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Melissa Fargo is an editorial and commercial photographer with a special interest in documentary photography. Based in California, her interest in cultures, ritual and social issues have lead her to travel around the world.
This series of images is from an ongoing project exploring the practices and rituals of different cultures and faiths from the viewpoint of commonalities rather than differences. Joseph Campbell says that myths are the world's dreams and rituals are the mythological rites that guide in the process of becoming and teach one how to live a human life under any circumstances. There are gods of compassion and violence, loving and wrathful gods, gods that unite the worlds of the seen and the unseen and those that protect kings and nations. The ultimate source is a mystery, but the themes of myth remain the same throughout time.
When we are able to remove the fear of our differences, we may be able to better experience the humanity of our commonalities.
All photos © 2006 Melissa Fargo, unless indicated otherwise.