Jerry,

You had referred me to the "monomyth" before, and it was very helpful just to read what Wikipedia said of it, so I really look forward to reading Joe's book, Hero with a Thousand Faces.

You said: Perhaps that is the psyche applying its own natural recognition that 'life is always, will always be full of sorrow' {the FIRST Buddhist saying}. No matter how much you gain in this world there will always be those setbacks/sorrows, tests that ultimately lead to revelations.

It certainly seems psyche may have been reflecting just that. In this, I can see the need to accept (Master) both worlds. I do imagine it will be a lifelong process, as a conversation with a friend today reminded me.

Having said what I just did in the other thread, regarding help not being for profit, I will share here that as I contemplated this dream and the Ursula of me, I needed to ask myself how to integrate this aspect of myself into my life, in a way that liberates others.

My analyst sees my gifts and she has often reminded me that my task is to set others free. It was my dream (biggest thrust) for myself since a child and is what I hope to give to others. This didn't happen for me in my work with Ursula, so I know firsthand the incredible dependency that can be formed in healing/helping relationships. The dynamics of the situation were not one sided, not due only to my neediness for help at the time. It takes two to tango in all relationships, each party brings something to the mix. I pray I am always clear/aware enough of my own (shadow) self to never create dependency in another. It will help me to always remember a simple phrase used in Unity church circles, "It is not I but the Christ within me that does the work."

Kristi

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Kristi,
As you know, and a message I believe central to Campbell/Jungian psyche, when you look inward you discover that inner Christ. Whereas our Western religions tend to ignore historical evidence of Jesus teaching this {as from my quoted verse from the Gospel of Thomas}, Buddhism points to the inner Self as the center of our spiritual being. Of course Western religions also will never give the feminine power {as well as women in general} its due. I can't help but think how uninformed, unenlightened Western religions are. Of course at one time I was one of 'those' who held such convictions. Until I was set free to think for myself {via Campbell, Jung, Woodman, etc.}.

Jerry

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Jerry,

I don't believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I think it more likely that he was hung due to the error of man's understanding.

Is is sad that so many religious organizations and their leaders foster dependence...this born of fear and the need for control (sense of power). They call their own shadow the devil. The ugly roots of history.

...And so many wonder why Westerners increasingly turn to the Eastern practices for understanding (and other alternative forms of spirituality).

We are blessed to have the works of Campbell and Jung so publicly available. But also sad that so many hardcore fundamentalists would be too afraid to ever pick up their works.

{The Gospel of Thomas-parable 108: Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him."

What he meant was that one should study and imbibe his words. What he spoke of himself/God was also true of and for others. Campbell and Jung help us to know this.


Kristi

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Kristi,
Campbell spoke of life as being but a metaphor. If we take that as a truth then we can look at Jesus death on the cross as metaphor of what must happen in the individual life. Except it is the death of the ego centered self and a resurrection to the spiritual Self. There will always be the ego. But when it surrenders to the lead of the spiritual identity, then the hero deed is being addressed and is within reach. Living out of the spiritual aspect and the ego centered attachments.

That gets back to the parable 108. "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person". The inner Christ is achieved.

Pure metaphor, with real life consequences.

Jerry

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Hi Jerry,

This is why I keep a copy of Michelangelo's "Pieta" nearby!



And this picture, specifically, because I feel we cannot do it without great love.

Kristi

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Amor/Amour. Tristan and Isolde, the Arthurian Romances, love from the heart, of the soul. Campbell did a wonderful job of explaining the 'love' aspect in his Mythos/Transformations of Myth Through Time series.

We all must experience such love. But the sorrows of love must also be endured.
But alas. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

A poem from The Power of Myth I use often.

So through the eyes love attains the heart:
For the eyes are scouts of the heart,
And the eyes go reconnoitering
For what it would please the heart to possess.
And when they are in full accord
And firm, all three, in the one resolve,
At that time, perfect love is born
From what the eyes have made welcome to the heart.
For as all true lovers
Know, love is perfect kindness,
Which is born - there is no doubt

Jerry

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