As the Joseph Campbell Foundation explores ideas about how people use myth this month, I am reminded of one of the deep purposes of story: building community.

As humans have done for thousands of years, we come together to tell stories, to amuse, to entertain, to challenge, and to imagine – and remember – with our communities, whether they be family, village or neighborhood, co-workers or conspirators; and whether we are sharing them while in the same room or from around the world. By their very nature, stories are built to be shared.

For decades now, the Joseph Campbell Foundation has honored a sense of that communitas in story and myth with an ongoing effort to support people coming together around the globe to share myths and the ideas that spring from them.

From jcforg.kinsta.cloud:

Last fall, one of the earliest communities that arose from the Mythological Roundtable® program came together as they have virtually every month for twenty years in Los Angeles under the leadership of Joyce Alexson, to celebrate what they have done together; what they have learned, argued, agreed upon, shared, and broken open with each other in an ongoing conversation about myth. I’d love to share some photographs of this celebration, taken by longtime member and filmmaker, Harrison Engle.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the people who continue to come together to share myth and metaphor with one another, and ponder how it can shape their lives.

If you’re interested in joining or forming a Mythological Roundtable® there are folks on hand to help you find your way. Click here to learn more.