What is Xɛxó (Myth)?
Revised from my book “Ìwákiri: An Afrikan Spiritual Quest”
In the Ajã language, the word xɛxó means tales, story, fable, narrative, myth.
Myths are stories that narrate the structure and origins of a culture. They reveal the symbols, meanings, and values that make up the foundations of a culture. They are far from the stereotypical “fanciful” ideas that many deem them as. They deal with the very real and essential concerns of the culture that created them. Regardless, all people must keep a sense of their origins as many historical facts are intermingled within their myths.
Purposes of Myth
Myths present guidelines for living
For instance, when myths tell about the attitudes and activities of deities, the moral tone implies society’s expectation for our own behavior and standards based upon the heavenly example.
Myths grant continuity and stability to a culture
They foster a shared set of perspectives, values, and history. The myths of the culture reflect a collective worldview in which all life’s challenges are handled according to the ancient accumulated wisdom of their own cultural myths.
Myths justify a culture’s activities.
Through the traditionalism contained within myth and its respective “characters” (deities, hero, sheros, etc.), myths establish a culture’s customs, rituals, religious tenets and structure, laws, social order, power hierarchies, territorial claims, aesthetics, holy days, and other recurring events. By extension myths can establish a culture’s technical approach to civilization.
Myths give meaning to life
A true understanding of myth within this realm all of a sudden makes our pains become our sacred lessons.
Myths explain the unexplained
They reveal our fate after death and the reasons for crises or miracles, but yet they even retain an aura of mystery for our existence. Every individual has their personal myth. Consciously or unconsciously, we create our own myths. We are heroes in mythic journeys by which we develop our own sagas – our tales of tribulation and triumph. Thus, the truly satisfying and exciting myths are those which arise from our own passions, dreams, visions, and experiences. Myth, combined with ritual, gives us very sure methods in dealing with the core of the human psyche. What is your myth?