The Mythic Path

Feinstein and Krippner offer this new book as an updated version of their 1988 title Personal Mythology. It still provides a fascinating viewpoint on how one's inner beliefs--what Feinstein and Krippner call one's ""personal mythology,"" formed by both one's individual experiences and the culture in which one lives--affect one's perceptions, choices and life. In addition to offering psychological theories, plus personal stories from people they have worked with, the authors lead readers through an arduous 12-week program, using exercises such as guided imagery, journal-keeping, fairy tales, rituals and dream work for ""reevaluating outdated myths."" Much of this self-examination refers to readers' childhood experiences, so many people who have been involved in psychotherapy, personal growth or various recovery programs will already have done this kind of work. But Feinstein and Krippner's method of examining problems within an old mythology, creating its opposite ""counter-myth"" and working out a synthesis of what's good in both to form a new, guiding myth that can work as well for more recently adopted myths. Since the authors agree that ""the rate of social change is meteoric, and it is accompanied by a dizzying array of competing mythic images, values, and perspectives,"" this kind of reexamination and adjustment must be ongoing. The authors wisely assert that ""your success in generating a vital guiding mythology determines, to a large extent, your success in life,"" but in today's rapidly changing world, no such mythology can be useful for very long. (Apr.)