Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth | Ep. 4: 'Sacrifice and Bliss'

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth is a series of interviews between Bill Moyers and mythologist Joseph Campbell, exploring the role of myths in human culture and history. Episode 4, titled “Sacrifice and Bliss”, focuses on the concept of sacrifice in various myths and religions, and how it relates to the human quest for meaning and happiness. The episode also discusses the importance of finding one’s sacred place in the modern world, and how myths can help us cope with death and loss. Some of the topics covered in this episode are:

The hero’s journey and the sacrifice of the self
The myth of the virgin birth and the symbolism of the mother
The ritual of initiation and the role of the shaman
The sacredness of the earth and the Native American worldview
The meaning of bliss and the function of mythology