Michael Meade is said to have defined a myth as, “a series of lies that tells the truth”. (Note: this phrase is often associated with fiction and art as well).
One of my favorite poets, Jalaluddin Rumi, has a poem titled, “Unfold Your Own Myth”.
But when I think about… it’s ironic– defining a myth.
It’s like someone points at you and says, “Tell me the TRUTH about these fictions!”
We’re obsessed with substantive thought, aren’t we? Which some attribute to Socrates and Plato, but let’s not get too brain-y here.
The Definition of a Myth
Myths are highly respected stories, which do not need to be grounded in science for historical accuracy or analyzed for deductive truth.
At D&M , we respect myths for their innate ability to reflect back individual and collective depth to the listener.
- Myths are oceans of depth … in droplets of stories.
- Myths are melodies that reverberate the soul’s tuning fork.
- Myths are parables, metaphors, revealing metaphysical realities.
Are All Myths Fictional?
The infamous Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari says that the distinguishing characteristic of humans is their ability to believe fiction(s).
We go about our lives constructing ideas about what’s happening, all the time , but everything we perceive is shaped by our own subjective perspectives.
We tell stories about what’s going on– from our own vantage points.
For me, this is central to what a myth is… it’s stepping into a story.
Perhaps this is why myths are so central to self-discovery.
Because we cultivate empathy with characters and relate to their struggles, challenges, experiences, and as we examine mythology (and our dreams and dream characters), we learn to become more connected creatures.
We’re wiser because we integrate myths and stories into our psyche.
What is the Difference Between Myth and Legend?
There are thoughtful people who say these are one and the same, and there are thoughtful people who say they are different.
If there is a difference highlighted, it is typically that Legends are more often considered to have a real historical basis.
What is the Purpose of a Myth?
- To open our eyes
- To teach important life lessons
- To pass down cultural values
What is One Distinguishing Characteristic of a Myth?
Perhaps my favorite distinguishing aspect of a myth is the universal patterns (and archetypes) that show up repeatedly across cultures, eras, and people groups.
Joseph Campbell , professor of comparative Mythology, coined the “Hero’s Journey” in his renowned book Hero With A Thousand Faces .
You may have heard of the hero’s journey before.
J.C. lays forth a pattern of departure, initiation, and return, which is a recurring pattern in ancient and modern mythology.
Mythology and Dreams
For the purposes of this site, the thread we are hunting for in both dreams and mythology is the mirror of wisdom. When we read a myth or dream a dream, we find ourselves in the stories and characters.
This is the universal pattern that we are discovering within ourselves, our dreams, and the mythologies of the world.
Self-discovery.
Concluding Notes:
We’ll continue to update this post as our site grows. We hope to answer more questions such as:
- How Many Myths Are There?
- What is a creation myth?
- What is a hero myth?
Stay tuned.
Other Definitions of Myths and Mythology
… the deepest function of a myth… is to lend narrative order to apparently disconnected bits of information, the way constellations group impossibly distant stars into tight, easily recognizable patterns that are simultaneously imaginary and real
Christopher Ryan
Christopher Ryan
Myth is the natural and indispensable intermediate stage between unconscious and conscious cognition”
Carl Jung ( see more Carl Jung quotes )
Carl Jung ( see more Carl Jung quotes )
Mythology is the loom on which [we] weave the raw materials of daily experience into a coherent story.
David Fenstein and Stanley Krippner (psychologists)
David Fenstein and Stanley Krippner (psychologists)
The Many Forms of Myth
Myths are not a single, uniform genre. They take many forms across cultures, each serving a distinct function in human understanding. Creation myths explain how the world began — from the Book of Genesis to the Aztec Five Suns to the Aboriginal Dreamtime. Etiological myths explain why things are the way they are: why spiders weave webs (Arachne), why seasons change (Persephone), or why echoes exist (Echo and Narcissus).
Hero myths follow a protagonist through trials and transformation. Joseph Campbell identified this pattern as the Hero's Journey — a universal narrative arc found in the stories of Gilgamesh, Odysseus, and even modern characters like Luke Skywalker. The hero departs from the ordinary world, faces ordeals in a supernatural realm, and returns transformed with a boon for society.
Eschatological myths describe the end of the world. Ragnarok in Norse mythology, the Apocalypse in Christian tradition, and the cycles of destruction in Hindu cosmology all grapple with the same existential question: how does it all end?
Why Myths Still Matter
In a world of scientific explanations and technological progress, myths might seem obsolete. But they remain profoundly relevant for several reasons:
Psychological depth. Carl Jung argued that myths are expressions of the collective unconscious — shared psychological patterns (archetypes) that shape human behavior. The Hero, the Shadow, the Anima, the Trickster — these figures recur across cultures because they represent universal aspects of the human psyche.
Moral instruction. Myths encode ethical lessons in narrative form. The story of Icarus warns against hubris. Prometheus teaches the cost of defying authority for the greater good. These stories transmit values across generations more effectively than abstract commandments.
Social cohesion. Shared myths bind communities together. National myths — whether the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus or the American frontier narrative — create collective identity and common purpose.
Existential meaning. Myths address the questions that science cannot: Why are we here? What happens after death? What is the nature of good and evil? They provide frameworks of meaning that help humans navigate suffering, loss, and the unknown.
Myth vs. Legend vs. Folklore
These terms are often used interchangeably, but scholars distinguish them:
Myths are sacred narratives about gods, creation, and cosmic order. They are believed to be true within the culture that tells them and explain fundamental aspects of existence.
Legends are stories set in historical time about human heroes or events. They may contain supernatural elements but are grounded in a recognizable world. King Arthur, Robin Hood, and El Cid are legendary figures.
Folktales are fictional stories told for entertainment and moral instruction. They are not believed to be literally true. Fairy tales, fables, and trickster stories fall into this category.
The boundaries between these categories are fluid. A myth can become a legend as belief fades, and legends can become folktales as they are retold across cultures. What matters is that all three serve as vehicles for human meaning-making — the fundamental act of turning raw experience into story.
Reading Myths Today
To read myths well, approach them on multiple levels. On the surface, they are entertaining stories of gods and monsters. Beneath that, they are psychological maps of the inner life. Deeper still, they are philosophical meditations on the nature of reality, consciousness, and the human condition.
Whether you encounter Zeus hurling thunderbolts, Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, or Vishnu dreaming the universe into existence, you are engaging with humanity's oldest and deepest form of knowledge — the story that tells us who we are.
