Joseph Campbell viewed the universal hero myths as our species’ collective wisdom of how life should be lived. The youth sets forth into the world, meets something that sets him off on a quest, encounters obstacles but also unexpected allies that guide and help him overcome the obstacles, and eventually accomplish the quest. But the quest is not really complete until the person returns to his village, bringing back a song or some other thing of value that can somehow strengthen the village, help lift them up towards more possibilities. Campbell mentioned that though the hero myths emphasize all the exciting adventures that happen along the outward quest and very little is said about the return, the return to the village and sharing the song is essential. It’s what brings the story to completion.
In Denali, I took Campbell at his word and tried to find a spiritual way to fit my life into the constraints of the Second Law. Now in my late sixties, I look back over the path of this search and feel an urgency to complete this book, to return to my village and share the song given me along my roaming adventure, a song with many verses.
I sing a song of changing directions. Everybody feels an uneasy acceleration downward worldwide. Different factions have different explanations but everybody feels it. The world grows less dependably stable. More subject to major shock and perturbations. It’s the acceleration that is scary. We need to change direction. But in what direction do we steer? And how do we change? I want to share my off-the-trail perspective.
About this book
I am creating this book on-line. I don’t know if I will ever finish it or whether it will always be a work in progress. This last chapter hopes to take my lessons from nature and experiences on my life path and use them to understand problems we as a culture or species are dealing with from a different perspective that can help lead our energies onto new paths. It is my deepest hope that this book can help create upward spirals in the world around me.
So this last chapter poses a problem for me. It is the most important chapter so I want to make sure I get it on-line before I die but it is also the most difficult to write so I keep avoiding it. Also, this chapter often builds on stories and ideas developed earlier in the book but it might take me a few years to get all that previous material written in a final form. Therefore, I am jumping the gun and starting to post early-draft sections of the last chapter. That will give me momentum to keep working on this last chapter. However, it also means that I might refer to an idea that will be introduced earlier in the book but has not yet been written – leaving you uncertain what I refer to. On the other hand, the presentation that follows gives you the chance to give me feedback. Are the ideas confusing, unclear? Do you think I am flat-out wrong with something? Is there an idea you would like me to expand upon? Do you have questions? Feedback from you will help me wrestle this work into a better form.
Currently (5/14/2017), the best draft I have to offer is Cairns #83.