Man and His Symbols, Part II: Ancient Myths & Modern Man

In this session, we explore Part II of Man and His Symbols, written by Joseph L. Henderson, which examines myth as a psychological inheritance rather than a historical curiosity. Henderson shows how ancient myths express universal inner patterns—archetypal structures that continue to shape modern personality, values, and conflict.
Rather than treating myth as belief or folklore, Henderson approaches it as a map of psychological development. Myths encode stages of maturation, confrontation with instinct, moral awakening, and the formation of conscience. When these symbolic patterns are not consciously integrated, they do not disappear; they reassert themselves in other ways—through ideology, compulsion, or inner fragmentation.
We’ll reflect on questions such as:

• Why mythic images recur across cultures and eras
• How heroic, monstrous, and divine figures represent living, inner psychological forces
• The role of myth in the development of individuality and ethical behavior