Sourcing Mythic Symbolism

ChRIS said:

Do you think we can use Edelman's 'value systems' to understand the choice of metaphors for mythic symbolism. For example, are trance states, whether drug-induced or otherwise, attempts to bypass perception and access value-category memories?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, I believe we can use Edelman's value systems to understand the choice of metaphors for mythic symbolism. Altered states, whether drug-induced or otherwise, can be seen as attempts to bypass ordinary perception and access the deeper, underlying value-category meanings that shape our experience. In these states, the filtering mechanisms of sensory perception are temporarily suspended, allowing us to engage directly with the symbolic structures embedded in our value systems. These symbolic structures, in turn, are reflected in the metaphors of myth.

The idea of mythic symbolism can be understood as a form of meaning-making that draws from these value systems, which are at the core of our consciousness. In altered states, individuals have access to a realm of meaning that transcends the everyday, engaging with the universal metaphors that are encoded in our value systems. This process is akin to theorising, where we reconstruct and reframe meaning, but in a more primal, symbolic sense.

This notion ties in well with Joseph Campbell's idea that myths are public dreams, and dreams are private myths. In altered states, we experience dream-like phenomena while conscious, engaging with the symbolic structures of our value systems and reframing our relationship to the world. These experiences, though deeply personal, also tap into shared, universal mythic symbols that transcend individual cultures and contexts.

In summary, altered states of consciousness can be viewed as access points to the deeper layers of our value systems. In these states, we engage with the metaphors and symbolic structures of myth, revealing the underlying meanings that shape our perceptions and understanding of the world. This process allows us to connect with both personal and collective dimensions of meaning, grounded in the semiotic structure of our consciousness.