Dive into an ancient Amazonian myth where the soul journeys to the cosmos each night, gathering messages woven into dreams. Explore the idea that each individual carries a hidden 'speck of star' meant to guide them. The discussion emphasizes the importance of awakening our unique selves during turbulent times, urging listeners to recognize their inherent genius. The narrative contrasts the richness of the inner world with societal pressures, advocating for authenticity and personal growth as essential for adding deeper meaning to our lives.
Each individual carries a hidden 'speck of star' within their soul, symbolizing unique gifts that must be awakened and expressed.
Ancient cultures emphasized the interconnectedness of the soul and cosmos, suggesting that dreams hold vital messages for personal and communal growth.
Deep dives
The Connection Between Soul and Cosmos
Each individual is believed to possess a unique essence, referred to as a 'speck of star' hidden within their soul, waiting to guide them through life. Ancient cultures intertwined the concept of the soul with the cosmos, suggesting that during sleep, the dream soul travels to the universe's center to retrieve significant messages. This relationship illustrates how modern humans tend to overlook their intrinsic connection to the cosmos and nature, considering them as separate entities rather than interconnected aspects of existence. Recalling the example of the Appentary tribe, their practice of sharing and honoring dreams reflects a vibrant communal acknowledgement of the messages from the cosmos, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and amplifying the dreamer's experience.
The Unique Gift of Individual Genius
Everyone is born with an inherent genius, a unique quality within them that contributes meaningfully to the world. However, many individuals struggle to express this genius due to societal pressures and personal insecurities, often conforming to external expectations instead of embracing their true selves. The notion that each person is irreplaceable highlights the importance of self-discovery and encouragement from others in nurturing their inner genius. The metaphor of the birthday candle, which represents an individual's genius being recognized and blessed by the community, underscores the significance of external validation in helping individuals realize their unique contributions to the world.
Rediscovering Presence and Purpose
In today's disorienting culture, individuals often find it difficult to connect with their genuine purpose and meaning in life. The acknowledgment that liberation arises from being conscious of one's soul emphasizes the need for self-inquiry and understanding. As individuals awaken to their unique gifts and contributions, they help counteract the void left by those who misuse power and authority to dominate others. By cultivating a sense of presence, compassion emerges, enabling everyone to navigate life's complexities with a deeper sense of connection and purpose.
This episode begins with an ancient myth from a tribe along the Amazon River. The story tells how the inner soul of each person travels at night all the way the center of the cosmos. Once there, the soul receives a message that is brought back and shared with the tribe as a dream. Meade draws on this link between the individual soul and the cosmos to describe how ancient cultures imagined each person to be born with a speck of star hidden in their soul, buried in their heart, just waiting to become a person’s “guiding star.” Each person is intended to contribute presence and meaning to the world and liberation happens each time we become conscious of the contents of our soul. We are here to awaken and learn how to express the uniqueness of our souls, and if we do that we add presence, being and creativity to the world and we become irreplaceable. If we don’t find the meanings hidden in our souls, the world loses presence and people who have no idea who they are come to dominate society. Rumi wrote that: “The world inside is bigger than the world outside.” Meade argues that in this time of darkness and conflict, hatred and bigotry, we have to revive the sense of the inner magnanimity and enduring brilliance of the individual soul. Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can further support this podcast by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 700 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at: patreon.com/livingmyth If you enjoy this podcast, we appreciate you leaving a review wherever you listen and sharing it with your friends. On behalf of Michael Meade and the whole Mosaic staff, we wish you well and thank you for your support of our work.
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