Global Narratives
by Allie Rowbottom
A few days ago, when the latest installment of JK Rowling's Harry Potter saga was released, I, alongside a seemingly endless swarm of kids and adults alike, scrambled to buy the book. At the risk of coming off as a complete groupie, I absolutely adore Harry Potter. Obviously so do a lot of other people and, although such is not usually thought to be a spiritual topic, because it is so widely loved, I think that, given the correct lens, it can be.
Stories have a way of bonding and bringing people together. I think that, in many ways, anything that serves to peaceably unite has to it a spiritual facet. It therefore stands to reason that the most pivotal spiritual people, places, and events have been backed by stories that, for whatever reason, have collectively impacted those who hear them. Obvious examples here would be the Bible, the Torah, the Bhagavad-Gita and so forth. These narratives compose the roots of very different religions but tell stories that are markedly similar.
So, how does this connect to Harry Potter? Well, it seems to me that the popularity of certain stories, and the reactions that they yield, makes them spiritual, whether or not they are intended as such. JK Rowling's seven-part epic is no exception to this idea and actually applies itself in many ways to the archetypes and ideas inherent in noted sacred texts.
Carl Jung thought that humanity has a collective unconscious mind with which certain archetypal representations would resonate, regardless of one's background. Such explains why similar symbols appear in people's dreams despite vastly disparate cultures and lifestyles. It might also elucidate why certain stories are universally appealing. I love this idea for it speaks to the unity of thought I see as responsible for the popularity of a story across the range of understandings offered by life. What is more, we all visualize these stories in similar ways, regardless of who we are or where we're from. Case in point: I can't think of anyone I know who saw Peter Jackson's production of Lord of the Rings and said, "Well I didn't imagine Middle Earth to look like that at all…" I'm sure such has been the response of one or two people somewhere along the line, but for the most part, we all loved Jackson's depiction because we all compose similar mental illustrations to accompany spiritually important stories. Perhaps this is so because, unbeknownst to us, these tales are already a part of our collective unconscious mind. Myths and meaning exist there and are given to us by great authors and artists, people we wouldn't necessarily think to be spiritual teachers. Herman Hesse, Harper Lee, JR Tolkein, and JK Rowling have been as important to me as any biblical scribe or didactic morality play. They have helped me to develop places and people that serve as the chapels of my mind, sanctuaries to which I can return time and again, always feeling myself familiar, peaceful, and at home.
