“Myth is the art of creating meaning that binds us to the cosmos and to each other.”
As we reach the culmination of this series, we turn to the profound task of crafting a new mythos — a symbolic horizon informed by relational ontology, capable of guiding meaning and being in a complex, interconnected world.
Why a New Mythos?
Traditional myths offered frameworks for understanding existence, identity, and purpose rooted in fixed symbolic orders. Yet, the accelerating flux of modernity and the plurality of contemporary life challenge these orders.
Relational ontology reveals that:
Meaning is not fixed or universal but emerges through dynamic construal and alignment,
Reality is a reflexive achievement, continually produced by collective symbolic processes,
Our symbolic infrastructures must be flexible, inclusive, and open to transformation.
A new mythos is needed to reflect these insights — to inspire shared meaning without reifying fixed universals.
Features of a Relational Mythos
A mythos grounded in relational ontology would:
Emphasise interconnection and interdependence over isolation or essence,
Celebrate process, becoming, and emergence rather than static being,
Recognise the plurality of symbolic worlds and the necessity of negotiation,
Embed reflexivity at its core, encouraging continuous reinterpretation,
Acknowledge the power dynamics inherent in meaning-making, fostering awareness and equity.
Symbolic Horizons as Living Systems
This new mythos envisions symbolic horizons as living, evolving systems — infrastructures that sustain collective meaning while allowing for transformation and adaptation.
Rather than seeking closure, it invites openness:
Openness to difference, change, and emergent possibilities,
Openness to dialogue across symbolic regimes,
Openness to the unknown and the unbounded potential of meaning.
Mythos and Praxis
A relational mythos is not mere abstraction. It grounds praxis — guiding action, community formation, and cultural innovation.
It offers:
Symbols and narratives that phase collective orientation toward shared goals,
Frameworks for navigating crisis and uncertainty,
Means for bridging divides across difference.
Conclusion
Crafting a new mythos grounded in relational ontology is both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires embracing complexity, uncertainty, and multiplicity — while affirming the power of symbolic systems to bind us together and shape our shared world.
As we conclude this series, the journey of myth continues — not as a quest for timeless truths, but as an ongoing, reflexive co-creation of meaning and reality.
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