Last Updated: Friday, August 27th,1999

Joseph Campbell's Ten Commandments for Reading Myths

1

Read myths with the eyes of wonder: wonder the meaning;wonder the source.

2

Read myths in the present tense: Eternity is now.

3

Read myths in the first person plural: the Gods and Goddesses of all mythology live within us all.

4

Any interesting myth draw, or repel, or both. All these feelings are yours to explore.

5

Look, hear and feel the pattern; that is what myths are for.

6

There is sacred in the secular.

7

Myths can be generated anywhere, anytime, by anything: the Buddha also lives in the computer chip.

8

Know your tribe! Myths never arise in a vacuum; they are the connective tissue of the social body synergistically relating private myths (dreams) and rituals (public myths).

9

Myths mean:The earth is our home and humankind is our family.

10

Imagination quickens.Myths are for life.

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