"CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA" "HELLO." "I'M SUSAN SARANDON." "IN THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM OF "MYTHOS,"" "JOE CAMPBELL BEGAN HIS STORY OF HUMANKIND" "WITH AN EXPLORATION OF OUR INNER WORLD" "THE SOUL, WHERE MYTHS COME FROM." "THE IDEA OF A LIVING MYTHOLOGY," "WHICH ORGANIZES AND GIVES MEANING TO LIFE," "DOES NOT RING TRUE TO OUR MODERN SENSIBILITIES." "HOW DOES IT WORK?" "WHAT IS IT LIKE TO LIVE A MYTH?" "LIKE THOSE WHO NEVER EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF LOVE," "WE QUITE LITERALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE MISSING." "NEVERTHELESS, TO UNDERSTAND THIS POWER," "IF NOT TO ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT," "WE NEED ONLY TO LOOK TO THOSE WHO WERE HERE BEFORE US" "THE AMERICAN INDIANS." "IN THIS PROGRAM, CAMPBELL INITIATES US" "INTO THE WORLD OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN," "BUT FIRST, HE CONSIDERS MODERN SOCIETY" "AND THE CYCLE OF LIFE WE ALL TRAVEL THROUGH." "I WAS GIVEN BY SOME OF MY FRIENDS" "A MAGAZINE ARTICLE FROM A PRESTIGIOUS" "SOCIOLOGICAL JOURNAL CALLED "FOREIGN AFFAIRS."" "THIS IS THEIR 60th ANNIVERSARY." "I WAS SHOCKED TO REALIZE THAT," "'CAUSE I HAD SUBSCRIBED TO THE FIRST EDITION." "[LAUGHTER]" "AND IN IT IS A ARTICLE CALLED" ""THE CARE AND REPAIR OF PUBLIC MYTHS,"" "WHERE THE AUTHOR SAYS THAT A SOCIETY" "THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MYTH TO SUPPORT AND GIVE IT COHERENCE" "GOES INTO DISILLUSION," "AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US." "HE DEFINES MYTH IN AN INCOMPLETE WAY." "HE DEFINES IT AS AN ORDER OF ACCEPTABLE IDEAS" "CONCERNING THE COSMOS AND ITS PARTS" "AND NATIONS AND OTHER HUMAN GROUPS." "BUT IT CONCERNS ALSO THE MYSTIC DIMENSION" "THAT INFORMS ALL THIS, AND IF THAT'S NOT THERE," "YOU DON'T HAVE A MYTHOLOGY, YOU HAVE AN IDEOLOGY." "IT CONCERNS ALSO THE PEDAGOGY OF THE INDIVIDUAL," "GIVING HIM A GUIDING TRACK TO GUIDE HIM ALONG." "IT COORDINATES THE LIVING PERSON WITH THE CYCLE OF HIS OWN LIFE," "WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH HE'S LIVING," "AND WITH THE SOCIETY, WHICH ITSELF" "HAS ALREADY BEEN INTEGRATED IN THE ENVIRONMENT." "NOW, THIS PICTURE THAT I'VE PUT ON THE SCREEN" "IS FROM W.B. YEATS," "HIS CURIOUS AND REMARKABLE BOOK "A VISION,"" "AND HE HAS TAKEN IT FROM AN ALCHEMICAL WORK" "OF THE 16th CENTURY" ""SPECULUM HOMINUM ET ANGELORUM,"" ""THE MIRROR OF MEN AND ANGELS."" "WHAT IT REPRESENTS IS THE CYCLE OF THE MOON" "AS A COUNTERPART TO THE CYCLE OF A HUMAN LIFETIME," "WITH THE 15th NIGHT OF THE MOON" "CORRESPONDING TO THE 35th YEAR OF A LIFETIME." "USING THE TERMS THAT YEATS APPLIES TO THIS," "WE'RE BORN FROM THE TRANSCENDENT MYSTERY" "AND IMMEDIATELY, THE SOCIETY" "BEGINS PUTTING ITS IMPRINTING UPON US." "THE MASK THAT WE ARE TO WEAR IS PUT ON US BY THE SOCIETY," "AND YEATS CALLS THIS THE PRIMARY MASK." "THE EIGHTH NIGHT OF THE MOON" "IS THE NIGHT OF ADOLESCENCE OR PUBERTY." "AT THAT TIME, LIGHT BEGINS TO DOMINATE OVER DARKNESS," "AND SO THE ATTITUDE OF DEPENDENCY AND SUBMISSION" "HAS TO BE TRANSFORMED NOW INTO ONE OF MATURITY." "THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF MATURITY, HOWEVER." "THERE'S THAT OF A TRADITIONAL SOCIETY," "WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL MOVES OVER INTO THE ROLE OF THE AUTHORITY" "WHICH HAS BEEN THAT OF THE SOCIETY." "LET'S SAY HE BECOMES THE EXECUTOR," "THE ONE WHO ADMINISTERS THE RITUALS AND SO FORTH" "WHICH CARRY THE SENSE OF THE CULTURE." "HE CONTINUES IN THE WAY OF THE PRIMARY MASK." "ON THE OTHER HAND, IN OUR CULTURE WORLD," "WHERE WE HAVE A MORE OPEN VIEW," "THE INDIVIDUAL AT THIS TIME," "WHEN HE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SENSE" "OF A DESTINY AND WORLD WORK OF HIS OWN," "OF WHICH THE SOCIETY HAD NO NOTION," "WE WILL BEGIN TO GET A SEPARATING." "THE INDIVIDUAL BEGINS TO FIND HIS OWN PATH" "AND THE DRAG, YOU MIGHT SAY, OF THE PRIMARY MASK" "IS GRADUALLY THROWN OFF." "THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE LEFT-HAND PATH." "THE RIGHT-HAND PATH IS THAT OF LIVING" "IN THE CONTEXT OF THE IDEOLOGY" "AND MASK SYSTEM, PERSONA SYSTEM," "OF ONE'S LOCAL VILLAGE COMPOUND." "THE LEFT-HAND PATH IS THAT OF THE INDIVIDUAL QUEST." "EACH OF US IS AN INDIVIDUAL." "EARLIER SOCIETIES DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS." "IN OUR WORLD, THE INDIVIDUAL," "PARTICULARLY IN THE EUROPEAN WORLD," "THE INDIVIDUAL IS RECOGNIZED AS A POSITIVE," "NOT SIMPLY A NEGATIVE POWER." "AND SO THERE COMES IN OUR WORLD THE ANTITHETICAL MASK," "THE MASK OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S OWN LIFE" "PULLING AGAINST THE OTHER." "NOW, EVEN WHERE THE YOUTH IS ENCOURAGED TO FIND HIS OWN PATH," "THERE IS NEVERTHELESS A PSYCHOLOGICAL LAG," "SO THIS IS A PERIOD OF GREAT TENSION." "WE ARE NOT REBORN AS EASILY AS PRIMITIVES" "OR AS PEOPLE IN TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES." "WE HAVE A MORE COMPLICATED BIRTH." "WE COME, THEN, TO THE 15th NIGHT OF THE MOON." "NOW, THE IMAGE HERE IS OF THESE TWO GREAT LIGHTS" "THE LUNAR LIGHT, WHICH DIES AND IS RESURRECTED," "DIES AND IS RESURRECTED," "AND THE SOLAR LIGHT," "WHICH IS INDEPENDENT OF THE VICISSITUDES OF TIME." "AT THIS MOMENT, THE MOON AND THE SUN" "ARE EQUIVALENT LIGHTS." "OUT ON THE PLAINS, ON THE 15th NIGHT OF THE MOON," "AT THE TIME OF SUNSET," "LOOKING TO THE WEST, YOU SEE THE SUN AT A MOMENT" "JUST RESTING RIGHT ON THE HORIZON," "AND IF YOU LOOK, THEN, TO THE EAST," "THE MOON WILL BE IN THE SAME POSITION" "ON THE EASTERN HORIZON." "I'VE SEEN IT TWICE IN MY LIFETIME" "AND BOTH TIMES MISTOOK THE MOON FOR THE SUN." "WHEN LECTURING ON THIS SUBJECT IN OKLAHOMA," "I GOT THE CRY FROM THE GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, "SO, WHAT'S NEW?"" "THEY SEE IT" "[LAUGHTER]" "THIS IS A MOMENT OF GREAT MYSTICAL IMPORTANCE." "HERE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS, YOUR BODY AND ITS CONSCIOUSNESS" "ARE AT THEIR PRIME," "AND YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO ASK YOURSELF," "WHO OR WHAT AM I?" "AM I THE CONSCIOUSNESS OR AM I THE VEHICLE OF CONSCIOUSNESS?" "AM I THIS BODY WHICH IS THE VEHICLE OF LIGHT" "SOLAR LIGHT" "OR AM I THE LIGHT?" "I ONCE HAD THE TASK OF TALKING ABOUT THESE MATTERS" "TALKING ABOUT BUDDHISM, IN FACT" "TO A GROUP OF PREP SCHOOL BOYS," "YOUNGSTERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF ABOUT 12 AND 17," "AND WHEN IT CAME TO THIS PROBLEM OF EXPLAINING" "WHAT THIS BUDDHA CONSCIOUSNESS OR CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS WAS," "I LOOKED UP THE CEILING FOR AN INSPIRATION," "AND I FOUND ONE." "I SAID, "LOOK UP, BOYS, AT THE CEILING," ""AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THE LIGHTS, PLURAL, ARE ON," ""OR YOU MIGHT ALSO SAY THE LIGHT, SINGULAR, IS ON," ""AND THIS IS TWO WAYS OF SAYING THE SAME THING." ""IN ONE CASE, YOU ARE PLACING EMPHASIS" ""ON THE INDIVIDUAL BULBS." ""ON THE OTHER, YOU'RE PLACING EMPHASIS ON THE LIGHT." ""NOW, IN JAPAN, THESE TWO ALTERNATIVES" ""ARE CALLED, RESPECTIVELY, THE JIHOKAI AND THE RIHOKAI." ""JIHOKAI, THE INDIVIDUAL REALM;" "RIHOKAI, THE GENERAL." ""AND THEN THEY SAY JI, RI, MU, GEI," ""INDIVIDUAL, GENERAL, NO OBSTRUCTION." "SAME THING."" ""NOW," I SAY, "WHEN ONE OF THOSE LIGHT BULBS BREAKS," ""THE SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS" ""DOESN'T COME IN AND SAY, 'WELL," "THAT WAS MY PARTICULARLY FAVORITE BULB.'"" "[LAUGHTER]" ""HE TAKES IT OUT, THROWS IT AWAY," ""PUTS ANOTHER ONE IN." "WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT THE VEHICLE BUT THE LIGHT."" "AND I SAY NOW, LOOKING DOWN AT ALL YOUR HEADS," "I ASK MYSELF OF WHAT ARE THESE THE VEHICLES." "THEY ARE THE VEHICLES OF CONSCIOUSNESS." "HOW MUCH CONSCIOUSNESS ARE THEY RADIATING," "AND WHICH ARE YOU?" "ARE YOU THE VEHICLE OR ARE YOU THE CONSCIOUSNESS," "AND WHEN YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS," "THEN WITH GRATITUDE TO THE VEHICLE," "YOU CAN LET IT GO." "OH, DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING?" "YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED YOURSELF" "WITH THAT WHICH IS REALLY EVERLASTING," "THIS CONSCIOUSNESS THAT THROWS UP FORMS" "AND TAKES THEM BACK AGAIN," "THROWS UP FORMS AND TAKES THEM BACK." "AND THEN YOU CAN REALIZE THAT YOU ARE" "ONE WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS IN ALL BEINGS." "YOU ARE ONE WITH THEM, AND YOU CAN SAY," ""JI, JI, MU, GEI,"" "INDIVIDUAL, INDIVIDUAL, NO OBSTRUCTION." "THIS IS THE ULTIMATE MYSTIC EXPERIENCE ON EARTH." "THAT'S THE CRISIS HERE." "SO, THAT'S THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION HERE." "THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE EIGHTH NIGHT" "IS TO DEATH TO THE INFANTILE EGO," "BIRTH TO THE MATURE." "HERE IS DEATH TO THE BODY," "IDENTIFICATION WITH THE ETERNAL ASPECT THAT LIVES IN THE BODY," "AND FROM THEN ON, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING" "TO WATCH THE BODY GO." "FOLLOWING THE COURSE OF NATURE," "UNTIL THE 22nd NIGHT OF THE MOON," "DARKNESS BEGINS TO PREPONDERATE," "THE BODY BECOMES MORE AND MORE SUBMISSIVE" "TO THE PRIMARY RULES OF THE SOCIETY AND OF NATURE." "I REMEMBER ONE GENTLEMAN ASKED, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS," ""WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?"" "AND I SAID, "YOU'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH," SO" "[LAUGHTER]" "AND THEN WE HAVE HERE THESE SIGNS INDICATING" "THE NUCLEAR MOMENT OF THE CRISIS." "TEMPTATIO." "TEMPTATION." "THE CUP OF TRISTAN AND ISOLDE," "NOT OF ISOLDE AND KING MARK," "THE MARRIAGE ARRANGED FOR BY THE SOCIETY," "BUT THE AWAKENING OF THE MEETING OF THE EYES" "AND THE AWAKENING OF THE INDIVIDUAL DESTINY LIFE" "AND ITS REALIZATION." "THEN HERE PULCHRITUDE, BEAUTY, THE GLORIOUS MOMENT." "I'M TOLD THAT AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY," "THE LAST DAY, THE JOINING OF THE BODY TO THE SOUL IN HEAVEN," "WE WILL ALL BE 35 YEARS OLD." "[LAUGHTER]" "SO THEN WE COME ON HERE TO THE DECLINE AND VIOLENCE." "AGAINST YOURSELF, HOLDING YOURSELF IN FORM" "FOR THE LAST LAP." "FINALLY, SAPIENTIA, THE FRUIT, WISDOM." "NOT A BAD SCORE." "AND SO THIS ALSO IS PART OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE BODY." "THE BODY GOING THROUGH ITS INEVITABLE COURSE." "THE LONG BODY." "CAMPBELL CHALLENGES US" "TO ASK OURSELVES DIFFICULT QUESTIONS." "ARE YOU THE VEHICLE OF CONSCIOUSNESS" "OR ARE YOU THE CONSCIOUSNESS?" "JOE WAS ONCE ASKED, "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?"" "BY A MAN WHO SAID THAT HIS LIFE WAS PERFECTLY HAPPY" "WITHOUT EVER CONSIDERING THESE IDEAS." "HE RESPONDED THAT THERE REALLY WAS NO NEED" "TO THINK OF THESE THINGS, EVER." "AFTER ALL, A DOG HAS A PERFECTLY HAPPY LIFE" "WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING." "IT IS, HOWEVER, A DOG'S LIFE." "PERHAPS JOE WAS A BIT TOUGH ON THIS GUY," "BUT HE WOULD SAY TO THOSE INTERESTED IN A HUMAN LIFE" "THAT AN UNDERSTANDING OF HIS OR HER PLACE IN THE WORLD" "IS A PRESSING CONCERN." "FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN, THIS PLACE" "WAS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP" "WITH THE NATURAL WORLD," "A RELATIONSHIP EPITOMIZED" "IN A LETTER WRITTEN BY CHIEF SEATTLE," "AFTER WHOM THE CITY OF SEATTLE WAS NAMED." "THE PRESIDENT IN WASHINGTON SENDS WORD" "THAT HE WISHES TO BUY OUR LAND." "BUT HOW CAN YOU BUY OR SELL THE SKY, THE LAND?" "THE IDEA IS STRANGE TO US." "IF WE DO NOT OWN THE FRESHNESS OF THE AIR" "AND THE SPARK OF THE WATER," "HOW CAN YOU BUY THEM?" "EVERY PART OF THIS EARTH IS SACRED TO MY PEOPLE." "EVERY SHINING PINE NEEDLE, EVERY SANDY SHORE," "EVERY MIST IN THE DARK WOODS," "EVERY MEADOW, EVERY HUMMING INSECT." "ALL ARE HOLY" "IN THE MEMORY AND EXPERIENCE OF MY PEOPLE." "WE KNOW THE SAP THAT COURSES THROUGH THE TREES" "AS WE KNOW THE BLOOD THAT COURSES THROUGH OUR VEINS." "WE'RE PART OF THE EARTH AND IT IS PART OF US." "PERFUMED FLOWERS ARE OUR SISTERS." "THE BEAR, THE DEER, THE GREAT EAGLE" "THESE ARE OUR BROTHERS." "THE ROCKY CRESTS, THE JUICES IN THE MEADOW," "THE BODY HEAT OF THE PONY AND MAN" "ALL BELONG TO THE SAME FAMILY." "THE SHINING WATER THAT MOVES IN THE STREAMS AND RIVERS" "IS NOT JUST WATER BUT THE BLOOD OF OUR ANCESTORS." "IF WE SELL YOU OUR LAND," "YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS SACRED." "EACH GHOSTLY REFLECTION IN THE CLEAR WATER OF THE LAKES" "TELLS OF EVENTS AND MEMORIES IN THE LIFE OF MY PEOPLE." "THE WATERS MURMUR, AS THE VOICE OF MY FATHER'S FATHER." "THE RIVERS ARE OUR BROTHERS." "THEY QUENCH OUR THIRST." "THEY CARRY OUR CANOES AND FEED OUR CHILDREN," "SO YOU MUST GIVE TO THE RIVERS" "THE KINDNESS YOU WILL GIVE ANY BROTHER." "IF WE SELL YOU OUR LAND, REMEMBER" "THAT THE AIR IS PRECIOUS TO US," "THAT THE AIR SHARES ITS SPIRIT" "WITH ALL THE LIFE THAT IT SUPPORTS." "THE WIND THAT GAVE OUR GRANDFATHER HIS FIRST BREATH" "ALSO RECEIVES HIS LAST SIGH." "THE WIND ALSO GIVES OUR CHILDREN THE SPIRIT OF LIFE." "SO IF WE SELL YOUR OUR LAND," "YOU MUST KEEP IT APART AND SACRED" "AS A PLACE WHERE MAN CAN GO" "TO TASTE THE WIND THAT IS SWEETENED BY THE MEADOW FLOWERS." "WILL YOUR TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WHAT WE'VE TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN," "THAT THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER?" "WHAT BEFALLS THE EARTH BEFALLS ALL THE SONS OF THE EARTH." "THIS WE KNOW--THE EARTH DOES NOT BELONG TO MAN." "MAN BELONGS TO THE EARTH." "ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED, LIKE THE BLOOD THAT UNITES US ALL." "MAN DID NOT WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE." "HE IS MERELY A STRAND IN IT." "WHATEVER HE DOES TO THE WEB, HE DOES TO HIMSELF." "ONE THING WE KNOW--OUR GOD IS ALSO YOUR GOD." "THE EARTH IS PRECIOUS TO HIM," "AND TO HARM THE EARTH IS TO HEAP CONTEMPT ON ITS CREATOR." "YOUR DESTINY IS A MYSTERY TO US." "WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE BUFFALO ARE ALL SLAUGHTERED," "THE WILD HORSES TAMED?" "WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE SECRET CORNERS OF THE FOREST" "ARE HEAVY WITH THE SCENT OF MANY MEN" "AND THE VIEW OF THE RIPE HILLS IS BLOTTED BY TALKING WIRES?" "WHERE WILL THE THICKET BE?" "GONE." "WHERE WILL THE EAGLE BE?" "GONE." "AND WHAT IS IT TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE SWIFT PONY AND THE HUNT," "THE END OF LIVING AND THE BEGINNING OF SURVIVAL?" "WHEN THE LAST RED MAN HAS VANISHED WITH HIS WILDERNESS" "AND HIS MEMORY IS ONLY THE SHADOW OF A CLOUD" "MOVING ACROSS THE PRAIRIE," "WILL THESE SHORES AND FORESTS STILL BE HERE?" "WILL THERE BE ANY OF THE SPIRIT OF MY PEOPLE LEFT?" "WE LOVE THIS EARTH AS A NEWBORN LOVES ITS MOTHER'S HEARTBEAT," "SO IF WE SELL YOU OUR LAND, LOVE IT AS WE HAVE LOVED IT." "CARE FOR IT AS WE HAVE CARED FOR IT." "HOLD IN YOUR MIND THE MEMORY OF THE LAND" "AS IT IS WHEN YOU RECEIVE IT." "PRESERVE THE LAND FOR ALL CHILDREN" "AND LOVE IT AS GOD LOVES US ALL." "AS WE ARE PART OF THE LAND, YOU, TOO, ARE PART OF THE LAND." "THIS EARTH IS PRECIOUS TO US." "IT IS ALSO PRECIOUS TO YOU." "ONE THING WE KNOW-- THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD." "NO MAN, BE HE RED MAN OR WHITE, CAN BE APART." "WE ARE BROTHERS AFTER ALL." "ALL RIGHT." "COMPARE THAT WITH GENESIS 3" "AND YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING." "FURTHERMORE, THE LAND IS THE HOLY LAND" "AND THE LAND WHERE YOU ARE, NOT THE LAND SOMEPLACE ELSE." "NOT ONLY THE BODY BUT THE SPECIFIC LANDSCAPE" "IN WHICH THE PEOPLE ARE DWELLING" "IS SANCTIFIED IN THESE OLD MYTHOLOGIES," "AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE" "TO FIND THE HOLY PLACE." "NOW, THIS IS A PAINTING THAT WAS MADE BY A FRIEND OF BLACK ELK." "YOU KNOW JOHN NEIHARDT'S BOOK "BLACK ELK SPEAKS."" "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BOOK." "FORTUNATELY, IT WAS A POET WHO RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE" "FROM OLD BLACK ELK, WHO WAS IN HIS NINETIES," "OF THE VISION THAT THIS GUARDIAN OF THE OGLALAS' MEDICINE PIPE" "HAD EXPERIENCED WHEN HE WAS A BOY OF 9," "A VISION THAT FORETOLD, IN A MAGICAL WAY, REALLY," "THE DESTINY BEFORE HIS PEOPLE." "CAME TO HIM LONG BEFORE THEY HAD HAD THEIR FIRST ENCOUNTERS" "WITH THE CAVALRY AND THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED KNEE AND ALL THAT." "OLD BLACK ELK, WHEN HE WAS QUITE A YOUNGSTER, 14 OR SO," "PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE WITH CUSTER." "AT ONE POINT IN HIS VISION, HE SAID," ""I SAW MYSELF ON THE SACRED CENTRAL MOUNTAIN OF THE WORLD,"" "AND HERE HE IS ON THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN OF THE WORLD" "WITH THE AXIAL TREE AND THE 3 BIRDS ROUND ABOUT," "AND MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN ROUND ABOUT AS WELL," "AND HE SAID, "THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN OF THE WORLD," ""THIS HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, IS HARNEY PEAK IN SOUTH DAKOTA,"" "AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, HE SAID," ""BUT THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN IS EVERYWHERE."" "NOW, THERE'S A MAN THAT KNEW THE DIFFERENCE" "BETWEEN THE FOLK, CULTIC SYMBOL AND THE REFERENCE OF THE SYMBOL." "THE HOLY LAND IS EVERYWHERE," "AND SO WHEN YOU COME INTO A LANDSCAPE" "FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CULT" "AND WORSHIP SO THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS" "YOUR MINDS TO THE MYSTERY," "DESIGNATE THIS IS THE CENTER, THIS IS THE NORTH," "THIS IS THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN, AND SO FORTH." "THIS WORD OF THIS WISE, OLD MAN..." "REMINDS ME OF A SENTENCE, COMES FROM A TEXT" "OF THE 13th CENTURY-- 12th CENTURY" "THAT WAS TRANSLATED FROM GREEK INTO LATIN" "CALLED "THE BOOK OF THE 24 PHILOSOPHERS."" "IT SAYS THERE, "GOD IS AN INTELLIGIBLE SPHERE."" ""INTELLIGIBLE" MEANS KNOWN TO THE MIND." "AN INTELLIGIBLE SPHERE WHOSE CENTER IS EVERYWHERE" "AND CIRCUMFERENCE NOWHERE." "AND SO IT'S RIGHT HERE," "AND THE FUNCTION OF THE RITUAL AND THE MYTH" "IS TO LET YOU EXPERIENCE IT HERE," "NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE A LONG TIME AGO." "I'M GOING TO TAKE AS THE MODEL" "FOR THIS SANCTIFICATION OF THE LAND" "THE WORLD THAT WE'RE IN HERE, THE WORLD OF THE NAVAJO," "AND THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE NAVAJO AND THEIR SAND PAINTINGS." "AND I JUST WANT TO RUN THROUGH" "A LITTLE SERIES OF THESE SAND PAINTINGS" "AND THE MYTHIC MATTER ASSOCIATED WITH THEM." "THE PEOPLE OF ICELAND HAVE A TERM--"LANDNAM."" "THIS MEANS LAND CLAIMING OR LAND TAKING," "AND LAND TAKING CONSISTS IN SANCTIFYING THE LAND" "BY RECOGNIZING IN THE FEATURES OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE" "MYTHOLOGICAL IMAGES." "EVERY DETAIL OF THE NAVAJO DESERT LAND" "HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED AND RECOGNIZED AS A VEHICLE" "OF THE RADIANT MYSTERY." "THIS SAND PAINTING IS CALLED "THE CURTAINS OF THE SKY,"" "AND WHAT YOU GET ARE THE 4 DIRECTIONS HERE," "COLORS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE 4 DIRECTIONS," "AND THE CENTER." "THE CENTER, DARK, THE ABYSSAL, DARK," "OUT OF WHICH ALL THINGS COME BACK INTO WHICH THEY GO," "AND WHEN APPEARANCES EMERGE," "THEY BREAK INTO PAIRS OF OPPOSITES." "THIS IS ALL BASIC MYTHOLOGICAL STUFF" "THAT WE FOUND IN INDIA." "THE SUN RISES HERE." "IT'S THE PLACE OF BIRTH," "OF EMERGENCE, NEW LIFE." "WHEN THE BUDDHA ACHIEVED ILLUMINATION," "HE WAS FACING EAST." "THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THE TESTAMENT OF SUNDAY," "THE RISING OF THE NEW EASTERN SUN." "THEN IN THE HEIGHT OF THE SKY, THE BLUE SKY OF NOON," "THIS IS THE MIDPOINT, THE 35th YEAR OF LIFE." "THEN, THE WEST, WHERE THE SUN SINKS," "AND THEN THE NORTH, WHERE THE SUN IS GOING UNDERGROUND," "AND THE NORTH IS ALWAYS AN AREA OF AWE AND MYSTERY AND DANGER," "THE DANGER OF THAT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMMODATED" "IN THE FORMS OF THE SOCIAL ORDER." "THEN--SO, WE SEE THE SUN IN THESE VARIOUS ASPECTS." "NOW, ALL OF THESE MANDALAS THAT I'M GOING TO BE SHOWING" "WILL BE OPEN TO THE EAST." "NOT CLOSED, OPEN," "TO RECEIVE THE TRANSPERSONAL," "THE TRANSCENDENT LIGHT SHINING THROUGH." "ALL THINGS ARE TO BE TRANSPARENT TO TRANSCENDENCE." "WHEN A DEITY LIKE YAHWEH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SAYS," ""I'M FINAL,"" "HE IS NO LONGER TRANSPARENT TO TRANSCENDENCE." "HE IS NOT AS THE DEITIES OF THE OLDER CULTURES," "A PERSONIFICATION OF AN ENERGY" "WHICH ANTECEDES HIS PERSONIFICATION." "HE SAYS, "I'M IT."" "AND WHEN THE DEITY CLOSES HIMSELF LIKE THAT," "WE, TOO, ARE CLOSED LIKE THAT," "SO WE'RE NOT OPEN TO TRANSCENDENCE, EITHER," "AND YOU HAVE A RELIGION OF WORSHIP," "WHEREAS WHEN THE DEITY OPENS," "YOU HAVE A RELIGION OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THE DIVINE." "AND THAT WAS WHAT CHRIST MENTIONED" "WHEN HE SAID, "I AM THE FATHER [INDISTINCT] ONE"" "AND HE'S CRUCIFIED FOR IT," "[INDISTINCT] SAID THE SAME THING," "AND ALL OF THESE ARE SAYING THE SAME THINGS." "WE'RE PARTICLES OF THAT MYSTERY," "THAT TIMELESS, ENDLESS, EVERLASTING MYSTERY" "WHICH POURS FORTH FROM THE ABYSS INTO THE FORMS OF THE WORLD." "THEN YOU SEE THE MAIN PLANT OF THEIR SUSTENANCE." "JUST AS THE ANIMAL OF THE HUNTER," "THE ANIMAL THAT IS THE PRINCIPAL ANIMAL OF HIS LIFE," "BECOMES THE ANIMAL MASTER," "SO WHEN PLANTING COMES IN," "THE MAIN PLANTS ARE SANCTIFIED ALSO." "THERE ARE PUEBLO MYTHS, AND HUICHOL MYTHS IN MEXICO," "TELLING OF THE CORN MAIDENS" "AND ONE OF THEM, IN ONE OF THESE MYTHS," "IS COMPELLED BY THE YOUNG HERO'S MOTHER" "TO GRIND THE CORN," "AND AS SHE'S GRINDING, HER OWN ARMS DISAPPEAR" "AND SHE DISAPPEARS-- SHE'S GRINDING HERSELF AWAY." "OUR WHOLE LIFE IS SUSTAINED BY THE MYSTERY LIFE," "AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU EAT, WHETHER VEGETABLE OR ANIMAL," "IS A LIFE THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU" "THROUGH ITS OWN WILLINGNESS" "TO BECOME YOUR OWN LIFE SUBSTANCE." "SO, ALL OF THESE MANDALAS THAT I'M REPRESENTING HERE" "ARE GOING TO BE PLACED WITH THE EAST AT THE TOP," "AND YOU'LL SEE IT'S OPEN." "AND THEN THERE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE GATE." "IN THIS CASE, THEY ARE A LITTLE FIGURE KNOWN AS" "DONTSO--BIG FLY." "I'M TOLD THAT AS ONE WALKS ON THE DESERT," "SOMETIMES A BIG FLY COMES DOWN AND SITS ON ONE'S SHOULDER." "THIS BIG FLY IS THE COUNTERPART OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." "IT IS THE VOICE OF THE MYSTERY, AND IT IS YOUR GUIDE," "AND IT CAN BE CALLED "BIG FLY"" "OR, IN ANOTHER ASPECT, "LITTLE WIND,"" "AND ISN'T THIS INTERESTING-- THE WIND, SPIRITOS, THE SPIRIT." "WE GOT IT IN CHIEF SEATTLE'S." "THAT'S AN ARCHETYPE-- THE RECOGNITION OF BREATH" "AS THE BREATH OF LIFE." "NOW I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE MAIN MYTH OF THE NAVAJO," "AND IT'S A PUEBLO MYTH AS WELL." "IT'S THE ONE THAT IS UNIVERSAL IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD." "IT IS THAT THE FIRST PEOPLE," "HAVING COME UP FROM THE WOMB OF THE EARTH" "THROUGH A SERIES OF 4 STAGES," "AND THEY GO FROM ONE STAGE TO ANOTHER." "SOME ACCIDENT HAPPENS IN THE LOWER STAGES." "A FLOOD COMES AS A PUNISHMENT FOR IMPROPRIETY OF SOME SORT," "A BREAKING OF A TABOO OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT," "AND THEY COME ON UP." "AND FINALLY, THEY COME TO THE TOP LEVEL OF THE EARTH," "ON WHICH WE ARE NOW." "THIS IS REALLY AN OUT-OF- THE-EARTH BIRTH," "AND HERE'S THE LADDER OF EMERGENCE," "AND THESE ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE WITH THE PLANT" "AND THE ANIMALS ROUND ABOUT THAT THEY DISCOVER HERE," "AND HERE IS A SPECIAL KIND OF MIRAGE ENCLOSING IT." "NOW, I MUST TELL YOU," "AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK SOME MANY YEARS AGO," "A TEAM OF NAVAJO SINGERS CAME" "TO SHOW SAND PAINTINGS AND HOW THEY WERE MADE," "AND IT WAS MARVELOUS TO WATCH THESE MEN" "TAKE A COLORED SAND IN THEIR HAND" "AND WITH GREAT PRECISION PREPARE THESE MARVELOUS PAINTINGS." "WHEN THEY WOULD PREPARE THEM, THEY WOULD ALWAYS LEAVE OUT" "ONE DETAIL." "NOW, WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN TO ARTISTS," "SUCH AS THESE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ARTISTS TO COPY" "AND THEN STORE IN THAT MUSEUM OF THE NAVAJO ART," "SOMETHING WILL BE LEFT OUT." "THAT IS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE" "DEALING WITH THE PAINTING" "FROM ITS POWER." "THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE POWER TURNED ON." "WELL, THEY MADE ONE PAINTING IN THE MUSEUM," "AND THEN THEY WERE ASKED, "COULDN'T YOU JUST" ""COMPLETE ONE PAINTING?" "COMPLETE THIS ONE, FOR INSTANCE?"" "AND THEY LAUGHED AND THEY SAID," ""IF WE FINISH THIS ONE, TOMORROW MORNING," "EVERY WOMAN IN MANHATTAN WOULD BE PREGNANT."" "[LAUGHTER]" "SO, THESE THINGS CARRY POWER." "AND THEN IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO WATCH THEM" "WHEN THE PAINTINGS WERE BEING DESTROYED," "WHEN THEY WERE BEING REMOVED." "THEY TOOK THAT SAND, AND IT WAS" "THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF WAS A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST" "WITH THE CONSECRATED HOST IN HIS HAND." "THAT'S TO SAY THERE WAS SACRED POWER HERE." "[CLEARS THROAT] THEY WERE NOT JUST" "BRUSHED OFF AND THROWN AWAY." "THEY WERE PUT IN A SPECIAL CONTAINER TO RECEIVE THEM" "AND TAKEN SOMEWHERE ELSE, OF WHICH WE KNOW NOTHING." "SO HERE'S THE FIRST PART OF THE LEGEND," "THE LEGEND OF EMERGENCE." "NOW, I SAID THAT IN ICELAND," "WE HAVE THIS CONCEPT OF LANDNAM, LAND CLAIMING." "A SPECIFIC PLACE IS IDENTIFIED ON THE RESERVATION" "AS THE PLACE OF EMERGENCE." "IT WASN'T THE PLACE OF EMERGENCE." "IT IS THE RITUAL SYMBOL OF THE PLACE OF EMERGENCE," "AND YOU CONSIDER THE EMERGENCE MYSTERY" "WHEN YOU ADDRESS YOURSELF TO THAT PLACE." "THEN THERE'S THE MOUNTAIN OF THE NORTH" "AND A MOUNTAIN OF THE SOUTH" "AND A MOUNTAIN OF THE EAST AND A MOUNTAIN OF THE WEST." "THE LAND IS CONSECRATED AS A HOLY LAND IN THIS WAY." "WHERE DID THE MYTH COME FROM?" "IT CAME WITH THE PEOPLE TO THAT PLACE." "AND THEN THEY CONSECRATED THE PLACE" "IN TERMS OF THE MYTH THAT WAS WITH THEM." "TO MANY, THE MYTHS OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS" "SEEM LIKE QUAINT SUPERSTITIONS." "DID THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT MAN EMERGED" "FROM THE WOMB OF MOTHER EARTH ON A LADDER?" "MAYBE, BUT TO ASK SUCH A QUESTION" "IS TO MISS THE POINT." "FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN, THE PLACE OF EMERGENCE" "WOULD ACTUALLY SHIFT FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE" "OR TRIBE TO TRIBE." "ITS IMPORTANCE LAY IN ITS SYMBOLIC VALUE," "THE RITUAL PLACE TO FOCUS ON THE MYSTERY OF LIFE." "FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN, EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD" "HAD BOTH ITS CONCRETE, PHYSICAL REALITY" "AND ITS SPIRITUAL REALITY." "THE RIVERS, THE WOODS, THE BUFFALO" "ALL WERE SECULAR AND SACRED AT THE SAME TIME." "IT IS A WAY OF PERCEIVING THE WORLD" "TOTALLY ALIEN TO MANY OF US WHOSE EXPERIENCE OF THE SACRED" "IS RESERVED FOR AN HOUR OR SO A WEEK IN CHURCH." "THE MYTHS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN" "CONNECTED THEM TO THE MYSTERY OF LIFE." "THOSE SAME MYTHS ALSO PROVIDE THE RITUALS TO PREPARE THEM" "FOR THE OBSTACLES THEY FACE LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD." "HOW DOES IT WORK?" "THE POWER OF A STORY IS IN ITS TELLING." "NOW I WANT TO GO THROUGH A SPECIFIC LEGEND," "AND THIS IS A LEGEND OF WHERE THE TWO CAME TO THEIR FATHER." "THESE PAINTINGS I'M GOING TO SHOW NOW" "ARE NOT SAND PAINTINGS" "BUT POLLEN PAINTINGS, THEY'RE CALLED." "THEY'RE MADE OF GROUND-UP CORN AND GROUND-UP PETALS" "OF FLOWERS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "WHEN THE SECOND WORLD WAR STARTED" "AND THE YOUNG MEN ON THE NAVAJO RESERVATION" "WERE BEING DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY," "THERE WAS AN OLD SINGER THERE NAMED JEFF KING." "AND A FRIEND OF MINE WHO NOW IS LIVING IN CARMEL--MAUD OAKES" "HAD GONE DOWN TO THE NAVAJO COUNTRY" "TO LEARN THE LEGEND LORE AND TO MAKE PAINTINGS." "SHE WAS A COMPETENT ARTIST" "OF THE SAND PAINTINGS AND SO FORTH." "WELL, SHE HAD, REALLY, TO SEDUCE THE OLD MEN" "INTO GIVING THEIR STORIES TO HER," "AND THE THING THAT PERSUADED THEM" "WAS THE REALIZATION THAT THE YOUNG MEN" "WEREN'T LEARNING THESE THINGS ANYMORE." "THESE RITUALS ARE OF ONE NIGHT, 3 NIGHTS, OR 9 NIGHTS," "AND THE SINGER HAS TO KNOW BY HEART" "AN EXTREMELY ELABORATE MYTHOLOGY AND RITUAL SYSTEM," "AND THERE MUST BE NO MISTAKES," "AND THERE'S ALWAYS A SECOND SINGER TO SUPERVISE" "TO MAKE SURE THAT NO MISTAKES ARE MADE IN THE CHANTING." "YOUNG MEN ARE NOT PUTTING THEMSELVES" "TO LEARN ALL THIS ANYMORE," "AND SO THE RITUALS ARE DYING OUT," "AND THE PLEA WAS THAT IF THEY WOULD GIVE" "TO THE MODERN ANTHROPOLOGIST INVESTIGATOR THIS MATERIAL," "IT WOULD BE STORED AND WOULD BE KEPT AS A TREASURE" "IN THE MUSEUM THERE OF THE NAVAJO." "AT THAT TIME--THIS IS BACK IN THE THIRTIES" "THE NORMAL NAVAJO FAMILY IS DESCRIBED AS" "HAVING BEEN OF A FATHER, A MOTHER," "ONE CHILD, AND TWO ANTHROPOLOGISTS." "THE NAVAJO WAS A REAL HUNTING GROUND" "FOR THE ANTHROPOLOGISTS AT THAT TIME." "WELL, WHEN A YOUNG MAN WOULD BE DRAFTED," "HIS FAMILY MIGHT GO TO OLD JEFF KING," "WHO HAD BEEN A MILITARY SCOUT FOR THE AMERICAN ARMY" "WHEN THEY WERE FIGHTING THE APACHE," "GERONIMO AND SO FORTH." "AND OLD JEFF KING, WHO DIED" "IN THE MIDDLE OR LATE NINETIES OF HIS YEARS," "IS BURIED AS A MILITARY HERO AT THE CEMETERY AT ARLINGTON." "WELL, MAUD GOT HIM TO GIVE HER" "THE RITE THAT HE WAS PERFORMING" "OVER THE YOUNG MEN GOING INTO THE ARMY." "IT WAS AN OLD WARRIOR RITUAL" "CALLED "WHERE THE TWO CAME TO THEIR FATHER."" "HAVING EMERGED FROM THE UNDERWORLD," "THE PEOPLE WERE SETTLED IN THIS MIDDLE PLACE HERE" "AND IN THE 4 DIRECTIONS" "ARE THE MOUNTAINS OF THE 4 DIRECTIONS" "FILLED WITH THE SEEDS OF ALL THINGS." "THIS IS THE HOUSE OF CHANGING WOMAN," "A WONDERFUL FIGURE IN THE NAVAJO MYTHOLOGY." "SHE WAS BORN MIRACULOUSLY OF A CLOUD" "AND SHE BECAME THE MOTHER, THEN, OF THESE BOYS" "BY A MIRACLE, BY VIRGIN BIRTH." "SHE WAS BATHING AT A LITTLE SPRING" "AND THE SUN SHONE UPON HER," "AND WHEN SHE CAME HOME, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A LITTLE BOY." "THERE WERE MONSTERS TROUBLING THE NEIGHBORHOOD," "AND SO SHE DUG A LITTLE HOLE AND PUT THE BOY DOWN THERE" "IN A KIND OF UNDER-EARTH CRADLE TO PROTECT IT FROM THE MONSTERS," "AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE SPRING TO WASH HERSELF," "AND SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN, THIS TIME OF THE MOON." "AND SO SHE COMES BACK, AND HERE ARE HER TWO LITTLE BOYS." "THE BOY WHO WAS BORN OF THE SUN IS CALLED KILLER OF ENEMIES," "AND HERE'S THE WAY HE APPEARS IN THE DANCE RITUALS." "HE IS THE WARRIOR, OUTWARD DIRECTED." "THE BOY WHO WAS BORN OF THE MOON IS CALLED CHILD OF THE WATER," "AND HE IS THE MEDICINE MAN, THE SHAMAN." "THE TWINNED HERO MOTIF IS COMMON" "TO MANY, MANY MYTHOLOGIES OF THE WORLD," "AND THEY REPRESENT THE WARRIOR CHIEFTAIN" "AND HIS MAGICIAN PRIEST." "WELL, THEY'RE LIVING WITH THEIR MOTHER" "AND THEY SEE THAT NOT ONLY THEIR MOTHER" "BUT THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING TROUBLED BY MONSTERS." "AND SO THEY THINK THEY HAD BETTER GO" "AND GET HELP FROM THEIR FATHER THE SUN" "THE SUN IS ULTIMATELY THE FATHER OF THEM BOTH," "BECAUSE THE SUN LIGHTS THE LIGHT OF THE MOON," "SO FORTH AND SO ON" "TO HELP THEIR MOTHER." "NOW, THEIR MOTHER HAD TOLD THEM," ""IT'S DANGEROUS AROUND HERE, BOYS," ""AND YOU CAN GO TO THE EAST, TO THE SOUTH, TO THE WEST," "BUT DON'T GO NORTH," SO THEY GO NORTH." "THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET NEW MATERIAL" "DON'T OBEY THE COMMUNITY." "THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE STUCK OR IN TROUBLE." "SO, THEY--GUIDED BY RAINBOW MAN," "THEY GO THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF THE 4 QUARTERS." "EVERYTHING IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN THINGS IS IN 4s." "THEY CIRCUMAMBULATE THE WORLD AND ARE ON THEIR WAY." "THIS IS A TYPICAL HERO QUEST MYTH." "WHEN THEY COME TO THE END OF THE KNOWN WORLD," "THAT IS TO SAY, WHEN THEY REACH THE HORIZON," "THEY ARE CONFRONTED BY THIS THRESHOLD GUARDIAN" "WHOSE NAME IS WHITE SANDS BOY." "HE IS THE GUARDIAN AT THE EAST." "HE HAS LONG ARMS." "HE SEIZES PEOPLE AND BURIES THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND" "AND SO SMOTHERS THEM." "HE IS THE ONE WHO SEES TO IT" "THAT PEOPLE DON'T GO BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE MYTHOLOGY." "THE BOYS GIVE HIM PRAISE." "THEY SAY, "OH, WONDERFUL WHITE SANDS BOY." "THERE NEVER WAS A THING IN THE WORLD LIKE YOU,"" "AND HE'D NEVER RECEIVED SUCH PRAISE IN HIS LIFE," "AND SO HE SAID, "OK, YOU CAN GO ON,"" "AND THEY MAKE THE ROUNDS." "THERE'S WHITE SANDS BOY AND BLUE SANDS BOY" "AND SO FORTH AND SO FORTH," "AND NOW THEY ARE BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE WORLD." "THEY'RE GOING ALONG IN A KIND OF FEATURELESS LANDSCAPE" "AND THEY SEE AN OLD, OLD WOMAN, AND HER NAME IS OLD AGE," "AND SHE SAYS, "OH, HELLO, BOYS." "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WAY OUT HERE, YOU EARTH PEOPLE?"" "THEY SAY, "WE'RE ON THE WAY TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE--THE SUN" "TO GET WEAPONS TO SAVE OUR MOTHER FROM THE MONSTERS."" ""OH," SHE SAYS, "THAT'S A LONG, LONG WAY." "YOU'LL BE OLD WHEN YOU GET THERE."" ""BUT," SHE SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE." "DON'T WALK ON MY PATH." "WALK TO THE RIGHT OF IT."" "SO THE BOYS START WALKING ALONG TO THE RIGHT," "BUT THEN THEY FORGET--I KNOW, HEROES ALWAYS FORGET." "AND THEY ARE WALKING ON THE PATH AGAIN," "AND THEY BEGIN TO FEEL OLD," "AND THEY HAVE TO PICK UP STICKS AND WALK WITH THESE," "AND THEN FINALLY, THEY CAN'T WALK AT ALL," "AND..." "OLD AGE, THE OLD WOMAN, HAS BEEN WATCHING" "AND SHE COMES AND SAYS, "AH, AH, AH, I TOLD YOU."" ""WELL," THEY SAID, "CAN'T YOU MAKE US YOUNG AGAIN?"" ""OH," SHE SAID, "IF YOU'LL BE CAREFUL NOW, I'LL DO THAT."" "AND SO SHE SPIT ON HER HAND AND TOOK MOISTURE" "FROM UNDER HER ARMPITS AND FROM BETWEEN HER LEGS" "AND SHE RUBS IT OVER THEM, AND THEY'RE MADE YOUNG AGAIN." ""LISTEN, HERE, NOW, YOU STAY ON THE RIGHT OF THE PATH."" "SO THEY GO ALONG AND PRETTY SOON THEY SEE" "ANOTHER LITTLE, OLD LADY, BLACK, LITTLE OLD LADY." "WHO'S THIS?" "THIS IS SPIDER WOMAN." "NOW, THESE SPIDERS LIVE IN THE GROUND," "AND THIS IS KIND OF FAIRY GODMOTHER," "THE COUNTERPART OF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER." "SHE'S THE SPIRIT OF THE EARTH MOTHER ITSELF" "IN THE FORM OF THE OLD SPIDER." "AND AGAIN, "OH, HELLO, EARTH BOYS." "WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT HERE?"" ""OH, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO OUR FATHER THE SUN" "TO GET WEAPONS TO SAVE OUR MOTHER."" ""OH, THAT'S A LONG, LONG TRIP" ""YOU BETTER COME DOWN INTO MY LITTLE HOUSE" "AND I'LL FIX YOU UP FOR THAT JOURNEY."" "AND SO SHE MADE THE SUN GO FAST." "SHE HAS POWER OVER THE SUN ITSELF..." "SO THAT IT SHOULD SET AND THEY'D HAVE TO SPEND" "THE WHOLE NIGHT WITH HER." "THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY LITTLE HOLE." ""HOW CAN WE FIT THROUGH THAT?"" "BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME, THERE'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL." "THEY GO DOWN AND SHE FEEDS THEM CERTAIN FOOD" "AND GIVES THEM CERTAIN PIECES" "OF EBONY AND TURQUOISE TO SWALLOW" "AND FIXES THEM UP FOR THE JOURNEY" "AND TELLS THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS" "THERE'RE GOING TO BE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MEET," "AND SHE GIVES THEM A FEATHER TO PROTECT THEM." "NOW, HERE'S THE FEATHER, OFF HERE," "THAT LITTLE, OLD SPIDER WOMAN GAVE THE TWO BOYS." "SHE SAYS, "HOLD THIS FEATHER CLOSE" "AND YOU'LL GET THROUGH ALL OBSTACLES."" "NOW, HERE ARE THE OBSTACLES" "THE CACTUS THAT CUT AND THE REEDS THAT PIERCE" "AND THE ROCKS THAT CLASH TOGETHER." "THEY HAVE BEEN OMITTED, 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO POWERFUL." "WELL, WITH THESE TO HELP, THE BOYS START ON THEIR PATH" "AND THEY DO PASS THROUGH THESE OBSTACLES." "STANDARD STUFF." "WE'VE GONE PAST THE KNOWN WORLD." "MAGICAL HELP COMES TO US" "IN THE FORM OF SOME FAIRY GODMOTHER." "WAYS OF THE JOURNEY ARE PREDICTED AND OVERCOME." "THE BOYS THEN COME TO THE OCEAN THAT SURROUNDS THE WORLD." "THAT'S A STANDARD MYTHOLOGICAL MOTIF." "OKEANOS OF THE GREEKS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON." "WE KNOW THAT IT SURROUNDS THE WORLD" "'CAUSE HERE ARE THE 4 MOUNTAINS OF THE 4 DIRECTIONS." "IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE TRANSLATED A SPACE" "INTO A FLAT PICTURE." "BY THE WAY, I MIGHT POINT OUT" "IN THESE PICTURES," "THE ANIMALS ARE NOT RENDERED NATURALISTICALLY." "THESE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO RENDER" "ALL THESE THINGS NATURALISTICALLY." "THEY'RE RENDERED IN THE FORM OF THEIR SPIRITUAL REFERENCE." "THE TRANSFORMATION OF NATURE IN ART" "IS RENDERING THE NATURE PHENOMENON" "TRANSPARENT TO TRANSCENDENCE." "THE BOYS NOW CROSS THE WATER WITH THE FEATHER BETWEEN THEM" "BY THE MAGIC POWER THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN THEM." "THEN THEY'RE APPROACHING THE HOUSE OF THE SUN," "AND THIS IS GUARDED BY 4 TYPES OF ANIMAL GUARDIAN." "FIRST WE HAVE THE SERPENTS, THE 4 SERPENTS." "THE YOUNG MAN WHO IS BEING TRAINED TO BE A WARRIOR," "HAVING HIS PSYCHOLOGY TRANSFORMED" "FROM THAT OF SECULAR TO MILITARY CONSCIOUSNESS," "COMES WALKING IN ALONG THIS LINE," "KNEELS DOWN HERE WITH HIS HEAD OVER THIS BASKET OF YUCCA SUDS." "HE UNDERGOES A CEREMONIAL WASHING, A PURIFICATION" "YOU HAVE PURIFICATION BEFORE YOU HAVE THE REVELATION" "AND THAT'S THE SENSE OF THIS RITE." "THESE, THEN, ARE THE GUARDIAN BEARS," "THESE ARE THE GUARDIAN THUNDERBIRDS," "AND THESE ARE THE GUARDIAN WINDS." "THE BOYS, HAVING PASSED THESE, COME TO THE HOUSE OF THE SUN." "NOW, HERE'S THE SUN'S HOUSE." "IT'S A MICROCOSM OF THE MACROCOSM" "WITH THE 4 DIRECTIONS." "HERE IS THE SUN'S DAUGHTER." "HERE IS THE SUN'S HORSE." "HE RIDES AROUND THE WORLD WITH HIS SON'S SHIELD." "THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT THE BOYS PAUSE" "WHERE THEY MEET THE OBSTACLES ON THEIR WAY." "THEY ARRIVE--THE SUN IS OFF ON HIS DAILY TRIP" "AND THE BOYS ARE MET BY THE SUN'S DAUGHTER." "SHE SAYS, "WHO ARE YOU?"" "THEY SAY, "WE'RE THE SONS OF THE SUN."" ""OH, YOU ARE, ARE YOU?" "HUH."" "SO SHE SAYS, "WELL, DADDY'S NOT HOME NOW," ""BUT WHEN HE COMES HOME, HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT TOUGH FOR YOU," "SO I'LL PROTECT YOU,"" "AND SHE WRAPS THEM IN CLOUDS OF THE 4 COLORS" "AND STORES THEM OVER THE DOORS OF THEIR PROPER COLOR." "OVER THIS DOOR, SHE STOWS KILLER OF ENEMIES" "AND OVER THIS ONE CHILD OF THE WATER." "SO, IN THE EVENING, THE SUN ARRIVES." "HE GETS OFF HIS HORSE." "HE COMES INTO THE HOUSE." "HE HANGS HIS SHIELD ON THE WALL AND IT GOES" ""CLONK, CLONK, CLONK, CLONK, CLONK, CLONK, CLONK."" "AND HE TURNS TO HIS WIFE AND SAYS," ""WHO WERE THOSE TWO YOUNG MEN I SAW COMING IN HERE TODAY?"" "SHE SAYS, "YOU ALWAYS TELL ME YOU BEHAVE YOURSELF" ""WHEN YOU GO AROUND THE WORLD." "THESE BOYS SAY THEY'RE YOUR SONS."" "[LAUGHTER]" ""OH, THEY DO, DO THEY?"" "SO HE SEARCHES THE HOUSE AND BY GOSH, HE PULLS THEM DOWN." "AND THEN HE SUBMITS THEM TO TESTS." "THIS IS A FAVORITE MOTIF IN AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES." "THE FATHER TEST OR THE FATHER- IN-LAW TEST OR WHAT NOT." "HE THROWS THEM AGAINST SPIKES" "OF THE 4 COLORS IN THE 4 DIRECTIONS" "FLINT SPIKES." "THEY HANG ONTO THE FEATHER." "TWO BOYS, ONE FEATHER." "DON'T WORRY--THIS IS MYTH." "THEY SURVIVE." "HE GIVES THEM POISONED TOBACCO SMOKE." "THEY SURVIVE." "HE PUTS 'EM IN A SWEAT LODGE" "AND TRIES TO SWEAT THEM TO DEATH." "THEY SURVIVE." "HE FINALLY SAYS, "WELL, I GUESS YOU ARE MY SONS." "COME INTO THE NEXT ROOM."" "SO HE TAKES THEM INTO THE NEXT ROOM." "HE STANDS ONE OF THE BOYS ON A BLACK BUFFALO," "STAND THE OTHER ON A WHITE," "AND HE TELLS THEM THEIR TRUE NAMES," "AND EACH ACQUIRES HIS OWN TRUE CHARACTER." "YOU REMEMBER BEFORE, THEY WERE BOTH BLACK AND THE SAME SIZE." "NOW THEY'RE TALLER, AND CHILD OF THE WATER IS BLUE." "WELL, THE DESCRIPTION OF THAT," "THE MOMENT OF INITIATION IN THAT ROOM" "WHERE THE THUNDER'S COME IN AND LIGHTNING'S COME IN" "AND WOW, IT'S SOMETHING TERRIFIC." "BUT NOW THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE." "THIS IS THE SECOND BIRTH THROUGH THE FATHER," "THE SAME THING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT." "AND WHEN THEY HAVE SURVIVED THAT," "THEY ARE SO POWERFUL, THEY SPLIT INTO 4." "THIS YELLOW IS THE COUNTERPART OF THE KILLER OF ENEMIES" "AND THE WHITE THE COUNTERPART OF CHILD OF THE WATER." "AND NOW IN FULL POWER," "THEY START BACK ACROSS THE COSMIC OCEAN." "THEY COME TO THE HOLE IN THE SKY." "NOW, THE FEATHER THAT THEY'RE RIDING ON HERE" "IS NOT THE ONE THAT SPIDER WOMAN GAVE THEM," "IT'S ONE THEIR FATHER HAS GIVEN THEM." "THEIR FATHER NOW, AT THE HOLE IN THE SKY," "GIVES THEM A FINAL EXAMINATION." "WHAT'S YOUR NAME, WHAT'S THE NAME" "OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAIN," "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE HOLE IN THE EARTH," "AND ALL THIS KIND OF THING." "AND THE ANSWERS ARE WHISPERED TO THEM" "BY BIG FLY AND LITTLE WINDS." "NOW, YOU MAY SAY, "THIS IS CHEATING."" "BUT IT ISN'T CHEATING." "IF THEY WEREN'T WORTHY OF THIS," "THEY WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED THE INSPIRATION," "SO THEY ARE." "IF YOU'RE MEANT TO PASS THE EXAM, YOU'LL PASS." "SO, HAVING PASSED THE EXAM," "THEY COME DOWN TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN--MOUNT TAYLOR" "AND THERE YOU SEE THEIR FOOTPRINTS" "LANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN." "NOW, BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK" "TO KILL THE SPECIFIC MONSTERS THAT ARE TROUBLING THEIR MOTHER," "THEY HAVE TO KILL THE ARCHETYPAL MONSTER," "AND HE LIVES HERE BY THIS LAKE," "AND HIS NAME IS BIG, LONESOME MONSTER." "[LAUGHTER]" "NOW, THE CHARACTERISTIC OF MONSTERS IS" "THAT THEY MISTAKE SHADOW FOR SUBSTANCE," "AND SO THIS BIG, LONESOME MONSTER" "SEES THE TWO BOYS REFLECTED IN THE LAKE." "AND YOU SEE THESE ARE THE OTHER TWO, THE SECOND TWO." ""OH," HE THINKS." "I CAN DRINK THEM UP AND DIGEST THEM TO DEATH."" "SO, THE BIG, LONESOME MONSTER, MISTAKING SHADOW FOR SUBSTANCE," "DRINKS UP THE LAKE AND DIGESTS HARD" "AND THEN SITS IT OUT AGAIN, AND BY GOSH, THERE THEY ARE." "HE DRINKS UP THE LAKE 4 TIMES." "NOW, EVEN A MONSTER'S WORN OUT AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE," "AND SO THE BOYS MOVE IN." "NOW, INTERESTINGLY, THIS MONSTER IS ALSO A SON OF THE SUN," "BUT THE SUN MOVES IN TO HELP THE BOYS KILL THE MONSTER." "GOT THIS AMBIGUITY ABOUT VIRTUE AND VICE" "AND PAIRS OF OPPOSITES AND ALL THAT." "SO, THE MONSTER IS KILLED," "AND NOW THEY'RE READY TO GO HOME." "WHEN THEY COME PAST THE FOOT OF MOUNT TAYLOR, THEY TRIP" "AND THEIR FATHER'S WEAPONS ARE GONE." "THEY HAVE MOVED FROM THE REALM OF SHEER MALE FIRE" "INTO THE MIXED REALM OF WATER," "WHERE THE FIRE IS MINGLED WITH EARTH," "AND SO THEY ARE MET BY TALKING GOD," "WHO IS THE MALE ANCESTOR OF THE FEMALE LINE OF THE GODS." "HE IS MIXED OF MALE AND FEMALE, AND HE GIVES THEM" "A TALKING PRAYER STICK TO GUIDE THEM" "THAT IS MADE OF MALE AND FEMALE CORN." "THEY'RE GIVEN DOUBLE WEAPONS HERE," "NOW, MALE AND FEMALE WEAPONS," "AND THIS ENERGY COMING FROM THEM IN THE FORM OF FLINTS" "INDICATES THAT THEY'RE FILLED WITH MAGIC POWER" "AND THEY'RE STILL RIDING ON THE FEATHER." "NOW JUST TO SHOW YOU THIS VERY INTERESTING GOD--TALKING GOD." "HIS MOUTH AND EYES ARE MADE OF MASCULINE RAIN" "AND FEMALE MIST COMING UP, IN THIS FORM." "HIS NOSE IS OF A CORN STALK." "HE HAS GIVEN THEM THE WEAPONS TO KILL THE EARTHLY MONSTERS," "AND AFTER A TERRIFIC SERIES OF BATTLES" "KILLING THESE TREMENDOUS MONSTERS," "THE BOYS ARE NEARLY WIPED OUT." "THEY'RE SO WORN OUT THEY'VE LOST THEIR ARMS AND LEGS" "AND CHILD OF THE WATER IS IN DANGER" "OF JUST BECOMING THE REFLECTION OF KILLER OF ENEMIES." "AND SO THE GODS COME DOWN, AND ENACT A CEREMONY OVER THEM," "AND THEY'RE GIVEN HEALTH AGAIN." "AND WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THE CEREMONY IS?" "IT'S THE ONE I'VE JUST TOLD YOU." "THE CEREMONY IS THEIR OWN LIFE STORY." "JUST AS THE PSYCHOANALYSTS LEAD YOU BACK" "TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE THINGS OF CHILDHOOD," "AND HE PUTS YOU ON YOUR PROPER PATH AGAIN," "SO THEY." "AND WHEN THEY HAVE PASSED THIS TEST" "AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THIS CEREMONY," "THEY ARE AGAIN 4," "AND THIS IS THE STRONGEST SAND PAINTING OF THE LOT" "THE 4 BOYS EACH STANDING" "ON THE MOUNTAIN OF HIS OWN COLOR." "NOW, WHEN MAUD OAKES HAD RECEIVED" "THE CEREMONY FROM JEFF KING," "HE HAD OMITTED THIS PICTURE," "AND WHEN HE HAD FINISHED, HE SAID, "WELL, THAT'S IT."" "MAUD SAID, "NO, JEFF." "THERE MUST BE ANOTHER PICTURE."" "NOW, SHE KNEW ENOUGH TO KNOW" "WHAT WAS REQUIRED IN A MYTHOLOGICAL," "CEREMONIAL SITUATION." ""NO," HE SAID." ""I'VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING."" ""NO, JEFF," SHE SAID." ""OK," HE SAID." ""I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU."" "SO-- [LAUGHTER]" "SO, HE GOT THE WHOLE STORY HERE." "THERE'S A TYPICAL MYTHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE," "LEAVING THE BOUNDED WORLD" "IN WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP," "GOING BEYOND ALL THAT ANYBODY KNOWS" "INTO DOMAINS OF TRANSCENDENCE," "AND THEN ACQUIRING WHAT IS MISSING" "AND COMING BACK WITH THE BOON." "PERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS SYSTEM." "CAMPBELL HAS OFTEN SAID THAT PEOPLE THINK OF MYTH" "AS OTHER PEOPLE'S RELIGION." "FOR MANY, THE SUBJECT OF STUDY, FASCINATION," "OR EVEN SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS," "BUT ALWAYS AT A SAFE DISTANCE." "THINGS GET A BIT TRICKY WHEN WE FLIP THE EQUATION" "AND TRY TO THINK OF OUR RELIGION AS MYTH." "OUR SPIRITUAL TRADITION IN THE WEST" "IS JUDEO-CHRISTIAN" "THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE BIBLE." "TO TALK ABOUT THIS TRADITION AS MYTHOLOGY" "AND TO COMPARE IT TO THE MYTHS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN" "IS TO INVITE CONTROVERSY." "CAMPBELL DOES COMPARE THEM" "AND OFFERS HIS OPINIONS WITH A PASSION." "FOR HIM, THE AMERICAN INDIAN STANDS AS AN EXAMPLE" "OF A PEOPLE WITH A LIVING, VITAL MYTHOLOGY," "IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURAL WORLD." "BUT WHAT OF OUR MYTHOLOGY, OUR RELIGION?" "CAN IT BE RECONCILED WITH OUR MODERN, SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING" "OF THE NATURAL WORLD?" "AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD CONCLUDE" "WITH THIS FIGURE OF THE SPIRIT LAND," "AGAIN, BACK TO OUR NAVAJO," "AND YOU HAVE THE CENTRAL SOURCE," "AND THE MOUNTAINS OF THE 4 DIRECTIONS," "THE FIGURES THAT WE'VE LEARNED TO KNOW," "BUT IMPORTANT HERE IN A NEW WAY ARE THESE 4 ROCKS," "WHICH ARE INTERPRETED AS THE 4 STAGES OF A LIFETIME" "THE INFANCY, CHILDHOOD, MATURITY, AND AGE." "I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S NO CONFLICT BETWEEN" "MYSTICISM-- THE MYSTICAL DIMENSION" "AND ITS REALIZATION-- AND SCIENCE," "BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN" "THE SCIENCE OF 2000 B.C. AND THE SCIENCE OF 2000 A.D.," "AND WE'RE IN TROUBLE ON IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SACRED TEXT" "THAT WAS COMPOSED SOMEWHERE ELSE BY ANOTHER PEOPLE" "A LONG TIME AGO" "AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIVES." "AND SO THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL DISENGAGEMENT." "AND BESIDES, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THAT TEXT," "IT IS A TEXT THAT SPEAKS OF MAN AS SUPERIOR TO NATURE," "MAN'S MASTERY OVER NATURE" "AS BEING WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM," "AND JUST COMPARE THAT WITH THE WORDS OF BLACK ELK." "THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MYTHOLOGY AS A PETROFACT," "SOMETHING THAT HAS DRIED UP, IS DEAD, AND IS NOT WORKING," "AND MYTHOLOGY AS SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING." "WHEN THE MYTHOLOGY IS ALIVE," "YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT IT MEANS." "IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT A PICTURE THAT'S REALLY TALKING TO YOU." "IT GETS TO YOU." "AND IF YOU HAVE TO ASK THE ARTIST," ""WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"" "IF HE WANTS TO INSULT YOU, HE'LL TELL YOU." "THE MYTH MUST WORK LIKE A PICTURE," "AND IT CAN BE EXPLICATED, YES, IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT IT," "INTERPRETED, AMPLIFIED, AND SO FORTH," "BUT IT MUST WORK, AND WE'VE LOST IT." "WHAT EXACTLY HAVE WE LOST?" "HOW AND WHEN DID WE LOSE IT" "AND WHO IS THE "WE" CAMPBELL IS TALKING ABOUT?" "JOIN US NEXT TIME AS JOE CAMPBELL INTRODUCES US" "TO OUR MYTHIC FOREBEARERS" "AND GIVES US SOME OF HIS ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS." "CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ACORN MEDIA" "CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE"