"The struggle for existence is a struggle "for" something; it is purposeful and only in so being is it meaningful and able to bring meaning into life." --Viktor Frankl
Numerology can be an extremely useful and vital resource in searching for meaning within our lives. For me, it's used in part of a continuing process in which I am answering the calling of my soul. Now you probably can't compare your own life with the harrowing experiences that Viktor Frankl encountered, but hopefully you will have gained some insights into yourself, through your own victories, accomplishments, upsets and difficulties. Through your own personal experiences you probably have learned to foster hope, faith and inspiration for yourself and others. Fostering hope enables all of us to make and bring change into our lives and to find meaning and value for ourselves. I would like to help you to utilize Numerology to help you understand your life better and to help you to decode your own hidden symbolism, meaning and messages that are hidden within your life. You can use Numerology to find meaning within your life and to help you to empower yourself. By now, you probably have a regular practice in which you use your favorite insight tool to help you to search for meaning in your life. You may use the I-Ching, Runes, Astrology, Myths, Tarot or many others. We'll work with Numerology and Myth.
As you search for deeper meaning in life it is important to also find ways in which you can empower yourself. The study of Myth can help you to do that. The study of Myth can be one of your greatest allies in your process of healing, growth and development. The usefulness of Myth can be even more powerful as you learn to use the myths that inspire you for actually making personal life changes. Over time you'll learn to interpret the symbolism and meaning of myths for yourself, rather than relying on others. As you develop a greater understanding of yourself, with the help of your favorite myths, you will be able to fill entire journals with personal symbolism. This can be a vital part in your process of personal empowerment and searching for deeper meaning in your life.
As you begin to incorporate Numerology and Myth into your personal practice you may begin to recognize patterns, especially those that involve your personal and Core numbers, that tend to appear regularly in your life. Of course, the same can be said for the Tarot and other tools. As we are discussing Myth, you might consider reading those myths that seem to resonate with your Life Path. Remember that your Life Path really represents what you want to do with your life. Following your Life Path might not necessarily mean that your vocation will fulfill all of the needs that are represented by it. However, there may be many ways, perhaps unexpected, that can satisfy the personal needs that are represented by your Life Path. For instance, if you have a #1 Life Path then you may be inspired by myths are stories similar to those that surround the search for the Holy Grail, as these myths are about setting off on adventure and being willing to step into the unknown.
As your skill grows you may even begin to recognize certain themes/subjects that you are working on in art, movies or television. Myth is really right under our noses in our world today. We just need to know where to look. You probably know someone who drives a Mercury or Saturn car. Many of us watched the original Apollo rocket missions with hope and excitement, and we watched the Movie Apollo 13 in awe at the daring that was portrayed. Dr. John Gray, well known author, would like us all to know that "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". But did you every wonder the reason behind the use of these names? Well, to begin with, Venus actually was a Roman goddess of love and beauty. While Mars was a Roman god of war. Apollo was god of the sun.
I was recently re-watching "Groundhog Day" and I came to see that Phil (Bill Murray) had finally learned about the simple pleasures in life. After he had repeated his day for what seemed like forever, he had finally learned to enjoy the moment. In the movie his news report kept getting bleaker and bleaker, and then instead of reporting on how we would be facing 6 more weeks of winter and how "dreary" the day was, he had come to marvel at the fact that he and the others celebrating would be able to enjoy a long and lustrous winter, with the comfort of friends. Phil had learned to find hope, rather than existing in endless suffering. He found a way to enable and empower himself.
Our process is about empowering ourselves as we uncover and learn to interpret our own rich personal symbolism. As you work with story and myth, you'll begin to find inspiration from unexpected sources. And remember that discovering meaning in life really can benefit by our desire to begin looking for and appreciating the unknown and unexpected parts of ourselves, and to take interest in the story that we find ourselves in. It's about appreciating the world around us. We can go about our days oblivious to what is happening, or we can try to see how we are all connected, perhaps in small but significant ways. It's about taking an active role within your life. Consider that when someone was looking at one of Joseph Turner's paintings and then said, "I can see nothing in it," while the artist then replied, "Don't you wish you could?"
"Myth is truthful, but figuratively so. It is not historical truth mixed with lies. It is a high philosophical teaching that is entirely true, on the condition that, instead of taking it literally, one sees in it an allegory." -- Paul Veyne, Did the Greeks Believe Their Myths?
You can study and work with the images and themes found in myths, stories, movies and fairy tales. From this study can come insights that can be utilized in your day to day life. Everyone has a different way in which to approach this. Painting or sculpting works for some people. Writing or story-telling works for others. Through the study of Myth, we're trying to tap into our hearts and find out how to live consciously, joyfully and soulfully. Or as Joseph Campbell would want for us, we would learn to "Follow our bliss."
Everyone can benefit from the study of Myth. People study Myth because it represents patterns that are a core part of the challenge of being human. These patterns are woven throughout the fabric of your life. We will all experience them for the rest of our lives and the study of Myth, allows us to develop greater clarity around our own experiences. What story, myth or fairy tale do you find yourself in today? Did you have a recent dream that reminded you of Hansel & Gretel? Does the neighbor down the street remind you of Rumpelstiltskin? Better yet, what story, myth or fairy tale do you think most correlates with your wildest aspirations? What about significant events? Who did you marry? Who do you work for?
A good place to begin your study of Myth by an exploration and study of the Hero's Journey. Joseph Campbell in his book, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" eloquently describes this process. The journey describes a process of personal self-discovery, usually unplanned, that is undertaken. This call occurs at a certain point in your life when you are given notice that change is entering your life. You might not even be able to stop it as everything is going to change, whether you want the change or not.
Can't think of any stories, myths, or fairy tales?
Try:
Joseph Campbell: http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php
Aesop's fables: http://www.aesopfables.com/aesophca.html
Myths: http://www.pantheon.org/
Or, if you are feeling a little adventurous, you might want read some of the books by Marie-Louise von Franz, James Hillman, Edward Edinger or Carol S. Pearson.
