Myths are more than stories. Late last century, some psychologists used mythology as a lens into our psyches. Influenced by Carl Jung’s theories of the collective unconscious, they believed that archetypal characters and motifs recurred in cultures all around the world, and were also present in the minds of people who had no memory of reading them. In this framework, the man who grew from feuding with his siblings to butting heads with colleagues was drawing fuel from Ares, the Greek god of war; the woman who had a prosaic desk job but measured her life in foreign discoveries and romances was mimicking the adventurer Hermes. The analysts argued that understanding the archetypes people had subconsciously chosen to emulate could help make sense of their life choices. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Two Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 30 Cold Shivers The seasonal appeal of ghost stories. Arts & Culture Issue 26 Possession Obsession Sometimes decadent, often secret, but never just one: the compulsion to collect. Arts & Culture Issue 51 Emily Gernild The Danish painter breathing new life into an old medium. Arts & Culture Food Issue 51 Imogen Kwok The artist takes food styling quite literally, creating accessories out of fruits and vegetables. Arts & Culture Design Issue 51 How to Make a Chair And do it on a tiny budget. Arts & Culture Issue 51 Odd Jobs The comedian with strong opinions about your home décor.
Arts & Culture Issue 26 Possession Obsession Sometimes decadent, often secret, but never just one: the compulsion to collect.
Arts & Culture Food Issue 51 Imogen Kwok The artist takes food styling quite literally, creating accessories out of fruits and vegetables.
