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This was inspired by a post by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
matadin but I only gave a brief answer in his journal, but because I am so interested in mythology and archetypes I thought I would write a longer post on myself, and what kind of archetypes and mythological beings I relate to.
I relate to a lot of the virgin goddesses, I guess I always assumed this was my placement in life (I'm sure in part due to my upbringing, but I do think my natural disposition made some of the expectations of me less of a burden than they would have been for others). I have had a number of dreams of being the Virgin Mary in theater plays. Those are always a little strange, but there are a lot of obvious things one could read into them (especially someone who knows me well).
For Celtic goddesses, I've learned to appreciate my namesake, Brigid, the Irish goddess. She's a triple deity connected with the moon and I've always felt tied to the moon. In some things I've read, she seems to be related to the fairy folk that used to rule Ireland and moved underground to their own land, the tuatha de danaan. She is a goddess of poetry, healing, fertility and creativity. Apparently she had virgin priestesses that kept her fire lit at all times and men were not allowed, so this also seems to fit back in with the virgin theme...
Caer is a relatively less-known fairy being in Irish mythology, a fairy maiden that the love god, Aonghus, fell in love with when he saw her in a dream. Caer's father couldn't give Aonghus permission to marry her, though, as she had turned herself into a swan (she was a shape-changer, and of the swan maiden archetype). So some trials ensued of identifying her. Swans are one of the animals I most identify with.
For Greco-Roman mythology, I always felt intensely interested in Artemis, a virgin goddess again associated with the moon. I especially identified with certain passages I read about her in my college Classical Mythology class, how she asked her father Zeus for her to never marry. Unlike the virgin goddess Athena, Artemis seemed more playful and associated with childhood. She could be very protective of those she loved and could be unnecessarily harsh (same with me). She was associated with deer, another one of my favored animals.
I relate a lot to Persephone and once outlined my entire life as a reflection of the myth of Persephone's life. I feel like I've lived a double life, extreme innocence and happiness combined with a life of lots of secrets and strange things, living in an entirely different world both than what other people live in and what I would have chosen.
The nymph Echo I identify with a bit, partly because I have a liking of nymphs in general. Their tendency to be hidden at times, their portrayal as small and lithe and beautiful and clever. I really admire these things and want to be these things. Also they seem eternally young, and in my mind I always have felt like the same person, not older or different with age. Time doesn't make sense to me or feel real... The tragedy between Echo and Narcissus is reminiscent of my own expectations and obsession with tragic love endings.
In Arthurian mythology I related very strongly to The Lady of Shallott (Elaine of Ascolot), and I made a post about this maybe about six months ago. Being kept alone in a tower, cursed, and having a deep and tragic love. Dying upon leaving one's protected assigned chamber. Etc. Sometimes I relate to Morgan for her fairy nature, but she gets portrayed in so many different ways, it really depends on the specific story and version of the story.
I relate also quite well to the archetype of the helping animals, the guides that help the heroes, those that offer comfort and guidance in myths and fairy tales and then disappear again. I have always related to some animals better than to human beings (as a general collective species). I really love animals and the ones I most identify with are rabbits, deer, swans, and, of course, unicorns:-) It might sound silly, but the early children's movies of Unico really impacted my view of the world and my duty in the world. I watched those movies for many years and own them, continuing to watch them. I also have at least one post on how Unico influenced my life. Unico goes from place to place making friends and helping others, and it makes it all look so simple, like any problem can be solved with love and understanding (Warning: This usually doesn't work in real life!) I usually end up feeling this is the role I play in other people's lives, or at least what I should be doing -- helping others and then leaving because they no longer need me. Unfortunately I am the type of person to get extremely attached.
In literature I relate well to Ophelia (fitting a lot of the archetypal qualities that resonate with me). There are tons of other book/play/media characters I relate to, too, that fit these archetypes, but I want to try and keep this post relatively short with a modicum of focus.
matadin but I only gave a brief answer in his journal, but because I am so interested in mythology and archetypes I thought I would write a longer post on myself, and what kind of archetypes and mythological beings I relate to.I relate to a lot of the virgin goddesses, I guess I always assumed this was my placement in life (I'm sure in part due to my upbringing, but I do think my natural disposition made some of the expectations of me less of a burden than they would have been for others). I have had a number of dreams of being the Virgin Mary in theater plays. Those are always a little strange, but there are a lot of obvious things one could read into them (especially someone who knows me well).
For Celtic goddesses, I've learned to appreciate my namesake, Brigid, the Irish goddess. She's a triple deity connected with the moon and I've always felt tied to the moon. In some things I've read, she seems to be related to the fairy folk that used to rule Ireland and moved underground to their own land, the tuatha de danaan. She is a goddess of poetry, healing, fertility and creativity. Apparently she had virgin priestesses that kept her fire lit at all times and men were not allowed, so this also seems to fit back in with the virgin theme...
Caer is a relatively less-known fairy being in Irish mythology, a fairy maiden that the love god, Aonghus, fell in love with when he saw her in a dream. Caer's father couldn't give Aonghus permission to marry her, though, as she had turned herself into a swan (she was a shape-changer, and of the swan maiden archetype). So some trials ensued of identifying her. Swans are one of the animals I most identify with.
For Greco-Roman mythology, I always felt intensely interested in Artemis, a virgin goddess again associated with the moon. I especially identified with certain passages I read about her in my college Classical Mythology class, how she asked her father Zeus for her to never marry. Unlike the virgin goddess Athena, Artemis seemed more playful and associated with childhood. She could be very protective of those she loved and could be unnecessarily harsh (same with me). She was associated with deer, another one of my favored animals.
I relate a lot to Persephone and once outlined my entire life as a reflection of the myth of Persephone's life. I feel like I've lived a double life, extreme innocence and happiness combined with a life of lots of secrets and strange things, living in an entirely different world both than what other people live in and what I would have chosen.
The nymph Echo I identify with a bit, partly because I have a liking of nymphs in general. Their tendency to be hidden at times, their portrayal as small and lithe and beautiful and clever. I really admire these things and want to be these things. Also they seem eternally young, and in my mind I always have felt like the same person, not older or different with age. Time doesn't make sense to me or feel real... The tragedy between Echo and Narcissus is reminiscent of my own expectations and obsession with tragic love endings.
In Arthurian mythology I related very strongly to The Lady of Shallott (Elaine of Ascolot), and I made a post about this maybe about six months ago. Being kept alone in a tower, cursed, and having a deep and tragic love. Dying upon leaving one's protected assigned chamber. Etc. Sometimes I relate to Morgan for her fairy nature, but she gets portrayed in so many different ways, it really depends on the specific story and version of the story.
I relate also quite well to the archetype of the helping animals, the guides that help the heroes, those that offer comfort and guidance in myths and fairy tales and then disappear again. I have always related to some animals better than to human beings (as a general collective species). I really love animals and the ones I most identify with are rabbits, deer, swans, and, of course, unicorns:-) It might sound silly, but the early children's movies of Unico really impacted my view of the world and my duty in the world. I watched those movies for many years and own them, continuing to watch them. I also have at least one post on how Unico influenced my life. Unico goes from place to place making friends and helping others, and it makes it all look so simple, like any problem can be solved with love and understanding (Warning: This usually doesn't work in real life!) I usually end up feeling this is the role I play in other people's lives, or at least what I should be doing -- helping others and then leaving because they no longer need me. Unfortunately I am the type of person to get extremely attached.
In literature I relate well to Ophelia (fitting a lot of the archetypal qualities that resonate with me). There are tons of other book/play/media characters I relate to, too, that fit these archetypes, but I want to try and keep this post relatively short with a modicum of focus.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-03 03:47 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-08-03 04:26 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-08-05 01:19 am (UTC)From:Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" also resonated with me. This poem put into my head the idea of apotheosis. While the pharaohs and other Oriental kings were simply declared Gods, there is something about Coleridge's poem that shows Kubla earned the rights of Godhood. He created a new Eden with Xanadu. The poem also contains a vital clue as to how he achieved his godhood, "For he on honey-dew hath fed,/And drunk the milk of Paradise."
As you might guess from my default user icon, I feel a strong connection to John the Baptist. I am not at liberty to discuss more.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-05 05:00 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-08-06 06:37 am (UTC)From:I've had it suggested to me that archetypes are, in part, how the mind interprets the invisible energy that surrounds all people - the aura. My aura, according to one ex-girlfriend I have loved and trusted, is incredibly priestly. Pure black, with a fringe of white... both colors of Purity. Of course, that was back in 1998. No clue if it changed or not.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-06 05:40 pm (UTC)From: