When Myth Becomes Realityby Samone Myers
Director of EarthCURE.org
“Now if you don’t know what it is, just put it under mythological creatures” is what I recall hearing the lead volunteer say to our group. It was years ago when I volunteered to help document petroglyphs in the state of New Mexico. I was asked to write a description and sketch of what I saw, as well fit the image under a set of categories. “Huh” was my reaction to this coaching since clearly there were images that were identifiable if the observer would just keep an open mind.
This experience was not an isolated case. The more I studied ancient ruins, structures and sacred sites, it became obvious that the mythological concept was a catch all term for we-can’t-accept-it as-is-so-we’re-going-to-label-it-myth. And the more I researched mythological stories, the more apparent it became that most myths have some truth to them, if not in totality.
So exactly what is myth? According to author, John Ruskin in 1869, “Myth is a story with a meaning generally marked by some of its circumstances being extraordinary." Extraordinary does not mean ‘made up.’ In fact, I agree with the French author, Anais Nin when she said, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Case in point is when in the last decade or so, the remains of an ancient city were identified as Troy. So after all of these years of calling the Trojan horse, the Trojan War and the city itself a myth, it is now accepted as truth. Hence, thereafter the movie, Troy was released that starred Brad Pitt and has become common knowledge and an accepted part of our historical reality.
I noticed something similar to this change of perception when I became aware of best selling author, Paul Perry’s book, Jesus in Egypt, and subsequent documentary, which will air on TBN on 14 & 15 May. It is about the childhood years of Jesus and the path the Holy Family took through Egypt. Research for the book and documentary uncovered numerous oral and biblical traditions concerning the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to avoid persecution and death at the hands of King Herod. During his research, it was revealed that the actual path the Holy Family took is documented and revered by Coptic Christians in Egypt today.
Much of what was referred to as myth or legend related to this story, such as so-called miracles Jesus performed, are accepted as truth by Egyptian Christians. Known collectively as 'Copts', a word derived from the Greek word 'Aigyptos', meaning 'Egypt’, Coptic Christians represent approximately 10% of Egypt’s population. Whether it is a well that never runs dry where no water ran before to trees that bear fruit year after year and are hundreds of years old, these “miracles” are evidence in part that the biblical story occurred.
As a further validation that the oral traditions are accurate, Paul Perry snapped a photograph of the Monastery built to memorialize the final destination of the Holy Family in Egypt. The photograph revealed the “Light of Mary” that Muslims and Christians alike have seen down through the ages with their physical eyes. Perhaps this is why he intends on doing journeys to Egypt; to let others walk the path that the Holy Family took to have experiences and validations for themselves.
Distinguishing between myth and reality is nothing more than awareness, perception, and acceptance. When we keep our minds and hearts open, this leads us to look at ancient stories and legends labeled ‘myth’ from a new perspective. Ultimately, I foresee a time where the scales will be tipped – some call it, critical mass – which will turn most myths into accepted reality.
Author, Samone Myers is Director of EarthCURE, a nonprofit organization designed to promote new, holistic, sustainable, and renewable technologies. Ms. Myers was previously CEO of her own consulting company. She is a guest lecturer at the University in Toulouse, France on risk management and sustainability. She has authored a book under a pen name and is in the process of completing a book about conscious sustainability. She enjoys traveling and studying sacred sties and ancient structures, and bringing information to light about our past. Visit her website at EarthCURE.org or email Samone.
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