ABSTRACT
This chapter engages the writing of Joseph Campbell and outlines what it means to approach acting from the mythic rather than the literal/rational perspective. It examines how the mythic connects the actor to metaphor as a soulful pilgrimage. Included in this chapter are the story of the Dung Beetle, the Yoruban deity Elegua, and the Jewish tale of Lailah. The actor is invited to explore their mytho-poetic mind by tuning in and listening. There are two preliminary acting exercises, centered on the world of the mythic: the Centering Exercise and the Oracle Exercise.
