The being at one, in complete dignity and freedom, with all on earth.

Billy, I loved your poem about trees, the one-leggeds.. I want to eventually publish a book of my photos of trees along with the stories accompanying them. A huge someday goal.. hope your health issues are better-so true what you said. I've been in a health situation the past year that has brought me to my knees and forced me to look at issues such as do I want to die at my post-or not--or does it truly matter. Ha! Bottom line, not my choice and doesn't matter. Please give Lynn my love and tell her I said O Si O, hello! Linda in China

Dear Brother,

Just to let you know you are in my thoughts.  I send you aloha.

Carol

Sorry for the confusion. I think we are in total agreement. I have been studying these things for over 30 years and the main focus of my work is in the deep cultural meaning of story. In my work I have found at least three definitions of the word myth in the world. One is a myth is a lie. That's the derogatory definition used in modern times. The second is old stories that tell the origins of people and things. The Western academic world has often referred to  Greek and Roman stories as myth and stories of indigenous populations have been called folk tales or legends. Even Joseph Campbell referred to the stories of Africa as the "quaint mumbo jumbo of the African witch doctor." The actual definition of myth is those stories that guide a culture's behaviors, values, and relationships toward the outer and inner world.

Is this making more sense?

What Joseph Campbell did offer, and what I believe to be true, is that the stories of our time are not doing the job of guiding us in the ways that myths (stories) are meant to.

(At this point I often go off into a discussion of how advertisers are the new storytellers and how destructive these ads are to our Kids)

There are those of us that believe that there is great wisdom in the stories from the past and it is the role of the storyteller to bring those stories forward in a way that the wisdom can be understood in the present. I was an elementary school teacher for nearly 30 years and I was stunned to realize that kids don't know the stories of their own heritage.They think video game characters are real heroes.

I feel like I am starting to ramble a bit so I will end here. I am more than willing to discuss story and all it means to humanity and I appreciate your willingness to ask the questions. my website is: a href="http://www.dougbannerstoryteller.com>">www.dougbannerstoryteller.com>; there are some other articles there as well.

Be well

Thanks Billy,

When I speak of myth I speak to the stories that the elders shared with us in order that we learn to live the right path with all things. Now that many of my teachers have crossed over, most recently my own father, I find that I am no longer sitting at the knee of my elders but I am becoming one. What a responsibility this feels to be. Now I must step forward and help the young ones in the same way I was taught. It is good to have so many fine brothers and sisters with whom to share this journey. Blessings in the new year.

Doug