"Myth Sparks and New Archetypes" – An eGroup "Text Stream" Process for Creative Collaboration. Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Design +PDF

"We envision the future of the social web as an ecosystem of collaborative tools designed to enable communities, guilds, and loosely affiliated groups everywhere to collaborate, share resources, sensemake and create at a scale. These tools will rise as a way to stabilize and rejuvenate the commons, and more efficiently distribute resources to the parts of the network that need them most, rather than concentrating the resources in the hands of a few." - Doing more together, together: seeding a Collaborative Technology Alliance -2015

. . . . Joseph Campbell Meet Steve Jobs: Mystics in the Machine . . . .

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STAGE ONE
Tools and Strategies

The online process calls on multiple participants to work together in one text stream box (please see top illustration). All participants have equal access and rights to the content in a flat and temporary organization. 5 – 12 total participants. Collaborative journey with a minimal technical expertise required. This is a creative writing task not a code writing exercise. An initiation community.

Contributions to the story can come from anyone at any time during the event. There is no pecking order or hand raising. The event is 5-8 hours in duration. Each participant has full access to the Internet, their own work, research and books. Key to the program is that each contribution must recognize, consider (and embellish if possible), the contribution prior to contributing their idea.

STAGE TWO
Myth Lab Structure

It is important for artists and mentors spend time online together to analyze a pre-selected Artifact and produce a New Myth. For example, New Myth # 42 includes a song by Steve Tibbetts and 12 paintings by Simon Haiduk. The New Myth is a video from the duo's merged content.

A process model is included that illustrates mythic imprinting with more depth. The goal is to integrate permaculture, transition, Nature and the new mythology with the values and struggles in this Chaos Age. The Myth Lab is designed as an interactive, open source and iterative experience that enhances the community-driven at the Mythic Roundtable.

One goal is clear: we need to build our own messages, songs and myths to support new food, security and governance systems.

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Process Terms and Themes from Myth Lab (W. Paul) -

Artifact – The Imprintable Artifact is a Nature-Human combination; examples include graffiti, a bill board, historic sculpture, and a permaculture garden, with special powers and messages to the neighborhood.

Mythos - The pattern of basic values and attitudes of a people characteristically transmitted through myths and the arts.

Mythic Imprinting - Imprinting is defined as a two-way interaction with a selected Artifact that generates synergistic meaning for all participants and the Artifact. Called "mythic imprinting" in the Myth Lab, this iterative and transmutative process is grounded in the initiation, journey and hero work from Joseph Campbell and is one way that neighborhood artifacts can help neighbors generate new songs, poems and myths.

12 Elements of Modern Myths (W. Paul) -

1. Para-normal
2. Universal struggle
3. Journey, Initiation, Community as Hero
4. Symbols
5. Alchemy
6. Nature is Sacred
7. Threat of apocalypse
8. Digital - Non-Digital Collision
9. Future/ Sci Fi-based
10. Permaculture and Transition
11. New ritual and tradition
12. Rewilding

STAGE THREE
Mythic Spark

The Mythic Spark experience (please see bottom illustration) is also described as alchemy, a collision of opposites with new archetypes possible. An "ah hah" moment – a convergence. A leap in human initiation with potential for evolving current global archetypes. This spark synergizes and pushes the speed, integration and open source in our globally connected internet media.

The Mystic Spark could include, for example, a new ritual or a symbol for the New Myth.

"According to Jungian approach of psychology, some highly developed elements of the collective unconscious are called 'archetypes'. Carl Jung developed an understanding of archetypes as universal, archaic patterns and images that derive from the collective unconscious and are the psychic counterpart of instinct. They are autonomous and hidden forms which are transformed once they enter consciousness and are given particular expression by individuals and their cultures. Being unconscious, the existence of archetypes can only be deduced indirectly by examining behavior, images, art, myths, religions, or dreams. They are inherited potentials which are actualized when they enter consciousness as images or manifest in behavior on interaction with the outside world."

Here the archetype building and transfer between participants is seen is a live, mediated, and conscious exchange. Please see another scheme to understand current archetypes here.

How the Mythic Spark works?

1. Each participant selects images or sounds (opposite dyads) and posts them to a project web page for group critique.
2. Reactions are shared. Elements of New Myths and archetypes are debated and reconciled.
3. Selected ideas are then incorporated into STAGE FOUR

Emerging Archetypes 2015 (proposed) -

New Archetype: Anxiety to Integrate Nature and Agriculture for Survival
Mass Movement: Permaculture
Symbol: Large tree roots to canopy next to farm field and settlement

New Archetype: Reverse engineer corporate control through localizing resources
Mass Movement: Transition Movement
Symbol: Neighborhood Sharing Event

New Archetype: "Back and Forward" to build a Global Nature
Mass Movement: Rewinding
Symbol: DIY huts and living off the land

New Archetype: A new spiritualty driven by Reduce / Reuse / Recycle
Mass Movement: Sustainability
Symbol: Green Earth with 3 R's Triangle

New Archetype: Community as Hero
Mass Movement: New Mythology
Symbol: City Repair Project Logo (PDX)

STAGE FOUR
Text Stream to Draft Story

1. The initial Text Stream collaborative event is closed to further submissions
2. Participants generate main characters, conflict, and scene(s), and main plot
3. Draft story is drafted and shared

STAGE FIVE
Iteration, Integration, Final Edits

1. Plot elements, archetypes and conflicts are checked for meaning and integrity

STAGE SIX
Illustration

1. Illustration(s) are debated, prototyped and approved

STAGE SEVEN
Final Product

1. Words and illustrations are formatted (html and pdf) for multiple sites and lists
2. The New Myth is published to the community, discussed and archived

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Please see these examples of recent New Myths from Planetshifter.com Media -

"The Secret Food Forest" – New Myth 72
"Light Geyser @ Pacacua River" – Children's New Myth # 71
"Liana's Sacred Hands" - New Myth #67