What is Myth?

While the word myth is often used to describe something false or unfounded, myths are far more than mistaken beliefs. They are the foundational stories, images, and ideals that uphold the beliefs, expectations, and possibilities of individuals and communities. Whether we’re aware of them or not, myths live in us—and through us.

Genesis Creation Myth

Take the creation myth of Genesis 2–3. Some argue it must be taken as literal history; others dismiss it as mere fantasy, with its images of humans formed from dust and a talking serpent. But myths aren’t concerned with historical accuracy—they’re after deeper truths. They don’t necessarily answer the question “What happened?” Instead, through metaphor and symbol, they point to “What happens.”

Myths are lies that tell the truth. – Joseph Campbell (paraphrase from Power of Myth)

Author and anthropologist, Joseph Campbell suggests myths, though never literally true, are always symbolically true. The Genesis creation myth isn’t history, yet it points to what takes place all the time. Conversely, It is not pure fantasy, but it employs fantastical images and metaphors to illuminate our human, often hidden, experience. 

●  Was there really a Garden of Eden? No, but we all dream of a place or time (real or imagined) where things were well, or where all is well. 

●  Were humans really kicked out of an eternal garden? No, but each of us has a place we’ve outgrown–where our expanding life was no longer supported and nourished by the environment, relationships, or common beliefs and assumptions.

●  Did God create humans out of dirt and then literally breathe life into us? No, yet always! Have you hit rock-bottom before taking action in your life? Have your hopes and dreams ever fallen flat, and your vitality became entirely unanimated? Anima, Latin for soul, is where we get the word animation. To be reanimated is to be ensouled again–the Divine breath flowing through us.

Four Functions of Myth

Joseph Campbell held that myths serve four functions (Adapted from Thou Art That) 

  1. Myths awaken us to ourselves, to others, and the divine
  2. Myths interpret and make meaning of our lives.
  3. Myths establish and support what’s “right” (moral, legal, allowable, possible, and impossible)
  4. Myths connect us to the Source of recreation and transformation

Like the ground upon which we walk, and the air we breathe, myths are our unseen life-givers, meaning-makers, and purpose-drivers. Sometimes they are communicated overtly, but similar to the ground and air, myths are constantly reaffirmed and absorbed by our psyche as we move through life. You can read more on this specific topic

Myths establish our range of motion psychologically, spiritually, and relationally. They provide templates for how we relate to ourselves, others, and the cosmos. In many ways, our myths tell us what is even possible.

Taking Flight from the Old Myth

In the lead up to the Wright brothers’ airbending success, the idea that humans could fly, was considered top-shelf comedy. The actual possibility of flying was scoffed at and dismissed as fantastical. The Wright brothers were immersed in a common myth that:

  1. Was awake to the ground, but not the air (function #1)
  2. Interpreted flight as foolish (function #2)
  3. Believed flying was impossible (function #3)

But what about the 4th function of this myth? How did the common anti-flight myth “connect them to the Source of recreation and transformation? Well it didn’t, at least not directly. Historical accounts show the Wright brothers had a childhood fascination with flying. As adults they spent significant time observing birds, buzzards to be precise. Finally, they were inspired by the trailblazing work of Otto Lilianthal, a German forerunner in flight evolution. The Wright brothers gave themselves to the symbolic images and experiences that mirrored back their own desires and soul-animation.

The Common Christian Myth

Here’s a hot take. You likely weren’t born into a myth that naturally connected you to the Source, that is, your authentic, dynamic, powerful and creative self. Perhaps it did early in life. However, you likely outgrew your inherited myth when you left the proverbial Garden of Eden due to a major loss, death, or major disorienting life experience.

The term Common Christian Myth (CCM) describes the shared stories, images, and ideals that have historically shaped—and continue to influence—the beliefs, expectations, and perceived possibilities of individuals and communities formed within, or influenced by, Judeo-Christian traditions. The CCM is a metamyth and in my opinion is ubiquitous in the United States and its various institutions, and affects everyone directly or indirectly, regardless of personal religious affiliation. 

The CCM often portrays God as pure light: ever-awake, all-knowing, and never caught off guard. We’re taught that we are made in this image and expected to imitate it. As a result, many of us spend our lives striving toward that ideal of perpetual clarity and perfection, learning to fear the dark, the hidden, and the unknown—both around us and within our own soul. We become restless with all that seems unfinished and imperfect. Hypervigilance and a low-grade anxiety guide our decisions and indecisions, making authenticity and soul-centered living an afterthought. Read more: A Split God-image: The Cost of Dividing for Connection.

The Personal Effects of the Common Christian Myth 

Depending on your personality and the social environments you’ve inhabited, your ego (the conscious sense of your ideal self) and your persona (the ways you present ego to the world) adapted uniquely in response to the CCM. If the myth is closely aligned with your ego, you likely developed and amplified those corresponding traits, shaping your identity around one-sided ideals. In your effort to “live in the light,” you may have unknowingly cast a substantial shadow—an unlived life filled with unmet longings and suppressed desires, which were incongruent with collective expectations.

On the other hand, if the CCM conflicted with your sense of ideal-self, you may have adapted by withdrawing, hiding, or unconsciously forming an anti-myth—a way of surviving by pushing against the dominant narrative. If the myth upheld values like achievement, superiority, or material success, you might have coped by sabotaging your own progress, deferring your desires to others, or disconnecting from your innate agency and power. Though this resistance was likely protective, it can leave you caught in a painful loop of self-erasure and self-criticism, unsure how to live your authentic life.

Understanding how myths shape our lives means looking at the specific ways they have intertwined with our personality and our dominant Enneagram type. Each type carries its own myth, a hidden story that fuels its core motivations and fears. These myths aren’t arbitrary, they’ve been absorbed and reinforced by our experiences, social landscapes, and coping mechanisms. To uncover the roots of our personal myth is to discover the lens through which we see the world and to begin loosening its grip so we can live more free, soul-centered, and whole.

Common Myths of Each Enneagram Type

●  One: The Myth of Being Good

“If I just do everything right, I’ll be worthy of love.”

The personal myth for many Ones is built on the belief that perfection is protection. That if they can just keep things in order, follow the rules, and fix what’s broken in themselves and others, then they’ll earn belonging. But behind this myth is a quiet grief: the feeling that love might be conditional.

●  Two: The Myth of Being Needed:

“If I’m indispensable, I’ll never be abandoned.”

Twos often grow up believing that their value comes from being the helper, the caretaker, the one everyone turns to. Their myth says love must be earned through self-sacrifice. But in the shadow is a fear: If I stopped giving so much, would anyone still choose me?

●  Three: The Myth of Being Impressive

“If I’m successful and admired, I’ll finally be enough.”

For Threes, personal myth can feel like a performance script, to be what others want, achieve the dream, or look good doing it. But this myth hides a tender vulnerability: that being loved for who you are instead of what you do might still be out of reach.

●  Four: The Myth of Being Unique

“If I’m special and different, I’ll prove I deserve to exist.”

Fours often carry a myth that their deep longing and emotional complexity set them apart for a reason. But in the shadow is a whisper: What if I’m only lovable when I’m misunderstood, dramatic, or in pain? The true work is allowing the ordinary to be sacred, too.

●  Five: The Myth of Being Self-Sufficient

“If I stay detached and informed, I won’t need anyone.”

Fives are shaped by a myth of scarcity of energy, time and resources. If they can just stay hidden and understand enough, maybe they’ll finally feel safe. But this myth quietly isolates. Real security comes not from hoarding knowledge but from trusting others with their needs.

●  Six: The Myth of Being Prepared

“If I anticipate every threat, I’ll be safe and worthy of trust.”

Sixes often believe that loyalty and vigilance will keep them anchored. Their myth might say, don’t get too comfortable, something’s always around the corner. But the shadow here is exhausting. Real courage for a Six is risking trust, even when certainty is impossible.

●  Seven: The Myth of Being Okay

“If I stay positive and keep moving, I’ll avoid pain.”

For Sevens, the myth is often one of bright skies and endless options. The story goes: Don’t stop. Don’t feel too much. Always have a backup plan. But the shadow isn’t in the fear of limits, it’s in not knowing they could survive sadness too. Real joy is deeper than distraction.

●  Eight: The Myth of Being Strong

“If I’m tough and in control, no one can hurt me.”

Eights tend to live by a myth that strength means invulnerability. That tenderness is a risk they can’t afford. But what the myth conceals is the deep desire to be seen without armor, to be protected instead of always protecting. Real power comes from letting people in.

●  Nine: The Myth of Being Unimportant

“If I stay agreeable and keep the peace, I won’t be rejected.”

Nines often carry a myth that their presence is too much or not enough. So they merge, disappear, defer. But under the myth is a quiet rebellion: What if my desires matter? Shadow work invites the Nine to wake up to their own pulse and take up their rightful space.

Rewriting our Myths

Myths, then, are not merely old stories or fables, they are the hidden architecture of our consciousness. They shape what we believe is possible, how we love, and how we find meaning in both suffering and joy. Whether we realize it or not, we are always living in and through myths. They can hold us captive in old patterns or liberate us into new possibilities, depending on how we engage with them.


The invitation, then, is to bring these hidden myths into the light, not to discard them, but to see them for what they are: symbols that can guide or constrain us. By examining the myths that govern our lives, whether it’s the myth of being indispensable, the myth of being strong, or the myth of being prepared, we can begin to reclaim our agency and reconnect with the Source of our authentic power and creativity. Myth is not the enemy of truth; it’s the language through which our deepest truths come to light. In this way, even the most fantastical tales can become the raw material of transformation.

Dr. Michael Simmons (aka Shadow Mike) is an expert shadow work coach and trained group facilitator. He specializes in finding the psycho-spiritual root ailing you, then guiding you to your own abundant medicine, power, and agency. 

What are the invasive psycho-spiritual beliefs constricting your soul? Michael wants you to reconnect with your inherent, soulfully intuitive spirituality so you can embrace your unlived life.

Michael offers 1:1 Shadow Work Journeys for those who are ready to make a big shift in their life, He also hosts topical Shadow Work Sprints (workshops) to expand your psychic lung capacity around a common area of shadow work.  

Michael holds his Doctor of Leadership from Portland Seminary where his applied research centered on the intersection of Jungian Psychology, mythology, and the functions/dysfunctions of modern Christian spirituality (what he refers to as the Common Christian Myth). You can access his doctoral project here. 

Links

Email: mike@shadowmike.com

Website: ShadowMike.com

1:1 Shadow Work: Schedule a Free Discovery Call

YouTube: Inner Work Community YouTube Channel

Patheos Column: Transgressive Spirituality 

While living and working all over the world for 20 years with an international humanitarian organization, Chris Heuertz was first introduced to the Enneagram in a slum in Southeast Asia. Since then, he has trained under some of the great living Enneagram masters — including Marion Gilbert, Helen Palmer, Father Richard Rohr, and Russ Hudson.

As an International Enneagram Association Accredited Professional Chris now works as an Enneagram one-on-one coach and consultant, teaches the Enneagram all around the world, hosts the Enneagram Mapmakers podcast, delivered a TEDx talk on the Enneagram, and has published seven books including two bestselling Enneagram books: the award-winning The Sacred Enneagram and The Enneagram of Belonging.

Stay updated on Chris’s latest work and insightful Enneagram writings by subscribing to The Enneagram of Belonging on Substack.