It is interesting that this specific Sunday lesson about our personal mythology falls just five days prior to Halloween. James Hillman said, “As I am many persons, so I am enacting pieces of various myths. As all myths fold into each other, no single piece can be pulled out with the statement: This is my myth.”
On Halloween, we dress up in a costume that may depict a scary aspect of us or shadow side, such as a witch or mummy. Or we may become a beautiful princess or a handsome prince. The many characters portrayed are like the many myths we embody in our life. At one point in our life, we may be a Seeker, at another, a Warrior, or even a Magician.
We can delve into our mythology by asking ourselves some questions: “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” and “Why am I going there?” It may take sitting in meditation for a while to begin to answer those questions!
It also helps to think of a joyful moment or time in childhood. Then ask, “What belief did I gain from that?” Next, “When did I ‘fall’ from that joy, that belief?” In other words, “What caused me to lose my innocence?” “What belief did I gain then?” These can be very powerful beliefs that have fueled lifelong mythic themes. The next question then becomes, “What is a healing or synthesizing belief that helps to resolve that polarity in my mind and my life?”
I will be covering this topic in my Sunday lesson as well. It really takes working with these questions, answers, and themes to fully grasp their importance in our personal mythology.
In the meantime, I am wondering if our Halloween costume choices through the years give us any clue about ourselves? Or can we just ascribe them to pure fun? I have often had to choose ones that, in the event I wore them to church, allowed me to deliver a Sunday lesson with some credibility! It has been fitting in Unity congregations for me to be an Egyptian princess, a witch, an angel, a butterfly, a gypsy, and Mae West! What does that tell us about Unity?! I think it suggests that Unity’s “story” is one of open-mindedness and loving acceptance!
Happy Halloween! 🎃👻
Love & Blessings,
Rev. Kathy