Spiritual Archives

King Midas Story: How Greed Ruined His Hero’s Journey

What is the King Midas story about? How does it conform to the conventions of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? The King Midas story is about what happens when we’re greedy and don’t think things through. The phrase “Midas touch” comes from this story, and while the phrase refers to someone who has good luck, in the King Midas story, the king’s luck runs out. We’ll cover the King Midas story and how it fits into the traditional hero’s journey template.

Animism’s Origin: How Our Ancestors Respected Nature

What is animism? How is it related to theism? Who held animistic beliefs? Animism is the belief that every animate and inanimate thing has thoughts and feelings and can communicate with people. This belief system is non-hierarchical—all beings are equal. We’ll dive deep into the animism definition, discussion animism’s origin, and look at animism’s history.

The Ultimate Boon: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 11 (Explained)

What is stage 11 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? What is “the ultimate boon”? The ultimate boon is the stage of the hero’s journey in which the hero achieves limitless bounty or indestructible life. The ultimate boon is stage 11 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from The Hero with a Thousand Faces. We’ll cover what the ultimate boon may entail and look at two examples of the ultimate-boon stage of the hero’s journey.

Cosmogonic Cycle (Hero’s Journey): How Does It Work?

What is the cosmogonic cycle? What role does it play in Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? The cosmogonic cycle is the origin story of the universe, and the means by which it will be destroyed and rebuilt. In The Hero with a Thousdand Faces, Campbell refers to the cosmogonic cycle as a macrocosm of our wake-sleep cycle. Learn the role of the cosmogonic cycle in the hero’s journey, with examples from Jain and Hindu creation stories.

Interesting Maori Myths and Legends, and the Hero’s Journey

What are some of the most popular Maori myths and legends? How do these Maori legends fit into the template of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? We’ll cover some Maori myths and legends and discuss how they align with stages of the hero’s journey, as laid out by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Origin of Religion: From Nature Worship to God Worship

What is the origin of religion? What was the nature of our ancestors’ first beliefs about the universe? The origin of religion is animism, the belief that every animate and inanimate thing has thoughts and feelings and can communicate with people. From the origin of animism developed polytheism and monotheism. We’ll cover the origin of religion, animism, and how it influenced the subsequent history of religion.

Mindfulness and Happiness: It’s Not All About Your Feelings

What is the relationship between mindfulness and happiness? Can being more mindful make us happier? Can it reduce suffering? Mindfulness and happiness are a well-researched pair, and many people believe that being more mindful can contribute to your happiness. According to this theory, mindfulness can help you keep from grasping at pleasure and avoiding pain, which are the roots of suffering. We’ll cover how mindfulness and happiness are related and explore some other theories of happiness.

The Magic Flight: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 13 (Explained)

What is stage 13 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? What is the significance of the “magic flight”? The magic flight is the stage of the hero’s journey in which the hero’s return home is marked by a chase as the gods seek to regain the elixir that has been stolen from them. The magic flight is stage 13 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from The Hero with a Thousand Faces. We’ll cover what the magic flight entails and look at two examples of the magic-flight stage of the hero’s journey.

4 Culture Heroes, From Mesopotamia to America

What is a culture hero? What do culture heroes have to do with Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? A culture hero is a founder who appears at the beginning of a culture’s legendary past. Culture heroes often help found that culture’s universe and change the course of history. We’ll cover the concept of the culture hero and look at examples of culture heroes in Native American, French, and Chinese traditions.

History of Religion: From Animism to Communism

The history of religion is vast. What are the main turning points in the history of religion? How has religion unified mankind? How has it divided us? The history of religion starts with animism and progresses through the rise of polytheism, monotheism, and natural law religions. Each type of religion influenced the ones that came later, and today we see the legacies of them. We’ll cover the history of religion from the animism of our forager ancestors to some of the most widespread religions today.