How we cite our quotes: (Page.Paragraph)
Quote #7
It is obvious that the infantile fantasies which we all cherish still in the unconscious play continually into myth, fairy tale, and the teachings of the church, as symbols of indestructible being. This is helpful, for the mind feels at home with the images, and seems to be remembering something already known. But the circumstance is obstructive too, for the feelings come to rest in the symbols and resist passionately every effort to go beyond. (164.1)
The Hero's Journey is spiritual in nature, but it can also block us. That's because it symbolizes this greater understanding, these truths about the universe, and while those symbols can help us on our way, we can't be deluded into thinking they're ends in and of themselves.
Quote #8
Humor is the touchstone of the truly mythological as distinct from the more literal-minded and sentimental theological mood. The gods as icons are not ends in themselves. (167.1)
Humor as a path of spirituality…what a great concept. Part of it comes from the understanding that we all want to be happy and that the universe has the means to make us happy…if only we let it. Remembering to laugh and take joy in life is a good way to do that.
Quote #9
Symbolic expression is given to the unconscious desires, fears, and tensions that underlie the conscious patterns of human behavior. (237.2)
It's all about symbols with Campbell, and spirituality depends both on identifying what the symbols are trying to tell us and understanding how that fits into our own lives. That's why we're the heroes of our own story.