Mythology is just the retelling of actions of civilized cultures’ developments to also give explanations of phenomena no one can explain. And the young (us) enjoy these retellings to escape our own troubles and enjoy something from another culture we will never experience. These stories also teach us to encourage good behaviors, improve creativity, and to identify life values such as self-love.  

And history is the victor’s side of the story from the events of time such as war. For example, the Spartans – who have beliefs systems on Greek/Roman mythology – never hiked a hill that anyone can walk over. Just because they believe the gods is there and if they won the war against the Trojans and Persians (they did) any belief is righteous. But must we reason how we create natural forces and higher beings to exist in our society when we can just be carefree? 

It is because we are all traumatized human beings; just kidding – (maybe) it is because myths are just an aspect to create order and meaning for the human psyche. (Look up Psychiatrist Jung for more details.) Do not believe me? America propaganda is a fitting example. For instance, I listed three of four mythology types to explain this theory I regret writing about: Etiological myths (origin stories), Psychological myths (human psyche) and Historical myths (the victors P.O.V. of world events). We will start with history, for my history majors. 

Historical myths focus on the retellings of history. For instance, when Alexander the Great tried to invade Libya in the 7th Century BCE, he was meet with a Libyan Amazon who also took up the mantle of Goddess Anatha (Medusa), ruler of wisdom, but also a dark feminine goddess, which many saw back than as a bad omen. She was a Queen of Libya back than (no one knows her name) who had three thousand more men than Alexander. However, as not the reasons Alexander the Great was scared off not just from North Africa but from Africa for good. Is this woman with so much up-to-date weaponries of Alexander’s time? No, she just sat on her luxurious elephant in pure silence and her soldiers only moved when Alexander’s army did. With that he ran for the hills.  

However, when he went back home, he changed the script of the Libyan people’s story of Medusa and as everyone knows the Greek myth of Medusa. She was a woman who used to serve on top of Mount Olympus for Athena (depending on the version you remember), but it all ends the same – she was a gorgon who was evil and ended many lives with an intimidating sight that can turn anyone to stone. So, they believed every word this man said because Libyans worshipped a dark goddess. This is a notable example of creativity because do you think Alexander the Great would have produced Medusa with no imagination? I do not think so. 

In addition, Etiological myths proclaim evil was born inside us the day we came to be, which is why gods of war and destruction will extinguish our wrongdoing in one wicked way or another. Of illustration in Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma was creating the galaxy we know including humans. However, Lord Shiva sat still and meditated in the mountains below Brahma. When he opened his eyes and to see Brahma’s creations, he was pleased until he looked upon the humans. All he saw was tragedy, stress, and agony. As he looked up at Brahma, Brahma was merry and prideful of his manifestations. He began to grow heads to look in all directions to see his creations all at once, which was seen as a crown to Shiva. 

Shiva was not pleased about Brahma gloating about a miserable creation. Shiva was irritated so he ran to Brahma and plucked his fifth head clean off, Brahma screamed in agony “Why are you doing this to me!?”  “Are you not ashamed of your creation, the misery you unleashed. People are suffering in many ways, yet you sit back and watch!” Shiva remarked “I have not created such things. As I have not created joy.” Brahma proclaimed “Then who created the mind? Is it not there?” Shiva argued, “I have not created chains of the mind; it is just there.” Brahma declared  

Shiva was speechless – he could only ponder. So, he sat still and looked at the creation once more. Then he closed his eyes to investigate his own mind. He realized anyone can be whatever they want and fill in their own desires. He too became happy and started dancing with every cell in his body, danced away for no cause but because he wanted to. He understood now it is not what we went through that counts but what we give and take out of it. For his name means: of that which is not. For he is also known as Nataraja the Cosmic Dancer for he does not destroy the world but your bogus world. For he is the chance to better yourself. His lesson to us is to make better choices before we make actions. 

“Expect the best and prepare for the worst”- Ms. Turner & others; Lord Shiva advised his audience to be more accepting of our and others short comings. That way we are more prepared for the worst outcome we all played along with in the past. But always remember nothing is perfect and nothing is permanent. Just keep swimming- Dory from Finding Nemo.  

Finally, of psychological aspects, I remember the story of Lieu Hanh, a fairy princess from the heavens who established basic human rights of women in the Vân Cát village of Vietnam. 

Story Time: There was a man named Lé Thái Công who was waiting on his wife to give birth to his heir. However, her due date passed by three weeks as she fell ill. Lé began to worry and began to take any doctor and magicians he could. Then a stranger came to the village and asked if he could be of assistance. Lé had no patience and let the man in. Once the stranger and Lé was alone, the mysterious man threw a jade hammer on the ground from his garments. Lé fell unconscious.  

And he had a vision of a young girl in the clouds with her father, the Jade Emperor. The young lady was holding a delicate jade cup, as she tried to present it to her father; she slipped, and it shattered into many pieces – not even a professional could fix it. The emperor was angry and without a second thought he banished her to earth as punishment after she tried to plead. When Lé had awoken he was presented with his daughter and happy wife in her labor room. From there on out, he began to care for the princess he named Giáng Tién, meaning fairy that came down. There, Giáng grew to adulthood and was sent to live with a retired Mandarin and his son; to be more in touch with the human world and soon she married his son then had two children together. Sadly, good things cannot last. She died at 21 years old instantly. 

As her family mourned her, Giáng went back home, she grew homesick, and missed her family back on earth. The fairies began to pity her, for those 21 years were 21 hours to them, and they all pleaded to the Jade Emperor to let her return. He relented, although (here is the catch) she cannot stay with them. He let her return on her second anniversary, her death day, titled as Princess Liêu Hanh.  

She returned to them and told them she could not stay and reconcile them they will meet again someday. From then on, the poor Princess wandered the earth aimlessly as her family death day came and went. But at least now she was unbound to anything nor anyone. Her only desire now is to past time singing with her flute and finding beauty of this grey world. Eventually she came across a poor orphaned student named Sinh who she recognized quickly as the reincarnation of her husband. She won his heart all over again and got married under the moon the same date they were wed centuries ago and had a beautiful child.  

But this time she had to leave again, so she told him of her divine nature. He was distraught but let her leave. Liêu Hanh returned to her father, however to her it was not her home. So, she left back to Vân Cát for she is not bounded to no man nor place anymore. There she gave blessings to the people and punishment that seemed fit for the crime. Soon a shrine was built for her.  

Yet, once again injustice happens; in the late 1600’s a ruling Dynasty (Japan) heard rumors of a goddess whom women all over the village looked up to. So, they set all her shrines on fire. People began to panic as disasters and misery began to emerge especially with the wanting of comfort women for Japan. They began to rebuild worshipping areas except this time it was platforms (no man could enter, for it was holy.) Liêu came to be in front of her worshippers and ordered them to rebuild a new temple. Once completed she cursed all the soldiers as well as lift the curse in the village. 

Princess Liêu Hanh is feminine freedom for those trapped in a patriarchal world; she is self-love. 

 Beliefs subjected to us is where we are at happiest- Mr. Witek; Our beliefs shape how we take care of ourselves for instance if you were in a religious group who focused on making others happy and at peace. You would not want to depart from that given how the beliefs system was drilled into your behaviors and social interpretations growing up. Unless of course you find another system better fitted with your personal beliefs. Which explains why this generation wants freedom from our own issues after we have had access to the internet on an international scale and we are till this day misunderstood, just like Princess Lieu Hanh.  

Anyways let us wind this up, we as humans create higher beings such as Jesus and Zeus to fell comfort and satisfaction in a world that will never want us until we give something special back. If we cannot meet those terms, we fall short of our own damnation. For it is one thing to reject religion, but it is another to reject the premises of life. One requires you to believe in a god; the other in yourself. As to not tear down someone’s honest growth with your ego.