Following Mythic Coyote

 “When we study other people’s myths and rituals we may do so out of pure intellectual curiosity, to see what they believe in and do that we do not believe in or do. But sometimes we may begin to wonder what would happen if we ourselves came to believe those myths…”               —-Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty, Other People’s MythsIn this program I share a couple of Mythic Coyote stories from the creation mythology of the Chemehuevi people. The Chemehuevi are native to the Mojave and have lived here for centuries, primarily near the Colorado River. My telling of these stories is adapted from versions found in Mirror and Pattern by Carobeth Laird.I originally told these stories as part of a public lecture that was sponsored by the Morongo Basin Historical Society.  I invited that group to reflect on them as a source of information about the Chemehuevi and about themselves. Many of our assumptions and beliefs about life and the world are unconscious. Bringing them to awareness is the first step in truly owning them, living them, and potentially changing them.I extend that same invitation to you and fear not, you’ll get a laugh or two from this program as well as food for thought. Support the show