•The Everyman: A mundane character who represents the audience or reader
•The Innocent: pure and optimistic person who believes in the goodness of the world
•The Explorer
•The Creator
•The Ruler
•The Trickster – universal patterns of behavior within the human psyche that embodies chaos, mischief, humor, and the disruption of established norms; essentially, a force that challenges the status quo and can bring about change through unpredictable actions. They are cunning, witty, humorous and unpredictable.
•The Lover
•The Magician


JOSEPH CAMPBELL – HERO’S JOURNEY/ADVENTURE (MONOMYTH)

Examples of heroes Campbell has used are, for example, Martin Luther King or mythology characters such as Odysseus. MAGA, for instance, might submit Donald J. Trump as a hero character. The left, of course, might assert Obama or perhaps disruptor characters such as Che Guevara.

12 stages of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey:

•Call to adventure
•Refusal of the call
•Meeting the mentor
•Crossing the threshold
•Tests, allies, and enemies
•Approach to the danger (inmost cave)
•Ordeal
•The road back
•Resurrection
•Return
•Freedom to Live


Alrighty then...with ALL THAT said - can any of these aspects be seen to play into current political/world figures, world events, the drumbeat or war, human reaction to world events?

And how does it play into how we bring the topics of our own focus to the board and express, and further, interact with others on the message boards?

Can we examine mythology and thus gain insight into upcoming world events??? Is there a morale to be found that also serves as a 'coping skill'

Just askin'...take it away Mondo - you are much better at generating a conversation