Tell me a Story

Society seems to be caught up with themes of myth and fairytale these days. Between TV shows like Once Upon a Time and Grimm, and movies like Percy Jackson and even the upcoming Wonder Woman remake, we are fascinated by legendary and mythic characters and storylines. Why? What power do tales like Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Oz hold for us today? Why are we still captivated by Gods, Goddesses and demi-gods? They take us beyond ourselves, and yet simultaneously into ourselves. They have the power to transform ordinary reality into something rich and magical. They tap into deep universal energy, otherwise known as archetypes. We hunger for something to escape into, that touches us on a level below the surface, that we can lose ourselves in, experience something vicariously beyond the bounds of our everyday existence. Even those who would deny having any interest in myth, may find themselves sitting in a theater, engrossed in the world of Thor or even Captain America. Myth is not static. It changes with the times and culture. Today’s resurgence of classic figures does nothing to take away from the pull of the Star Trek franchise or Doctor Who, for example. The Hero, the Miracle Worker, the Healer, the Consort, the Companion, the Worthy Opponent, the Speaker of Tongues, those roles and many others are reborn in the tales of each new generation.

When you get lost in a story, be it in a book or on a screen, which characters do you identify with? Do you become the Warrior Queen organizing the troops to defend her land? Are you the Shaman who lives alone in the woods, solitary, sometimes misunderstood, sometimes feared, but never quite part of the tribe? Do you see yourself as the Courtesan, mastering the arts of pleasure and diplomacy? Or maybe you’re a darker type than that, say, a Succubus who drains people of their energy? Or a werewolf that accesses something primal and dangerous in yourself one night out of every month? No, really, stop and think about that a minute…When you find yourself in a character, then you begin to get in touch with the story that you are living. It could be a hero’s journey, or an ordeal, or a misplaced orphan, or any number of variations on themes.

But here’s the kicker. You are not a helpless captive in your story. You can change your story. It happens that a story that has been true in your life for ages will all of a sudden not fit anymore. Then it’s time for a new story. The myth that’s active in your life may change many times, sometimes intentionally and sometimes you just stumble into a new one. There’s a dissonance that you may feel when you’ve been used to your life playing out along predictable storylines, and all of a sudden things don’t work that way anymore.

 There’s an apt analogy I want to bring in here. If you are or ever have been in need of vision correction devices, you’ll understand this. The world looks normal. You don’t think twice about the fact that you need to hold a book very close to your eyes to be able to read. It’s just the way life is. Then someone suggests you go to an eye doctor. You sit down in their magical chair, and view the world through different lenses. You’re trying each one out to see when the world becomes clear. “#1 or #2? #2 or #3?” Then a lens flips into place and A-ha! Details pop into alignment that you didn’t know were even out of alignment. You can see to move through life with much more richness and clarity than you ever knew you were missing. But, a few years later, you have to go back and get things rechecked. You go through the whole process again, but now maybe the new glasses you wear make you feel a little dizzy and disoriented. Even though the crystalline clarity is now returned, it takes an adjustment period until you feel like you’re grounded again.

Finding your new myth is similar. You try things on, and they may or may not fit quite right. But then a pivotal piece falls into place, and the path becomes clear in front of you again. This is a delightful part of the work I do. I get to help people explore old myths and identities and find and flesh out new ones. It’s a privilege and an honor to have someone sit with me while we explore the lenses that no longer work for them, and flip new ones down for experimentation. The a-ha moment when the one that holds the image of Truth for them slides into place is beautiful. Sometimes it brings smiles and laughter, sometimes tears and raging. But the look of clarity that accompanies it is unmistakable.

I believe as a culture, we are trying out new myths. Collectively, we are ready for a new identity and new footing on the path of life. So we are drawn to timeless storylines and characters, sometimes garbed classically and sometimes re-imagined for today, looking for inspiration and transformation.  What character do you want to be? What role will you play in the grand scheme of things? It’s worth a thought or several.