Birthing
A New
Cultural Myth
 by
Richard Heinberg
IS
IT TRUE?
It
is fair to regard this new myth with a degree
of skepticism. After all, myths can be used to
manipulate people. On many occasions
individuals or groups have simply engineered a
new myth by studying the requirements and
tailoring one for the occasion. Quite of few
of our culture's current myths came into being
this way -- national myths, economic myths,
myths about war enemies and beloved political
leaders. But the truest and most genuine myths
aren't manufactured: they are dreamt and sung
and danced and lived.
In
writing this story, I am keenly aware that I
am to some extent "manufacturing"
it, in the sense above, but at the same time
articulating it from some source beyond
myself. I am convinced that the basic outline
of the story has a life of its own and is
true, both in the sense that it is factual and
in the sense that it is true to life. Of
course, no myth is entirely true, any more
than is any scientific theory entirely true.
But if it helps us see ourselves and our
situation from a more inclusive viewpoint,
then we may perhaps profit by holding it
lightly for a time and seeing how it affects
the way we see and be.
One
way in which I'd suggest testing the
genuineness of this (or any) new myth is by
asking the question, whom does it serve? Does
it serve the interests of powerful people and
institutions -- the sort who are in the habit
of manufacturing myths? Or does it serve a
larger constituency?
Assuming
this story is in some sense a new myth such as
Jung was calling for, what should we do about
it? Should we advertise it? In a sense, that's
what I'm doing by writing it down and
publishing it. If I didn't think that there is
some usefulness in the exercise, I wouldn't
bother. But it is a limited usefulness. This
story is, after all, only one articulation of
the new myth. Other people at different times
and with differing perspectives will doubtless
cast it in other, perhaps truer or more
compelling terms. Some would tell the story in
theological language, whereas I have chosen
not to. Also, there are many related
sub-stories that I have omitted from this
rendition -- ones having to do with the return
of the Goddess; with the rediscovery of
gentle, honest manhood; with the details of
our real or potential renewed bonding with the
animals, the herbs, and the stones.
LIVING
THE NEW MYTH
More
important than broadcasting the story,
however, is living it. We can discover its
truth only by testing it in the laboratory of
our behavior and perceptions. Of course, such
an effort only makes sense if one already has
some intuitive sense of the new myth's truth
and necessity -- which, I believe, many people
have. Those of us who see the need to limit
population growth and to foster economic
equality and democracy; who are seeking ways
to honor natural cycles, energies, and
balances and to nurture the feminine principle
in the world and in our own consciousnesses
are all already drawn to the invisible outline
of this new vision of human purpose and
meaning.
As
the old myth crumbles, taking with it
institutions, economies, and lives, perhaps we
need a story to make sense of the deepening
chaos and to guide
us toward a more coherent and sustainable
pattern of existence. But that
new story will serve us well only if it draws
its power from the depths of our being, where
culture, nature, and spirit all converge. Is
it a fact, or is it only wishful thinking? --
that as the cement facade of civilization
grows more impressive it also becomes more
brittle. Cracks continually appear. And
through those cracks we see the human
vulnerability and woundedness of those who
inhabit the edifice.
Deeper
still, we occasionally catch a glimpse of
light-aflame blazing at the core of humanity,
a fire that burns at the heart of creation.
This fire is the source from which new
cultures and new species spring; it is the
generative potential of life itself. And here
lies our hope: In the heat of world
destruction and world renewal, can we but
learn to dwell in that flame.
 This
article was excerpted from Richard
Heinberg's book "A
New Covenant with Nature" ?1996.
Reprinted with permission from the publisher,
Quest Books, http://www.theosophical.org.
Info/Order
book.
Another
article by this author.
This article was
excerpted from
"A New Covenant with Nature"
by Richard Heinberg.
Info/Order
book.
About The
Author Richard
Heinberg has lectured widely, appeared on radio and television, and
written numerous essays. His alternative monthly broadside, MuseLetter,
was included in Utne Reader's annual list of Best Alternative
Newsletters. He is also the author of Celebrate
the Solstice: Honoring the Earth's Seasonal Rhythms through Festival and
Ceremony.
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