You learn something new everyday

"OF THE THINGS which the public magician sets himself to do for the good of the tribe, one of the chief is to control the weather and especially to ensure an adequate fall of rain. Water is an essential of life, and in most countries the supply of it depends upon showers. Without rain vegetation withers, animals and men languish and die. Hence in savage communities the rain-maker is a very important personage; and often a special class of magicians exists for the purpose of regulating the heavenly water-supply."

-Sir James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, http://www.bartleby.com/196/11.html

I've recently read the first chapter of Myth and Reality and my findings were completely shocking. Having no idea there were tribes all over the world performing myth rituals. To me, a myth was always a fictional story. Not true. Myths are "sacred stories" therefore "true stories." When these tribes recite myths usually during an intitiation and only during a "sacred time" they are re-enacting a myth. A supernatural being coming to earth, traveling and changing the landscape and then disappearing into the underworld. These tribes will re-enact the myths and grow corn or some sort of industrial product. They can do that due to the original myth. Nothing ever dies. They're supernatural ancestors gave them the power to re-enact everything they did. This quotation from The Golden Bough jogged my memory of my readings. I can see a tribe in Australia where the chief knows of the myths and can create life through rain. The chief would know the myth and be able to recite it word for word but knowing he is mortal because of illo tempore. I found this all very interesting. I can't wait to get into more detail as to why these tribes believe so passionately for the myths. Until next time.

-Taylor Jensen