Readers want a clearer definition of where the monomyth was in the Native American experience cited by Chief Seattle. The monomyth was the completely accepted reality that all existence was anthropomorphically aware of the rest of existence. The river was aware that the Indians were there; the rocks and beaches were cognizant of reality the same way a person would be. This myth provided religious morality, social structure and an understanding of how the Universe works. The monomyth needed no words or drawn lines because it was a totally encompassing reality.
Part of the reason that the Native Indian monomyth existed was its origin very early in history at a time when the sciences did not exist nor were required on the American Plains. By the time the sciences and the industrial revolution came along, the Western cultures were based on a monomyth that Homos were of a different ilk that was superior to the rest of the planet and the only creature capable of reason and imagination.
Be careful, the rivers, mountains, animals and trees may convince the Solar System to send the ICE unit . . .
Ancient Mariner
Thank you for the clearer definition of the Native American monomyth and the comparison with the world view of the developing Western civilization. It is more clear than Joseph Campbell’s explanation! It also makes me realize that that primitive world view which lasted for thousands of years cannot be sustained with the advent of science and reason. “Knowledge grows from more to more, it cannot grow from more to less.” I think that is Tennyson’s response to Chief Seattle.
However, I may be wrong. Maybe lots of people live perfectly adequate lives without benefit of science or reason.