Uses and Meanings of Myths in Different Cultures Exploring the Navajo and Maya Cultures

Uses and Meanings of Myths in Different Cultures: Exploring the Navajo and Maya Cultures

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Introduction

Myths are handed down tales. Some are based on true events, while others are made up. Myths have deeper implications in ancient and contemporary society (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). Myths explain the cosmos and why humans exist. Myths are still important. Myths contain timeless solutions that may aid all ages. Lost paradise myths offer people hope that if they live well now, the hereafter will be better. They provide hope. People trust golden era legends because they assume great leaders would improve their life. The hero’s journey may help young people transition into adulthood. Some myths serve just to make people feel better, as those that think natural occurrences are God’s deeds. Myths speak about topics people throughout the globe care about and have cared about forever (Pierotti, 2016). What man is and where he comes from are only a few of these questions. Myths are based on what individuals have learnt through time and are recounted in various cultures. These beliefs are universal because so many individuals who have never met may relate experiences that are eerily similar (Masse et al., 2007). The fact that societies throughout the globe have legends about cataclysmic floods, virgin births, and the afterlife is no surprise. The Navajo and Maya are cultures that will be used to show that myths could be instructional, psychological, for purposes of storytelling and performance, and political in nature, yet they have an underlying message or warning that could either be culture-specific or universal.

Instructional Message

In cultures from all over the world, myths provide direct examples of how one is expected to behave and offers the reason for said expectations (Pierotti, 2016). Within the framework of Navajo spirituality, the cosmos is seen as being beautiful, well-ordered, and in harmony with itself. Rituals are a significant component of the Navajo religion. These ceremonies focus on reestablishing “hozho,” which is a term that refers to harmony, balance, and orderly control. Things like death, violence, and evil are the kinds of things that throw the world’s peace and equilibrium off. The origin of each ritual may be traced back to a unique tale that explains how humans came to be living in one of many distinct locations or eras, such as the mountains, the sun, or the moon. Chanters devote their whole lives to the study of rituals and rites such as the Mountain Top Way, the Life Way, the Evil Way, and the Game Way (Connors & Donnellan, 1993). Each ceremony is often accompanied by a variety of other social activities, including dances, rather frequently. There are over 500 sand murals that have been created by the Navajo people, and each one is connected to a distinct chant (Quintero, 2002). Here, the examples of the many chants that every individual is expected to perform before or after completing a task is an example of the instructional message and role of myths.

In regard to instructional message in cultural beliefs and myths, the gods and heroes who appeared in Mayan mythology each had their own unique names and appearances. People were expected to know the difference and to conduct the expected rituals and ceremonies depending on the event (Naaeke, 2005). The tales that they told were likewise radically diverse, and the characters and settings inside those stories underwent incredible transformations and expanded at an astounding pace. Even if at first look it seemed as though there was chaos, there was a feeling that the cosmos was organized and ordered, and that treating the gods in the appropriate manner was essential to maintaining its harmony and balance. Mesoamerican culture was an integral component of the Maya way of life (Rice, 2018). The people who lived there practiced various forms of divination, constructed temples in the shape of pyramids, believed in the same gods and mythology, and were particularly interested in astronomy. Another game that was played was called “ball,” and it was a competition between two teams to determine which one could get a solid rubber ball through a stone ring or “hoop” the quickest (Inomata, 2001). This was a game that could only be played by a select few gods as well as a few of mortals. On occasion, it does not amount to much more than a game, but on other occasions, it is a significant event.

Both the Mayan and Navajo civilizations have a great deal of similarities when it comes to their respective myths. However, the specific details of every myth vary within a culture. Instructional messages within myths for both the Mayan and Navajo civilizations converge at some points and diverge in others. For example, the performance of different rituals and ceremonies is a similar expectation for both Navajo and Mayan people. However, the names of gods, the folklore names, the songs, and chants are all different between the two cultures.

Psychological Message

Cultures also had myths that defined and helped its people to deal with feelings. Myths are said to originate in the subconscious thoughts of individuals and are founded on how people feel (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). People in every region of the planet had concerns, inquiries, and requirements that they were unable to comprehend. Because of this, individuals have come up with psychological mythologies, and as a result, there are archetypes that are universally present throughout all communities. Archetypes are recurring patterns of forms and personalities seen in all of human history’s cultures. A deity of the sky, a god of the sea, and a god of farming are all examples of archetypes that may be found in a variety of different civilizations. These archetypes illustrate how many individuals think about things that are weird or frightening to them in their own unique way.

The Maya had a number of universal and culture specific myths that were psychological in nature. For example, there is a psychological link between the Mayan myths and rituals revolving around blood sacrifice and sustaining group cohesion over time (Carrasco, 2010). The Mayan myths relating to blood events and rituals were used to reinforce group identity and to allow members of a group to belong to an association that would act as the social group. The Maya performed a rite that included shedding blood that served more than one function. The Maya, who lived in several city-states that were always at war with one another, considered kingship to be the ultimate degree of cultural achievement. Bloodletting and other significant beliefs about blood had a significant role in shaping the ways in which people thought, felt, and behaved in a variety of social and cultural contexts. As such, these rituals defined and helped the Mayan to deal with emotional connections and other psychological issues.

Some Navajo stories were created in such a manner that they provided individuals with a secure haven to dwell in their thoughts. Myths circulated, for instance, about the nature of the link that exists between a man and a woman, as well as the family, the children, and other ties. The notion that each and every child is a unique and priceless gift from God is an example of a psychological myth (Naaeke, 2005). They believed it thanks in part to a variety of Navajo tales. The adults in the society believed that children had an exceptional quality that set them apart from adults in some way. People held the idea that children had a real link to the gods and other supernatural beings that existed in nature. In the myths and legends of some groups of people, they played significant roles. Denetdale (2001) conclude that children provided happiness and good fortune to the Navajo people. In point of fact, children were considered as the live evidence of the “vitality” of a tribe. They were in control of what would happen in the future. People were able to be more open about how they felt about children because of these beliefs, which facilitated more honest conversation.

Storytelling and Performance

Myths are traditional tales that have been passed down through generations and attempt to provide answers to some of life’s most perplexing problems, such as how the world came to be, why individuals pass away, and why the seasons change (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). Before people discovered the logical explanations for why unusual things occurred, they turned to myths and other tales to attempt to make sense of what was going on in the world and why weird things occurred. Ancient societies all throughout the world have their own unique mythologies. Every civilization has its own theory on the origin of the planet we live on. In adventures, heroes and gods were often employed to demonstrate what actions were appropriate and what actions were inappropriate.

People have a profound and intimate connection to their ancestors via the use of myths and tales, and this connection spans both time and place. People in a culture may acquire a sense of what their forebears believed, did, and felt on a daily basis by reading or listening to these tales and passing them down the generations (Denetdale, 2001). Myths are tales that demonstrate that people in the past truly did have the same aspirations, fears, and wants as people today. These stories are told in the form of myths. The fact that people still tell tales of unrequited love, jealous spouses, and wives venturing out into the world to discover themselves is evidence that people haven’t changed all that much since their ancestors. People may increase their knowledge of their world and history by listening to and reading tales. Even while science and technology, and other developments have made significant strides in the last millennia, humans, at their heart, are still the same, experiencing all of the same emotions and dealing with all of the same issues. Through the retelling of these tales, people and civilizations are reminded of their connection to the energy of the whole planet as well as the world’s more profound soul (Csordas, 2005). They assist individuals in rediscovering their origins and reestablishing a connection to the very center and essence of a culture. We all have the ability to connect with a profound, elemental, and time-honored aspect of ourselves when we take the time to hear, discuss, and recall these old tales. While facts tend to appeal to one’s rational side, stories tend to speak to their emotional side. People are able to connect with myths and see the ways in which they share similarities and stand on similar footing.

Myths were used by both the Navajo and the Maya as a means of enhancing the art of storytelling and the function of putting on performances. Myths, folktales, and legends were significant ways for people to interact with one another and build community in times past (Inomata, 2001). These tales were recounted by the elders to their offspring when everyone was gathered in a circle around a campfire or participating in a ritual. When the ancestors were still living as hunter-gatherers, they would congregate around the fire and tell tales to pass the time while the younger and more agile young men were off hunting, an activity that Naaeke (2005) terms as a storytelling and performance class. Consequently, mythology plays a significant role in both the Navajo and the Maya ways of life. For instance, the Navajo and the Maya are famous for their creation myths, which are tales that explain how their tribe came to be. These myths have been passed down through the generations. People were able to explain things that were place in nature on a daily basis as well as their own beginnings by making up tales and relaying those stories to one another.

Political Messages in Myth

Myths are undeniably the means through which ideas and customs are handed down from generation to generation. Ancient traditions, particularly Greco-Roman customs, form the basis of Western civilization and are profoundly ingrained in its core values and institutions. Myths serve the same purpose as history does for the Maya. Mythology was the first teacher of life, serving as a vehicle for people to demonstrate what they had learned throughout the course of their history (Bennett & McDougall, 2016). In a time when people are almost entirely focused on the future and history is seen as an archaic and almost useless field of study that has nothing to do with the future, coming to terms with how important myths were to ancient people and what they meant to them can have a significant impact on how people view the world today. This is especially true in a time when people are in a time when people are almost entirely focused on the future. The political landscape of myths is presented in a fairly straightforward manner.

The Navajo and the Maya were able to better grasp their history and beliefs with the assistance of mythology. In addition to this, it instilled in them a feeling of belonging to a certain culture, group, clan, or tribe, as well as an understanding of politics. Origins, significant events, the creation of laws and rules for living together, the timeline of events, ruler biographies, hero deeds, and much more were all described in Navajo mythology, initially for the entire civilization, and later, when smaller political organizations were made, for these specific communities. Navajo mythology also described the making of laws and rules for living together, as well as the making of laws and rules for living together (Quintero, 2002). Myths serve the same function as history does for the Maya. History is factual information about a society and its past that attempts to explain and clarify the present by basing it in the past and passing on current global knowledge.

Myths continue to have a significant role in political discourse even in the current period. Leaders, significant events in history, and the origins of a town or a nation all figure prominently in many of the most prevalent ones. In many different ways, myth and organized systems of mythology have been significant components of human existence. To begin, myths assist us in comprehending how everything came to be, why everything is as it is, and why life is as it is by illuminating the reasons behind these things. This plays a significant role in Navajo culture and daily life. Second, there is a place for myth in the discussion of what it is to be. Myths are important to the Maya because they help individuals understand their position in the world and the fundamental order of things (Carrasco, 2010). The third point is that myths played a part in the spiritual and psychological lives of the government of a society. Myths are important to both the Navajo and the Maya because they illustrate the struggles that are inherent to being human, such as the tension that may arise between the mind and the outer world, and they provide nonviolent solutions to the issues that might arise. Lastly, Naaeke (2005) identifies that myths play a significant part in the political and social lives of today’s society. The Navajo have a feeling of common identity that comes from their myths. The same technique was done by the Mayans, who used mythology to unite the beliefs of different social groups and provide legitimacy to social and political organizations.

Conclusion

A notable function of myths in the discussion above is how they helped to explain life in a variety of ways. The examples chosen above are both culture specific and universal. The explanation for this is that both the Navajo and Maya had very specific cultures relating to their myths. For instance, the variant creation stories placed importance on some common things such as human life, the environment, and the deities. However, variations emerged in the treatment of these individual factors. For example, both the Mayans and the Navajo valued children, yet the Navajo had more rituals and myths relating to children compared to the Mayans. In the present day myths in literature and film, the variations in the specificity or universality of myths must be understood from the explanation of life using the lens of various communities. Universal beliefs about deities, natural disasters, life, death, and birth are evident even today. However, these beliefs also extend to more specific cultures that create the differences in what is passed down from one generation to the next.

References

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