Storyteller Michael Meade shares an old Indian tale about creation and existential crisis. He discusses fears of abandonment and being overwhelmed, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's innate genius. The podcast explores the power of ancient stories for personal growth and self-discovery, urging listeners to embrace despair as a path to uncovering their unique brilliance and essence. Meade also reflects on societal change and the connection between human nature, culture, and the environment.
Tapping into our inner genius and unique abilities serves as medicine for despair and anxiety.
Embracing darkness as a catalyst for personal growth and connecting to inner brilliance is essential.
Deep dives
Markandeya's Existential Crisis
Markandeya, an ancient sage in an Indian story about the creation of the world, experiences an existential crisis caught between wonder and despair, echoing the current world's atmosphere of fear and hopelessness. His journey underscores the two primal fears of abandonment and overwhelm, highlighting the importance of tapping into the essential aspect within us to avoid being consumed by despair.
Navigating Despair to Find Inner Buoyancy
As Markandeya falls into an endless dark sea of despair, he grapples with the loss of beauty and wonders where reality lies. To combat drowning in despair, he turns inward and discovers a spark of imagination that provides buoyancy in the face of fear. By finding this inner light, he propels himself towards a distant glowing mountain range, symbolizing a return to the realm of creation.
Embracing Darkness for Transformation
Markandeya's descent into darkness represents a journey towards self-discovery and authenticity, shedding false hopes and delving into hidden brilliance. Mead emphasizes the value of darkness, critiquing the modern obsession with light, and encourages embracing the dark depths as a catalyst for personal growth and connection to inner genius. He suggests that in the face of present upheaval, a broader human vision encompassing nature's beauty and humanity's creative essence is essential for potential transformation.
Michael Meade tells an old story from India about the creation of the world. In it, an ancient sage named Markandeya is caught in the tension between creation and wonder, despair and loss. His existential crisis speaks to the world we live in now with its increasing levels of fear and despair. Addressing the two great fears - fear of abandonment and the fear of being overwhelmed – Meade talks about how easily we can get lost in despair if we don’t know there is something essential in the ground of our being. He suggests that this story, and all the old stories, remind us that every soul born comes in with genius capacities, natural gifts and a unique way of being – a fundamental quality that serves as medicine and antidote to feelings of discouragement, fear and anxiety.
Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael Meade live by joining his new online workshop “Facing Fate, Finding Destiny” on Saturday, May 11. Register and learn more at mosaicvoices.org/events.
You can save 30% on this new workshop and 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 625 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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