My notes on everything psychology related.
Law 4: Always Say Less than Necessary When it comes to speech, less is more, and more is less. Remaining silent or saying only few words makes you sound more profound and mysterious. People will respect you for it. But when you say too much, you will likely suffer the repercussions. King Louis XIV of … Read more
Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions Greene recalls a story that took place in France in the seventeenth century, that was a violation of this law. There was a Marquee who wanted to seduce a Countess, but being young and inexperienced, he had no idea what to do. A famous Courtesan at the time, Ninon de … Read more
Law 1: Never Outshine the Master Many believe that flaunting your talents to your superiors is a good idea. But this is grave mistake. Masters and people who have ascended to positions of power, are not much different from the kings and queens of antiquity. They have fragile egos, and nothing could provoke their wrath … Read more
Epilogue: Myth and Society 1. The Shapeshifter Campbell concludes by commenting on the relevance of myths today, how myths are viewed and how you can make use of them in your own life. It is important to remember that there is no system for interpretation myths. If you seek to understand them, then you must … Read more
Part Two: The Cosmogonic Cycle Chapter 4: Dissolutions 1. End of the Microcosm In this chapter, Campbell discusses the final part of the hero journey, death. There are two types of deaths that mythologies describe, the first is personal, and the second is universal. “The End of the Microcosm” is the personal death of the … Read more
Part Two: The Cosmogonic Cycle Chapter 3: Transformations of the Hero 1. The Primordial Hero and the Human This chapter is about how the cosmogonic cycle is carried out by mortal heroes rather than gods and stories about children, who are predestined to become the heroes of their culture and the founders of new cities. … Read more
Part Two: The Cosmogonic Cycle Chapter 2: The Virgin Birth 1. Mother Universe Some mythologies emphasize the maternal rather than paternal aspect of the creator, and she plays the roles that are traditionally assigned to males. She’s also a virgin, because her husband is the Invisible Unknown. 3. The Virgin Birth Here Campbell tells us … Read more
Part Two: The Cosmogonic Cycle Chapter 1: Emanations 1. From Psychology to Metaphysics Myths resemble dreams, they are both manifestations of the unconscious. Symbols represent unconscious desires, fears, and tensions. “Mythology, in other words, is psychology misread as biography; history, and cosmology.” But myths are not the same as dreams although they come from the … Read more
Part I: The Adventure of the Hero Chapter 4: The Keys “The Keys” was a commentary on how myths have become watered down in many different traditions today. But the poetry of mythology is ruined when one considers these texts as scientific or historical – as it is easy to invalidate mythology under those frameworks. … Read more
Part One: The Adventure of the Hero Chapter 3: Return 1. Refusal of the Return After the hero completes his quest, he must still return with his life-changing boon. The usual course of events sees the hero sharing his wisdom with his community, or the world. But this responsibility has often be refused. Campbell cites … Read more