Monday, December 3, 2018

Mythologies and Storytelling: Searching For Our Stories


By Kristy McCaffrey

The late Joseph Campbell, an American professor and mythologist, describes mythology as first and foremost a way to reconcile the nature of life, which is, at its most basic, cruel, harsh and unrelenting. Humans created mythologies to rise above this, to find gratitude and sweetness in how we all came to exist, from the primordial soup, filled with an endless cycle of life and death and life. Storytelling extends this desire, offering a way to help us find ourselves, to understand how to live. We all have a narrative, and a good story can help us find it by triggering a spark of enlightenment within ourselves.

At their core, stories are medicine, and the best ones, the most complete ones, awaken the soul of the listener. Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, a Jungian psychologist, states, “Stories are embedded with instructions which guide us about the complexities of life.” We’re all searching for our stories. Perhaps artists are closer to the process. But their work, the more important part, is to provide a light to guide the way for others.




There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories. ~ Author Ursula K. LeGuin


We have an archetypal need to be spoken to through stories because they bring us into contact with our inner being. ~ Carolyn Myss, medical intuitive and author

And for my writer friends:

“Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags, and crazy people.”
            ~Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With The Wolves


I want to extend a warm thank you to all the readers of the Cowboy Kisses Blog. We appreciate your interest in our Old West research topics as well as our books. Here’s to a great 2019 and all the new stories we authors are cooking up.


Since it’s December and the season of giving, I want to send one lucky commenter an autographed print copy of INTO THE LAND OF SHADOWS, a standalone historical western romance with humor and paranormal elements. It’s also a little on the steamy side. If you would like to be entered, please include your email address in the comments. Unfortunately, the print copy is for U.S. addresses only. If you’re international, the prize will be digital. Winner chosen on December 6, 2018.



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11 comments:

Granny Loves to Read said...

awesome! rhondajgothier @ yahoo .com

Andrea Downing said...

VERY interesting Kristy. Thanks for the various bits of research and quotes, especially the one about there never having been a culture that did not include story-telling. Something to think about!

Patti Sherry-Crews said...

Loved this, Kristy!I especially love the quote from Women Who Run with the Wolves. Sometimes us writers wonder why we do what we do. We just can't help ourselves! It's good to remember writers and artist are part of a bigger picture in our history. And I echo your thanks to the reader of Cowboy Kisses and wishing everyone a happy holiday season.

Connie Lee said...

I would love to read this book, thanks for the giveaway! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net

Deborah K Parker-McGee said...

Kristy, you really bring these cowboy �� romances to life Keep up the good work !!!

Unknown said...

I love all things western.

Unknown said...

I love all things western.

SARAH TAYLOR said...

I would love to win your book it sounds like a good read Thank you for the chance!

Kristin said...

Although Ebooks are great, but they just don't compare to holding a real book in your hand and turning the pages!

Unknown said...

This book sounds amazing! Would love to read it!

Unknown said...

Wow! What a wealth of information. I love Historical Westerns. robinfaxas@yahoo.com