EP 51: The Occidental Tradition part 2

In Part Two of The Occidental Tradition, recorded at the Blaisdell Institute in 1973, this episode features Joseph Campbell leading an informal and wide-ranging discussion on education, mythology, and the Occidental tradition.

Campbell begins with the sacred syllable Om, exploring waking consciousness, dreams, and the silence that lies behind words and images. He describes dreams as a personal entrance into the world of myth, where individual experience opens onto larger, universal patterns.

He also recounts a remarkable mythological wedding ceremony held in the volcanic landscape of Iceland. Drawing upon Norse symbolism, ritual, music, movement, and the natural environment, the ceremony becomes an example of how mythology can be lived rather than merely studied.

The conversation then turns toward education and Campbell’s belief that Western students should encounter Eastern traditions while also developing a deeper understanding of their own cultural inheritance. He emphasizes the Occidental tradition’s focus on individual responsibility, the discovery of one’s unique path, and the courage to enter the unknown.

Host Bradley Olson offers an introduction and commentary, providing historical context for this spontaneous and revealing conversation.

Pathways with Joseph Campbell is hosted by Brad Olson, PhD and is a production of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. It is produced by Tyler Lapkin. Executive Producer, Joanna Gardner. Editing and audio services by Dia Griffiths.

For more information on the MythMaker Podcast Network and Joseph Campbell, visit JCF.org.

All music exclusively provided by APM Music (apmmusic.com)