The 'Popol Vuh,' creation myth of the Quiche Maya, amplified from a Jungian psychological perspective

The purpose of this study is to explore the meaning, function, and continuing significance of the Popol Vuh, the Quiche Maya creation myth, from a Jungian psychological perspective. By examining the themes, metaphors, images, and symbols contained in this myth it was possible to extract the psychological meaning of the myth that is pertinent to both the collective understanding of myth, the collective unconscious, as well as the individuals' process of individuation as formulated by Jung.;Archival, hermeneutical, and comparative mythological methods were used to study this ancient Quiche text. The process of gathering data was through a thorough Jungian amplification of the material. The process of amplification was explained and Jungian terminology was defined. Because of a dearth of local comparative material for purposes of amplification both remaining local and cross-cultural symbolic and thematic resources were used. An extensive literature review includes sources from Mesoamerica, comparative mythology, Jungian theory, anthropology, art history, ethnography, and comparative religions. The function and purpose of mythology was discussed in detail, the myth was amplified, themes were extracted, and then compared to myths from a wide range of cultures throughout the world as a way of establishing the universality of patterns to further support the Jungian theory of archetypes and the collective unconscious. Additionally, the mythic patterns were found to be similar to stages seen in the process of individuation.;The Popol Vuh was established as a significant epic story of creation that arose in a sophisticated and important American culture in the Mirador Basin, in Guatemala isolated from the rest of the developing world. It deserves to take its rightful place alongside similar creation myths from the prominent cultures of the world. From it, one can glean a clearer understanding of the foundation of the Maya culture, their conception of the greater cosmos, and the template laid out to cope with the challenges of life and the beyond. Their cultural and spiritual challenges hold a memory that is beneficial to our current age.