The Shala Daily

Joseph Campbell’s voice has long been a guide for those who sense there is more to myth than ancient symbols. In a recent interview with psychologist Jeffrey Mishlove for New Thinking Allowed, Campbell explores the living function of mythology—how it bridges body, mind, and the soul’s longing for meaning.

Campbell’s vision is deeply yogic: myth as teacher, myth as mirror. As he describes, the gods and heroes aren’t just old stories, but blueprints for our own potential. Isn’t this what yogic self-study, or svadhyaya, invites—turning inward, seeing ourselves reflected in the great archetypal tales?

🌍 Myth as the Harmonizer

Campbell notes that our bodies and minds are full of conflicting impulses—desire, fear, compassion, and hope. Mythology, he says, evolved to help us harmonize these energies, allowing us to live creatively within ourselves, with others, and with nature. The ancient stories help us make peace with our inner worlds.

In yoga, we work with the same challenge: the conflicting tendencies of the mind and senses. Our practice becomes a living myth, a daily retelling of the journey from chaos toward balance. Like Campbell’s heroes, we walk a path of transformation—guided by the ancient, still-unfolding story.

✨ Metaphor, Not Literalism

Campbell warns against taking myths as literal history—“eating the menu instead of the food.” Yoga too is full of metaphor: asanas as animal forms, stories woven into mudra and mantra. The real power is not in the outer shape, but in what these forms awaken within us.

When we recognize the metaphorical language of yoga and myth, we open to deeper wisdom. The hero’s journey is not out there; it’s here, in the subtleties of breath, the willingness to face discomfort, the courage to follow our inner call.

🦋 Toward a Universal Story

One of Campbell’s deepest concerns is our lack of a unifying, global mythology. Old stories served the tribe, often at the expense of outsiders. But today, our sangha—the community—has grown to include the whole world. We need myths that honor diversity and common humanity.

Yoga philosophy, with its emphasis on the unity of consciousness, offers just such a vision. Through practice, we remember our shared essence—beyond race, creed, or birthplace. Each time we step on the mat, we re-tell this story of connection and possibility.

🧭 Following Your Bliss

Perhaps Campbell’s most famous advice is to “follow your bliss”—that spark of enthusiasm that signals alignment with purpose. In yoga, this is the experience of ananda, the deep joy that arises when we live authentically, guided by the subtle callings of our heart.

We are storytellers and story-dwellers—each asana, each breath, each act of kindness another line in the myth of our lives. The invitation: to live awake to the metaphors, awake to the transformation, awake to the bliss that comes when we walk our path with courage and wonder.

— MJH