Mythology and Modern Life: Understanding Our Ancestral Roots
Friends,
Beltane is over. I walked my little garden early this morning, wondering- ‘Now what?’
Usually, when I get bored, I find new things to research. New links between mythology, or sometimes, I trudge through American history. Mostly, I find obscure stories that are trending on social media and try to see if they have any historical facts to substantiate them.
Rarely do they.
Lately, most of my research has centered on religion. Not modern religious doctrine- no, that would be too easy. No, I want to discover what really happened to our ancestors’ belief systems.
Paganism, magic, heathens, witchcraft, druids- everyday explanations for the unexplainable.
I hate to admit it, but we are losing our past. Why? Because we are unable to fundamentally believe in anything unless it is written down.
I call it the curse of three. For most historians, proof only comes in three. An event or idea must be found three separate times, in three separate texts, before it is considered a ‘possible truth.’
As a society, we have also lost the ability to believe in something unless there is scientific or historical proof that something exists. We no longer trust our gut, so to speak. I think this is why there has been such a rise in popularity of ‘old age’ ideas in a modern form.
Amazon is full of books that center on holistic approaches to wellness. The reemergence of lost religions such as Asatru, Druidism, Kemetic Paganism (ancient Egyptian religion), Hellenic Polytheism (following the Greek pantheon), Kitchen Witchery (popular among Pagans and Wiccans), Religio Romana (based on ancient faith or pre-Christian Rome), or Stregheria (the ‘Old religion’ of Italy).
Unless there is a book or website to guide us, it can not exist.
There is just a teeny, tiny problem with this thought process. Our forefathers didn’t write anything down. I think it’s because they were too busy trying to survive. The luxury of time sitting at a desk with ridiculously expensive ink, drawing pretty picture, and transcribing someone’s journal into a language no one could read wasn’t even a thought.
This is why Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism have flourished. The leaders of these religions cracked the code to survival: convince the general population that they ‘need’ to support their daily lives in order to ‘work’ their way closer to salvation. Think about it. Back in the day, you had to pay to go to heaven. There was a price to attend church, a cost to talk to religious leaders—either by coin or food.
Even monasteries and convents relied on the ‘generosity’ of others to survive. Of course, no one mentions that this generosity was portrayed as the only pathway to salvation.
For the most part, ancient religions didn’t work this way. Religion was a community belief, a set of rituals and events shared and passed down by storytellers and elders to teach the younger generation how to survive.
A majority of ancient rituals (minus the human sacrifice) were based on techniques to ensure the success of each family or village. Each ‘celebration’ marked a new season when calendars and the concept of ‘time’ didn’t rule lives. It was a physical reminder of the changing seasons, kind of like a ancient alarm clock.
Beltane? Time to plant seeds. Mabon? Is the harvest in? Samhain? Is everything ready for winter? It all makes sense when you look at it that way.
Now, this is not to chastise anyone who believes in ‘modern religion.’ I fully support people finding their own truths and peace. As the saying goes- ‘Do you boo.’ But I have reached the point in my life where I am looking for a better understanding of our past. Call it the Odin curse. I want to know the secrets of our ancestors to understand better why we are where we are.
Could my family survive if something happened to modern society? If we really did implode, could I grow my own food? Would I know how to cook dinner without using my electric stove? Could I keep my family warm in winter? Would I have faith in myself and the knowledge that there was something greater than me somewhere in the universe?
The answer would be maybe right now. But I am open enough to admit I don’t know enough. I haven’t spent enough time understanding how the world works or the gifts Mother Nature gives us to survive. I haven’t opened myself to listening and watching. I have wanted to control and manipulate to suit my needs and wants.
And as we all know, when you try to control something- you end up losing control.
So here is to my journey: to better understand mythology and our ancestral beliefs.
Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.
If you’re looking for your next favorite read, I invite you to check out my book, The Raven Society. This spellbinding historical fantasy series takes us on a heart-pounding journey through forgotten legends and distorted history. Uncover the chilling secrets of mythology and confront the horrifying truths that transformed myths into monstrous realities. How far will you go to learn the truth?
The Writer and The Librarian (Book 1):
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