The idea of polytheistic myth as having psychological value is one theorem of archetypal psychology as defined by James Hillman, and explored in current Jungian mythology literature. According to proponents of this theory, polytheistic myths can provide psychological insight.
Christine Downing recounts the Ancient Greek view of the gods as archetypes that affect everyone. In so being they are referred to "as theos, that is, as immortal, permanent, ineluctable aspects of the world". According to Downing, disputes among the Greek pantheon were frequent, yet no god in the Classical era ever denied the existence of another god. She also cautions that to deny even one member of the pantheon diminishes the richness of individuals and of the world.
For Carl Gustav Jung, the primary function of myth is psychological â to shed light on the workings of the unconscious. The cornerstone of his therapeutic approach is working with a patientâÂÂs dreams and fantasies. To be of help, then, it is imperative to have knowledge of the details of the patientâÂÂs life as well as knowledge of âÂÂâ¦symbols, and therefore of mythology and the history of religionsâÂÂ. Jung implies the diversity of psychic energies inhabiting the unconscious mind. He also cautions readers to know these energies rather than force them into oneâÂÂs shadow, lest oneâÂÂs âÂÂâ¦moods, nervous states, and delusions make it clear in the most painful way that [one] is not the only master in [one's] houseâ¦"
Thomas Moore says of James HillmanâÂÂs teaching that he âÂÂportrays the psyche as inherently multipleâÂÂ. In HillmanâÂÂs archetypal/polytheistic view, the psyche or soul has many directions and sources of meaningâÂÂand this can feel like an ongoing state of conflictâÂÂa struggle with oneâÂÂs daimons. According to Hillman, âÂÂpolytheistic psychology can give sacred differentiation to our psychic turmoilâ¦âÂÂ. Furthermore, Hillman states that, "The power of myth, its reality, resides precisely in its power to seize and influence psychic life. The Greeks knew this so well, and so they had no depth psychology and psychopathology such as we have. They had myths. And we have no myths as such -instead, depth psychology and psychopathology. Therefore... psychology shows myths in modern dress and myths show our depth psychology in ancient dress." Hillman qualifies his many references to gods as differing from a literalistic approach saying that for him they are aides memoires, i.e. sounding boards employed "for echoing life today or as bass chords giving resonance to the little melodies of life." Hillman further asserts that he does not view the pantheon of gods as a 'master matrix' against which we should measure today and thereby decry modern loss of richness.
Other proponents of this view are Jean Shinoda Bolen and Ginette Paris.