Your Mythic Journey: Finding Meaning in Your Life Through Writing and Storytelling

by Sam Keen, Anne Valley-Fox

We all tell stories about who we are, where we come from, and where we are going. These personal myths in turn shape who we become and what we believe—as individuals, families, and nations. This book offers readers the tools to detect the story line in their own lives and to write and tell it to others, opening up a hidden world of self-discovery and meaning. The numerous accessible exercises are followed by examples of personal stories and inspiring quotes to stimulate the journey to the center of one's purpose. "By the art of fantasy and imagination, story and image, these authors map the ways personal stories deepen into transpersonal mythic journeys." —David Miller, Ph.D., Watson-Ledden Professor of Religion, Syracuse University

Genres: Writing, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Mythology, Journaling

161 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Sam Keen was an American author, professor, and philosopher who is best known for his exploration of questions regarding love, life, wonder, religion, and being a male in contemporary society. He co-produced Faces of the Enemy, an award-winning PBS documentary; was the subject of a Bill Moyers' television special in the early 1990s; and for 20 years served as a contributing editor at Psychology Today magazine. He was also featured in the 2003 documentary Flight from Death.
Keen completed his undergraduate studies at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and later completed graduate degrees at Harvard University and Princeton University.
Keen was married to Patricia de Jong, who was a former senior minister of First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ, in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a challenging book that will cause you to look at yourself differently -- and if you stay with it will change how you see and understand yourself.

[Dáithí's · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been working on a self-growth project that is a form of mythopoeic therapy in which I write about my life from start to the future as a myth where I am the central character. This is a very powerful therapeutic tool, as you learn about yourself and are able to "get out the toxins" via writing instead of using talk therapy. It doesn't work for all, but has been an amazing tool for me.

I have always been intrigued by myth and sociocultural studies my entire life. At one point in university, I had seriously considered being a sociocultural anthropologist and an ethno-musicologist. It would have been an amazing career and I would be incredibly skinny from my ramen and water diet too. (wink) So I keep my love alive by studying the topics in my spare time and attempt to include some of the principals in my current career as an interfaith pastor.

This book is a nice and concise guide to myth and how it applies in our lives, both personal and cultural. The author worked directly with Joseph Campbell (The Power of Myth) and has proven himself to be a noble student as well as a grand teacher. The book is well divided and has a nice pace that is relaxed. Many exercises are offered for the reader to pause and reflect, as well as journal and explore their mind, body, and soul. Many inspirational quotations are offered in the margins as well for motivation and reflection. There are amazing stories from everyday folks who share the various degrees of myth and how it relates in their lives. One can glean much wisdom from their writings and see a common ground that is shared. We are never alone.

One can use this for therapeutic assistance, or just simply learning about myth and how it relates in our world.

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring, practical book, greatly influenced by Joseph Campbell's work on myth, encouraging people to speak or write their personal stories and to interpret them through a mythic lens to better understand the narratives with which we frame our lives. This was previously published as Telling Your Story in 1973 before this revised version was published in 1989.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with a great abundance of wisdom. Great for the searching soul.

[Raven Feather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life-changing. Wonderful writing prompts for expansion. I enjoyed spending Saturday afternoons building out my personal myth and reflecting on the stories that fill me, parsing out the ones that do not serve me, revising others to better match my song. I appreciate the diversity of wisdom in this book, though it is light on African wisdom. An author recommendation from bell hooks.

[Tristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is, in essence, a guide to looking at (and writing about) your life, as if you are the hero in your own myth. It's a great idea and there are some nice aspects to this guide to the Hero's Journey. There are actually two authors (you still can't list co-authors, GoodReads?) and it has a bit of a scattered feeling because of these two voices that never really found their rhythm together. I've also already gone through the process of "writing my own myth" so perhaps this book wasn't as life-changing for me as it has been for others. It's definitely an interesting process!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

important book

[Steve]

Weak.

[Maria Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too shabby - certainly some ways to get the brain a ticking ^_^ May give it another read over sometime when life slows back down.

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great invitation to begin exploring through writing