Myths are not fairy tales. They are stories coming from the collective unconscious of the psyche, couched in imagery that is sometimes arcane and easily misunderstood. They can, if the imagery is understood, lead to learning about who we are, and how we got there. Reading and understanding myths can also help us find out why we're as screwed up as we are at times.
Robert A. Johnson's book He, for example, uses the Parisfal (also known as The Fisher King) myth to explain the trials and tribulations of becoming a psychologically healthier man. In my own case, it helped me to understand a relationship that went badly many years ago. I now understand the dynamics of that relationship, and how it has affected me to this day. And no, I didn't read the book once and have a big light come on, I read it many times over many years and have slowly come to see how my life is reflected in that book.
I recall some incidents that occurred between my Dad and I earlier in my life. I had often wondered how they affected me, and although knowing the underlying cause of these, I did not know how they affected him. Of course, I never thought about such things while he was still alive, and we could have talked them over. After reading several other myths, I know now how stressful a time it was for him, and how screwed up it left me. I eventually understood what the dynamics of things were, and that has helped me go forward.
As a catalyst for men to understand themselves, it can lead to a better society. When men, and women, become more aware of why they do what they do, they start to understand how society as a whole is affected. When that becomes clearer, human rights become more important. And to me, that is the aim of the mythopoetic movement.
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