--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The function of ritual and myth is to…" description: "\"“The function of ritual and myth is to make possible, and then to facilitate, the jump—by analogy. Forms and conceptions that the mind and its senses c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/joseph-campbell-300_left-alone_the-function-of-ritual-and-myth-is-to-ma_1130398.jpg" --- # The function of ritual and myth is to make possible, and… ![“The function of ritual and myth is to make possible, and then to facilitate, the jump—by analogy. Forms and conceptions that the mind and its senses can comprehend are presented and arranged in such a way as to suggest a truth or openness beyond. And then, the conditions for meditation having been…” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/joseph-campbell-300_left-alone_the-function-of-ritual-and-myth-is-to-ma_1130398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/joseph-campbell-300_left-alone_the-function-of-ritual-and-myth-is-to-ma_1130398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/083/joseph-campbell-300_left-alone_the-function-of-ritual-and-myth-is-to-ma_1130398.jpg) > ““The function of ritual and myth is to make possible, and then to facilitate, the jump—by analogy. Forms and conceptions that the mind and its senses can comprehend are presented and arranged in such a way as to suggest a truth or openness beyond. And then, the conditions for meditation having been provided, the individual is left alone. Myth is but the penultimate; the ultimate is openness—that void, or being, beyond the categories —into which the mind must plunge alone and be dissolved. Therefore, God and the gods are only convenient means—themselves of the nature of the world of names and forms, though eloquent of, and ultimately conducive to, the ineffable. They are mere symbols to move and awaken the mind, and to call it past themselves.”” [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rituals and myths shape our mind to transcend ordinary perception, guiding us toward a deeper, ineffable reality beyond symbols. **In simple terms:** Myths help us move beyond ordinary thinking to deeper truth. Key Takeaway Use myth to expand consciousness. Themes spirituality mythology perception transcendence Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious practice - personal meditation - creative writing - philosophical study Key Concepts symbolism analogy meditation void Questions to Reflect On - How can you use myth to challenge your assumptions? - What symbols guide your inner search? A Different Perspective Myths may be misinterpreted, limiting insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissolved God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissolved-god-3102939/) [Function Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-ritual-1736845/) [Left alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-alone/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Penultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-penultimate-3102938/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Ritual Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual-myth-959793/) ## Related quotes > [The function of ritual, as I understand it, is to give form to human life, not in the way of a mere surface arrangement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-function-of-ritual-as-i-understand-it-is-to-give-form-to-human/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Ritual and myth are like seed crystals of new patterns that can eventually reshape culture around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starhawk/ritual-and-myth-are-like-seed-crystals-of-new-patterns-that-can/) [Starhawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starhawk/) > [The function of ritual... is to give form to the human life, not in the way of a mere surface arrangement, but in depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-function-of-ritual-is-to-give-form-to-the-human-life-not-in-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“A ritual is the enactment of a myth. And, by participating in the ritual, you are participating in the myth. And since myth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/a-ritual-is-the-enactment-of-a-myth-and-by-participating-in-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“She just wanted to be left alone to lick her wounds, like a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-just-wanted-to-be-left-alone-to-lick-her-wounds-like-a-puppy-that/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I write to make peace with the things I cannot control. 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I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/when-i-m-away-from-basketball-i-m-the-biggest-kid-i-do-a-good-job-of/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [Personally, I think that children should be left alone, they should be given an opportunity to grow up, to become aware of themselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/personally-i-think-that-children-should-be-left-alone-they-should-be/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/in-nine-months-a-group-of-children-left-alone-with-a-computer-in-any/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [To the newcomer to the south, hearing that a coworker plans a weekend visit to 'mama and them's' (the correct plural possessive, don'tchaknow), might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-rivenbark/to-the-newcomer-to-the-south-hearing-that-a-coworker-plans-a-weekend/) [Celia Rivenbark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-rivenbark/) > [“When left alone, corporate cultures and values will erode over time. It can happen when companies or divisions are sold. It can happen when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/when-left-alone-corporate-cultures-and-values-will-erode-over-time-it/) [Becca Spradlin, Lead On Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/) ## More by Joseph Campbell > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-privilege-of-a-lifetime-is-being-who-you-are/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. 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And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The best we can do is lean towards the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-best-we-can-do-is-lean-towards-the-light/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I think of mythology as the homeland of the muses, the inspirers of art, the inspirers of poetry. 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