Mythical Journeys, Legendary Quests: The spiritual search... traditional stories from world mythology

by Moyra Caldecott

One of the most persistent themes in myth and legend from the world’s many cultures is that of the journey, the quest. In Mythical Journeys, Legendary Quests , noted writer on the topic, Moyra Caldecott, shows the connection between the sacred, mythic journeys as found in legend and story, and the real journey of the individual soul towards enlightenment.This perennial quest for reassurance in the face of human mortality is spread as wide as our existence on the planet and throughout history. Indeed Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell have shown us that myth and legend are not just fantasy tales for children. They are powerful expressions, in code, of a deep yearning towards an understanding of human existence.Moyra Caldecott has selected material from many cultures to illustrate this from ancient Egypt and Sumeria to aboriginal Australia, pre-Columbian America, Vietnam, India, Africa and Europe. With each legend retold, Moyra provides background on its origin and a commentary on its meaning and significance.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Started academic career by obtaining degrees in English Literature and Philosophy.

* Briefly lectured in English Literature at university level.

* Raised three children and had a most interesting and stimulating life as the wife of Oliver Caldecott in London from 1951 to 1989. (Oliver was an editor at Penguin, Readers Union, and Hutchinson and founded his own publishing firm Wildwood House with his partner Dieter Pevsner. His last editorial post was at Rider, for Century Hutchinson. He was also a very good artist.)

* Took evening classes in palaeontology (geology always a favourite subject), religious studies and mythology.

* Was secretary of the Dulwich Group in the ’sixties, a most successful poetry reading group. Read a lot. Wrote books. Met many interesting people and had many interesting discussions. Travelled a lot.


* Her life has also been enriched by the interests of her children: Religion – Conservation – Art.

* She has had various experiences she considers to be ‘paranormal’, including a dramatic healing from angina. She gives talks to various personal growth and consciousness raising groups, and groups interested in the ancient sacred sites of Britain.

* Her most successful book so far, Guardians Of The Tall Stones, is set in ancient Bronze Age Britain, and is required reading for some groups visiting the sacred sites of Britain from America. It has been in print continuously since 1977.

* Myths and legends are a particular passion and she follows Jung and Joseph Campbell in believing that they are not ‘just’ stories but actually deep and meaningful expressions of the universal and eternal in the human psyche.

Reviews

[Sandra Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had many mythical stories that I had never heard before , so to read them along with the author's discussion was fascinating and thought provoking. I was very happy that I happened to see it on a bookstore shelf and picked it up because of the title with the added line: The Spiritual Search
Traditional Stories from World Mythology.

[Susan]

Mindly interesting.

[J.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author collected stories from around the world that center on the myths and legends of the mythic quest, a heroes significant journey, parables of man's exploration and journey through life. Familiar ancients like Gilgamesh, Jason and the Golden Fleece, Sinbad, the Quest for the Holy grail and others from West africa, australia, surinam india, vietnam. The stories re-tell the facts, book is illustrated and, unexpectedly there is a commentary from the author who draws contemporary, philosophical and literary parallels to put each story into a broad context of human development.