title: The Mythic Journey: The Meaning of Myth as a Guide for Life
author:  Liz Greene 
description: "Myth is the original self-help psychology," according to authors Greene and Sharman-Burke. "For centuries human beings have used myths, fairytales and folklore to explain life's mysteries and make them bearable--from why the seasons change, through complex relationship issues, to the enigma of death." With this lofty purpose in mind, the authors organized this collection of myths according to the stages of human development. For example, part 1 is titled "In the Beginning" and takes us through the early lessons of life--"Parents and Children," "Siblings," and "The Family Inheritance." Follow-up sections include "Becoming an Individual," "Love and Relationships," "Position and Power," and finally "Rites of Passage."
zlib_text: _**THE CRY FOR MYTH**_
  
   _By the same author_
  
  LOVE AND WILL
  
  THE MEANING OF ANXIETY
  
  MAN’S SEARCH FOR HIMSELF
  
  POWER AND INNOCENCE
  
  THE COURAGE TO CREATE
  
  PSYCHOLOGY AND THE HUMAN DILEMMA
  
  FREEDOM AND DESTINY
  
  THE DISCOVERY OF BEING
  
  ![](Images/image00210.jpeg)
  
   _ **Contents**_
  
  > > > > > > > Foreword
  
  Part I: _THE FUNCTION OF MYTHS_
  
  > > > > ONE What Is a Myth?
  
  > “I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN”
  
  > CULTS AND MYTHS
  
  > THE DENIAL OF MYTHS
  
  > MYTH AS OUR GLIMPSE OF INFINITY
  
  > > > > TWO Our Personal Crises in Myths
  
  > SATAN AND CHARLES
  
  > A PATIENT’S DREAM OF ATHENA
  
  > SARTRE AND _The Flies_
  
  > DRAMAS EXPRESSING MYTHS
  
  > > > > THREE In Search of Our Roots
  
  > THE PASSION TO FIND OUR HOME
  
  > MYTHS AS CELEBRATIONS
  
  > WHERE HAVE ALL OUR HEROES GONE?
  
  > MYTHS AND MORALS: MURDER IN CENTRAL PARK
  
  > > > > FOUR Myth and Memory
  
  > MEMORY NEEDS MYTH
  
  > ADLER AND EARLY MEMORIES
  
  > > > > FIVE Freud and the Mystery of Myths
  
  > OEDIPUS----MYTH OF SELF-DISCOVERY
  
  > MYTHS OF LOVE AND DEATH
  
  > THE 