First human thought was a myth that came about for first beings to make story/sense of their life. From first experiences on Mother Earth, there was need to make rules, to explain the unexplainable, to make stories that helped them make sense of the forces of Nature. All human beings, in every land where they began, created stories that became myths and were passed down orally, then painted on cave walls, became part of their songs, their culture. Stories changed as the people began to understand and know more. As the first people had first unexplainable experiences, they told stories about them and those became myths. They have changed many times, but we still have those core myths, that have warped and progressed but still… some are our most beloved stories yet.
Original creation stories with their idea of Higher Power came to be and stayed close to original stories because we still do not know, for a fact, what gods there be. We have stories/myths about creation of first people, about The Flood. We have myths about ancient heroes. Some of the myths became foundations for cults and religions.
Myths are still with us today. Myths tell us stories that try to answer our questions that we find no answers for. Myths are a type of tool for us to have hope, to have a sense of why we are here, and helps us live good lives by the teachings within the myth(s). Myths, in their way, give comfort. They were created to give a sense of reasons for why life can be what it is (chaotic, sad, wounding, angering). Myths can be a way to teach lessons to those who seek learning. Myths are stories that attempt to answer natural phenomena that happens in Mother Nature but that we have no meaning for. Myths are typically about death and life after death in some way. They are about entertaining others. (This one is especially true of First Nations, around a fire and there is much laughter going on.) The most common myths and ones we may not even relate the term “myth” too, is stories about creation of the world. Myths are stories about natural phenomena and why they happen. Myths are stories that explain how gods are very much like us. And, myths are stories that speak to moral codes, as teaching about the good and the not good, about how best to live a good life…and very often, about what happens if we do not.
We have many myths in our everyday life. Since myths are traditions, they can be factual, part factual or totally fiction, but they serve a purpose. In reality, myths are sacred stories that explain the world and our experiences in it. (Think life after death stories. Think UFO stories.) Can you think of some personal family myths?
©Carol Desjarlais 3.13.23
https://bestlifeonline.com/common-myths/
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