Lesson 2 – Part 3: Sacrifice and Bliss

Original journal entry from May 31, 2025 (edited June 20, 2025) – Response to Lesson 2: Sacrifice and Bliss. This was my deeply personal reflection after continuing the Joseph Campbell interview, connecting his ideas about sacred places and bliss to my own daily practice of Lectio Divina, music, and biblical worship.

In this interview, Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell discuss how sacrifice and bliss are connected. Campbell starts out by quoting a Native American from 1852, Chief Seattle, as he is trying to come up with a response to a request from the US president, to “buy” native lands. Chief Seattle tries to explain how the land is not just real estate but is part of him and his people, and by extension, part of all living beings. He declares that we have it backwards if we think that we own anything in this earth. That the earth does not belong to man but rather that man belongs to the earth. Moyers admits that the land is not meant to be divided into cities and nations but revered as sacred places realms of myth.

Roughly one hundred years later, as the society and culture slowly shifted from a hunting mentality to a planting and harvesting mentality, the symbology of the storytelling shifted as well. Instead of the animal giving itself for the nourishment of the hunter, the story became that of the plant dying and new life coming from the seed.

I wonder if this shift that came with the modern world to the natives in America is not also connected to the advancement of the Christian Gospel, since the symbolism regarding Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is often compared to a seed that has to die and be buried before new life begins.

I love how Campbell describes how we all should have a sacred place. That’s something that I’ve implemented in my life about 10 years ago and I can only keep echoing what he says. For me its location, and on occasion, its timing, has changed over time based on changes in schedule and circumstances, but I do my best to keep it. In the last maybe 4-5 years, it’s been “located” on the same spot on one of our couches, and usually during the early morning hours, where I read from the Bible. This is probably a longer story for another topic but I use a “system” called Lectio Divina, a way to hear what God is speaking to me personally, right here, right now (if you’ve ever heard the term “rhema,” it’s that). I feel like I was just telling someone about this the other day. When we have guests over sometimes they sit in “my spot,” my sacred place. And many people have told me that when they sit there they experience a strong sense of peace and that it’s like a heavy weight has been lifted off of them. I’ve had people even fall asleep in that spot! I feel like it gets supercharged when I sit there every day and receive from God.

This also reminds me of how Christian believers often “use” Psalm 91 to encourage themselves and overcome fear. It speaks of God’s presence being the secret place, a sacred place. This place is not a geographical location or even a spot on a couch. It’s not even a certain time in the day or a hidden part of the heart or mind, but rather it’s a posture of complete surrender towards God who satisfies every need and removes every spiritual burden. Being in this secret place it is possible to be completely at peace in the most chaotic situations.

If this is the space where Campbell calls finding bliss I have found it. When I’m here I never want to leave. Nothing else matters. But all too often the things of this world want my attention and I give it. More often than I would like it, I forget that I can always go back. It’s funny though how Campbell mentions music as a means to help you get back. He’s really speaking my language here! One of the things I “preach” is having a playlist or a song list that takes you to your secret place. I have a playlist on YouTube that I keep sharing with friends and family where every single song on there is a gateway- you can start on the first song, the last one, or some random one in the middle and you will find yourself getting there.

Moyers and Campbell agree that in our modern thinking we have lost what the hunters and the gatherers have who live in their sacred places where in their very environment everything is sacred, everything that surrounds them is their sacred place, they play a part in their own mythology.

I want to close with this thought however because I believe it drives home Campbell’s point. It’s the story of the encounter that a Samaritan woman at the well had with her Messiah. It’s a relatively short exchange, and it’s beautifully illustrated in the show The Chosen (here’s that scene, https://gur7.com/woman-at-the-well.m4v), where Jesus basically describes how God is not found in just one place and can be worshipped anywhere (not just in Jerusalem). God is Spirit. You can encounter Him anywhere because He’s everywhere. He says that all that is necessary is to worship in spirit and in truth. In spirit, anywhere and anytime. In truth, the truth is that He is here right now and He is excitedly waiting for you. He’s not angry- whatever you think you’ve done to receive punishment, the price has been paid. He’s excited about you and welcomes you home.

Umalohókan

House of Twin Suns
TM: Carlos Martinez

"You don't have to see the whole staircase just to take the first step."

(Signature links to IP Journal, Apprentice Journal, A.div Journal, and Degree Tracker omitted for brevity — these were forum navigation links at the time.)

The following user(s) said Thank You: RosalynJ, Yelt
Last edit: 20 Jun 2025 20:44 by Yelt97 IPTC


Looking back now: This entry is one of the most personal in the early series — sharing my actual sacred space practice (Lectio Divina on the couch) and how music helps return to bliss. It felt vulnerable at the time, but it also showed how the lessons were already integrating into my daily life and faith.