Modern
Myths
“Myths
can't be translated as they did in their ancient soil. We can only
find our own meaning in our own time.”
Margaret
Atwood
I've been watching The
Handmaid's Tale. I take a couple of weeks in between episodes because
it freaks me out so much. I read Margaret Atwood's book back in 1985,
when it was first published, and while it was creepy then, its plot
was not remotely possible in real life. Now, as we wade into this
moment when fundamentalist religions, militarism and nationalism are
all wrapped into one another, not just here in America, but around
much of the world, it's a bit too close for comfort. We seem to be in
a time when the old, dark parts of human nature are climbing out of
their shallow graves and reentering the world. It's reflected, too,
in our modern myths.
Take Harry Potter, for
instance. In that series, those who in normal circumstances are dark
spirits, the witches and warlocks, turn out to be the “good guys.”
Or at least, some of them are in a fight to the death with the powers
of evil. In The Hunger Games, a dystopian world is revealed in which
the people have been divided and made captive in remote districts.
Disconnected from one another, they are made to compete to the death
for basic needs in order to entertain the Capital elite. All the
super hero films and graphic novels also depict a great cosmic war
between good and evil. Game of Thrones has the same plot—war,
intrigue, power mongering, corruption, and so forth. These are modern
myths which, beyond entertainment value, have grave significance for
our human family.
Individually and
collectively, we tend to ride the tide of everyday business without
paying much attention to what is materializing around us. Until
things boil over—as they have in the sexual abuse scandals
currently erupting every day in the US—we go along and get along.
The darkest days of winter are an invitation to pay attention to
where we seem to be heading as a species. I think no one on this
planet wants nuclear war, and yet we seem to be flirting with it. I
can't imagine that we want to return to the days of brutal
dictatorships and martial law. Avoiding these disastrous human
pitfalls requires the populous to be awake and proactive. During this
season of relative darkness, we wait impatiently for the light to
return. As above, so below. When we change our consciousness, our
myths will change from dark to light as well. And, won't that be a
relief!
In the Spirit,
Jane
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