MYTHS: Maps of the Collective Unconscious

Sep 18, 2025

Dive into how myths serve as the collective dreams of cultures and shape our attitudes. Discover the power of archetypes through stories like Oedipus and contemporary narratives. Explore the concepts of night-sea journeys, showcasing themes of hubris and humility, illustrated through mythic examples. Experience how personal myths can emerge in a postmodern world, expanding our perspectives. Engage with the idea of interpreting dreams, unveiling unconscious treasures and insights.

01:06:21

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INSIGHT

Myths As Collective Dreams

Myths function like collective dreams that teach cultures about universal human experiences.
They provide symbolic patterns (love, loss, redemption) that open new possibilities for meaning.

insights

INSIGHT

The Collective Unconscious Explained

Jung proposed a collective unconscious shared across humanity containing archetypal structures.
Myths repeat across cultures because they reflect those universal psychic patterns.

insights

INSIGHT

Themes And Variations Across Cultures

Archetypal themes show up everywhere but cultures create their own variations on them.
Cultural forms (Star Wars, Narnia) reanimate eternal motifs in modern language.

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Myth, Collective Unconscious, and Oedipus

01:04 • 14min

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Archetypes, Modern Stories, and Personal Myth

15:30 • 13min

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Myth vs Postmodernism and Cosmic Perspective

28:15 • 8min

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Night-Sea Journey: Examples, Lessons, and Culture

36:11 • 18min

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Dream School and 'The Taste of Gold' Interpretation

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

my book

Rachel True

#185

• Mentioned in 79 episodes

The hero with a thousand faces

Joseph Campbell

In this book, Joseph Campbell explores his theory of the 'monomyth', a universal pattern found in the mythological narratives of various cultures. He details the stages of the 'hero's journey', which include departure from the ordinary world, initiation into a supernatural world, and return with a boon. Campbell draws on a wide range of mythological sources and integrates insights from psychology, particularly from Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, to illustrate the common elements of heroic myths across different cultures.

#776

• Mentioned in 30 episodes

DreamWise

Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams

Lisa Marciano

DreamWise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams is a comprehensive guide to understanding the symbolism and significance of dreams within the framework of Jungian psychology. The book delves into various archetypal images and themes that frequently appear in dreams, offering insights into their psychological and spiritual implications. It explores the concept of the inner marriage, the union of opposites within the psyche, and how this process relates to personal transformation and individuation. The authors provide practical tools and techniques for interpreting dreams, enabling readers to unlock the hidden messages and wisdom contained within their own dream experiences. DreamWise serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their dreams and their potential for self-discovery.

#2234

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller

Written by Arthur Miller, 'Death of a Salesman' is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn. The play revolves around Willy Loman, an aging salesman who grapples with the reality that his American Dream of success and wealth is unattainable. Through a montage of memories, dreams, and arguments, the play explores Willy's consciousness and his inner conflict. Willy's life is marked by poor choices, delusions, and a desperate attempt to secure a better future for his sons through his life insurance policy. The play critiques the American Dream and the superficial values that Willy has adopted, leading to his tragic downfall. The final scene depicts Willy's funeral, attended by only a few people, highlighting the contrast between Willy's illusions and the harsh reality of his life.

#1085

• Mentioned in 23 episodes

Iron John

A Book About Men

Robert Bly

In this book, Robert Bly uses the Grimm fairy tale 'Iron John' to analyze and redefine traditional notions of masculinity. Bly draws on Jungian psychology and mythology to outline a journey of male maturation, emphasizing the importance of male initiation rites, the role of the 'Wild Man' archetype, and the need for men to balance their emotional and instinctual selves. The book is a seminal work in the mythopoetic men's movement and has been influential in discussions about modern masculinity.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DREAM WITH US, and we’ll teach you how to interpret them!

Think of myths as the dreams of an entire culture. Those stories reside in the collective unconscious and influence all of us throughout our lifespan. Mythic patterns shape our attitudes, and when we recognize them, we can link our personal experiences to the universal. When you’re panicking, you’re under the influence of Pan; when you’re sunk in gloom, you’re on a night-sea journey like Odysseus. Jungians’ call linking the personal to the universal, amplification: take a symptom, link it to a myth, and you’ve shifted it from “my private defect” to “a shared force,” which gives us objectivity. Jung noticed that when we lose awareness of the mythic, those patterns secretly affect us and tend to act themselves out, sometimes recklessly. Today, we’ll help you bring these grand narratives into awareness and understand how they help and, at times, hinder you.

Read along with the dream HERE.

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