Be Mythical

Explore the balance between spiritual transcendence and personal identity, integrating spiritual experiences with earthly existence. Reflect on interconnectedness with the universe and the uniqueness of individual life paths. Dive into Greek mythology's contrasting energies of Apollo and Dionysus, and the delicate balance between spirituality and materialism. Delve deep into esoteric beliefs of Steiner, embracing the sacredness of earth and body in living a spiritual life.

This week's show is with Ian Watson. Ian is an educator, author and facilitator who has worked in the field of well-being, holistic healing and inner transformation since 1988. He has travelled extensively giving seminars, courses and retreats around the world. Ian became widely known as a speaker and writer in homeopathy, which he taught and practised until 2003. He subsequently trained in a wide variety of psychological and emotional healing disciplines in the following decade. Ian has been a lifelong student of the work of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung and the great spiritual traditions of the world, taoism and zen buddhism in particular. In 2011 he discovered the work of Sydney Banks which has been pivotal in aligning his psychological and spiritual understanding together with his holistic approach to health and healing. In this conversation, Ian and Lian journeyed into the topic of myth as a path of self-illumination and healing, our own stories of discovering the power of myth, some of the myths that have called us to work with them, and the ways that anyone called to myth and self-knowledge can journey deeper. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: The mythical worldview is one that comes naturally for humans, we are conditioned out of it but can reclaim it - we just need to pay attention and heed the call Notice what resonates for you and trust it is the path to gold, this is a journey of the heart, not the head alone Value and prioritise your time in non-ordinary consciousness, day dreams, night dreams, and trance, and working with the symbols that arise. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Details of Ian's work can be found at www.theinsightspace.com Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with Dr. Helané Wahbeh. Helané is the Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Wahbeh is clinically trained as a naturopathic physician and research trained with a Master of Clinical Research and two post-doctoral research fellowships. Recently named President of the Parapsychological Association, she has published on and spoken internationally about her studies on complementary and alternative medicine, mind-body medicine, extended human capacities, stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, and their relationships to physiology, health, and healing. Dr. Wahbeh is especially known for her research around — and noetic approach to — channeling. She is the author of some 90+ peer-reviewed publications, the new book The Science of Channeling: Why You Should Trust Your Intuition and the Force That Connects Us All and Free To Be Me: A Journey of Transformation through Generational Healing. In this show, Helané and Lian explored the topics of telepathy, precognition, and intention - specifically through the lens of harnessing those abilities in the healing arts. Helané shared research on telephone telepathy, where people accurately guess who is calling them above chance, and the power of bringing focused positive intention to support others' health. They also spoke about the unique ways individuals express their intuitive wisdom - although these are abilities we can see in many humans, some do have a genetic propensity to be especially strong in certain abilities - and that's something we can train and hone too. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: Telepathy is the communication of impressions from one mind to another that is independent of recognized channels of sense. Research shows that telephone telepathy is a common phenomenon, with people accurately guessing who is calling them above chance. Intention plays a significant role in healing and can be used to support others' health and well-being. The Noetic Signature explores the unique ways individuals express their intuitive gifts, but it's important to recognise that it seems that everyone has the capacity to tap into this wisdom. Using focused positive intention can influence the physical world and contribute to creating a world of peace, love, and freedom for all. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Institute of Noetic Sciences Research Free To Be Me: A Journey of Transformation through Generational Healing The Science of Channeling: Why You Should Trust Your Intuition and the Force That Connects Us All Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with Caitlin Matthews. Caitlin is an internationally renowned author, a teacher of shamanic training programme, a facilitator of Systemic Ritual® and the co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies (FÍOS). Caitlín Matthews is the author of over 80 books, including Diary of a Soul Doctor, Singing the Soul Back Home, the Art of Celtic Seership, Celtic Devotional and The Celtic Book of the Dead. Her books have won a number of awards. She is known internationally for her work on the spiritual, mythic and ancestral traditions of Britain and Ireland. She teaches and works with communities and spiritual institutions worldwide from Iceland to Portugal and from USA to Australia. Caitlín is a co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies (FÍOS), which is dedicated to the sacred arts that shape the landscape of the soul, via vision, dream and memory. FÍOS hosts masterclasses with exemplars of living, oracular sacred traditions that are rarely recorded in writing or given an honourable place in modern society. Caitlín has had a shamanic healing practice in Oxford for the last 30 years, working in the community to deepen connections to the ancestral traditions which are our heritage. In this conversation, Caitlin and Lian dived deep the importance of reconnecting with ancestral traditions for those of us who are change-workers and healers. They discussed the power of perception, the call to shamanism, and the role of myth, symbol and metaphor in healing. Caitlin emphasised the importance of voice and singing in ancestral traditions and the fear that often surrounds it. They also explored the unique qualities of the islands and the importance of being rooted in the land. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: Perception plays a crucial role in shamanic experiences, allowing individuals to perceive things and in ways that others may not be able to. The call to shamanism often comes in a way that gets our attention and may not be comfortable, but it is a powerful and transformative journey. Connecting with ancestral traditions and the land is essential in shamanic practice, as it provides a deep sense of rootedness and connection. The power of voice and singing is a central aspect of ancestral traditions, and overcoming the fear of singing can be a transformative experience. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: For Caitlin's books & courses see: www.hallowquest.org.uk For Caitlin's more writing on a range of topics, including a year-long course, Blessings of the Celtic Year, see her Hallowquest Sanctuary at www.hallowquest.substack.com Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with Joshua Michael Schrei, a writer, a teacher, the founder and host of The Emerald podcast. The Emerald combines evocative narrative, soul-stirring music, and interviews with award-winning authors and luminaries to explore the human experience through a vibrant lens of myth, story, and imagination. The Emerald draws from a deep well of poetry, lore, and mythos to challenge conventional narratives on politics and public discourse, meditation and mindfulness, art, science, literature, and more. A writer, teacher, and a lifelong student of the cosmologies and mythologies of the world — in particular the Indian subcontinent — Josh has sought to navigate the living, animate space of the imagination and advocate for a world that prioritizes imaginative vision. Josh has taught intensive courses in mythology and somatic disciplines for nearly 20 years. In this conversation, Joshua and Lian journeyed into exploring the role of the mythopoetic worldview in change work, i.e. for those of us healing and guiding others. We discuss the importance of myth and the animistic worldview but also that it's the one that humans have held for the vast majority of our time on earth, the need to go beyond intellectual analysis and engage in practical actions and offerings to establish a deeper relationship with the living forces around us, and the challenges of bridging the gap between Western analytical approaches and the embodied knowing of mythic work. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: Myth is not an abstract concept but a living reality that can be experienced through practical actions and offerings. Engaging with myth and the animistic worldview requires a shift in consciousness and a recognition of our relational responsibility to the living world. The Western worldview often separates us from the animate world, but our ancestors lived in deep reciprocal relationship with the land and its beings. Symbols and archetypes are not mere abstractions but tangible forces that can be experienced and engaged with in a direct and practical way. Forgetting and remembering our connection to the animate world is a continuous process that requires humility and openness to new experiences. Seek out spaces and practices that offer tangible spiritual experiences. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: To find out more about Joshua's work, visit The Emerald Podcast at: patreon.com/theemeraldpodcast Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This was the first episode of the new Be Mythical podcast with Lian and Jonathan. In this conversation, we discuss the launch of all things Be Mythical, including the work of living your soul's truth, the challenges faced by old souls in the modern world and the need to reconnect with nature and rewild oneself, the power of community and ritual in the journey of self-discovery. We also shared more details about the upcoming Mythical Academy and improvements to this show. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Register your interest in the new academy HERE Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with the amazing Dr Joanna LaPrade. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., is a Registered Psychotherapist, author, speaker, and educator. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., earned her doctorate in Jungian and archetypal psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is now the founder of Aion Psychotherapy and a practicing Jungian psychotherapist in Colorado. Her therapeutic work focuses on helping clients find a meaningful connection to their inner worlds. Outside of her practice, Dr. LaPrade is a speaker and educator whose expertise focus on myth, psyche, and the Jungian and archetypal perspective. She is also the author of Forged in Darkness: The Many Paths of Personal Transformation, a book that unites self-discovery with mythology, to handle an important dilemma of our times—how to navigate the darkness of life. In this conversation, Dr Joanna and Lian dived deep into an exploration, inspired by the question of: What is true growth? They nerded out on telos, fate, astrology, and symbols, and the inherent paradox and challenges we're brought present to whilst journeying on this path. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: Joanna shared Jung's self-reflective question of "Who am I to have this happen to me?" - this is an orientation to our lives that can invite and open us into having a deep intimacy with ourselves. Allowing symbols to emerge and yet, holding them lightly and allowing the space for the tension of not knowing allows more to arise What will help you to hold the tension between the known and unknown, to journey with the deep questions without needing to kill the questions or fix the problem? Resources and stuff that we spoke about: For more information about Dr. Joanna's work, visit www.aionpsychotherapy.com Books mentioned: The Sound of Bells by Norah Moore Jung's Studies in Astrology: Prophecy, Magic, and the Qualities of Time by Liz Greene Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with Maggy Whitehouse. Maggy Whitehouse is an independent sacramental minister, a lifetime student of Judaeo-Christian mysticism, the author of 20 books on spirituality, mysticism and Bible metaphysics and started out as a stand-up comedian at the age of 56. She was a finalist in the 2015 UK Funny Women Awards. Maggy has worked in newspapers, radio, TV, for the BBC's famed World Service and, most recently, was Sunday morning faith presenter for BBC Radio Devon. She made it on to Wikipedia after writing a sensible book about Opus Dei at the time of all the palaver over The Da Vinci Code. She has been widowed, divorced, healed from cancer, worked as a hospice chaplain, ridden on a Bengal tiger and survived a barracuda attack off the Barrier Reef. Both Maggy's mother and her Bishop think she should get a proper job. In this show, Lian and Maggy explored resistance, specifically through the lens of how it shows up in the form of temptations to avoid expressing our soul's truth, how we can tell when it's showing up (by design it's sneaky), and how we can learn to orient back to our souls and God. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: Noticing your 'Should's and 'Yes but's… they are clues to resistance showing up Make your connection to the Divine a priority, do it first and often, 30 seconds of meditation, lighting a candle, going to your altar, speaking a prayer… a little goes a long way to taking you back to your soul Let the light of your own unique soul be that which helps others to navigate back to theirs Resources and stuff that we spoke about Maggy's Website that you can check out: maggywhitehouse.com treeofsapphires.com Listen to Maggy's podcast: Train Wrecks for Jesus. Introducing Mark and Maggy The Chapel of Liberation meditation that Maggy offered: here's a link to her podcast in which she shares it Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe you'll receive every show as soon as it's released (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is with Wendy Dooner. Wendy Dooner is a Medical Herbalist and Shamanic Practitioner from Scotland who is passionate about reconnecting women with the innate healing wisdom of nature and their bodies. Wendy graduated from university in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) and, more recently, a 3-year advanced Shamanic Practitioner course. Weaving back together the threads of science, magic and spirituality in herbal medicine has been a major focus of her practice recently and is a cornerstone of her teachings; she now practices what she has called Shamanic Herbalism. Through her online courses, workshops, or one-on-one consultations, Wendy ensures that this wonderful blend of ancient wisdom and modern science reaches all her students. At the heart of Wendy's practice is her profound connection with her native medicinal plants. She believes that these plants hold the answers to many of our modern ailments. In her practice, Wendy doesn't just prescribe herbs; she introduces her clients to a world where plants are people; they are teachers, guides, allies and elders. She believes that every plant has a story to tell and a lesson to impart, and it's her mission to facilitate these transformative conversations between nature and the individual. She lives happily in a small community in the foothills of the Cairngorms in Scotland with her husband and 2 young sons, where she forages in the wilds of the moorlands, grows herbs in her messy garden and skateboards at every spare opportunity. In this show, Lian and Wendy explored our experience and understanding of autistic people, and maybe especially women, being designed to be healers, how the very aspects of ourselves that have created struggles, can be used in service of helping others to heal, and what we've seen can be helpful to alchemise those challenges into gold. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: As both Lian and Wendy's experiences showed, being late diagnosed as a woman can bring its own emotions and challenges - there's a reckoning and grieving needed in order to move forward into claiming the gifts that autism brings Pattern recognition, empathy, adherence to ritual, openness to spirits and other realms, and attention to detail are all aspects of autism that can be used in service of supporting others in their journey to wholeness Diving into the work of reclaiming the unwanted and hidden parts of us is challenging for most people but maybe especially for autistic people for whom there has been an even greater challenge, necessity, and effort needed to fit in and function - it requires the right support and readiness, and we can be helped by understanding and using some of the very same gifts we will ultimately serve to others. Resources and stuff that we spoke about Visit Wendy's Website: wendydooner.com The Center for Shamanism: Shamanic Herbal 1:1 with Wendy Follow The Center of Shamanism in Social Media: Facebook: Wendy Dooner Instagram: @wendy.shamanicherbalist Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe you'll receive every show as soon as it's released (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week's show is a round table conversation with five medicinal souls sharing their journey of becoming their medicine. They are Sara Sanderson - a soul guide and seer, Pablo Meccano, a coach, shadow worker, science fiction writer & grower of medicinal plants, Kate Barsby - a soul guide, Georgie Anstey - a community farmer, and Karl Brooks - a drum circle facilitator. All of whom are alumni of different cohorts of our signature crucible Medicine, which guides medicinal old souls to discover their purpose, uncover their unique gifts, and become their medicine. The journey they went on is an ancient journey, experienced in different ways in different cultures across the world and throughout history, and so the episode was a rich exploration of their own personal journey of this archetypal journey, traveling deep into their sacred wounds, to alchemise their medicine, first giving it to themselves and then serving it to others. Lian was called to hold the conversation in a circle-style way, similar to Medicine itself, so you'll hear each person speaking themselves into circle using their medicine name, something that was uncovered during their work in Medicine. Notice what intrigues or activates you, both in the medicine names and also throughout the episode - and what it might reveal about your own soul's calling. I'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you'll learn from this episode: I loved how each of the medicinal ones had different experiences of Medicine, including why they joined, even though the work journeyed through was apparently the same - this is because the work is really happening inside them - their own soul's longings, wounds, alchemy, and medicine. What Karl said, and Pablo echoed, about the power of not knowing and journeying with the mystery, is an important principle of initiation, and is required when we are journeying into territory beyond the ideas and tools we have learned and clung to. Kate and Georgie both shared about how their medicine was first taken by themselves - we can only alchemise that potency and uniqueness of medicine ourselves - and this is true nature of healing. What Sara shared about truth and expression is something that is so important for all medicinal souls to hear - most of us are meant to express ourselves in ways that are different to most people in our modern culture. That's the most challenging thing of all for so many of us, and why we benefit from doing this work in a circle of others who can witness and support us in that unfurling into our truth. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Medicine '24: find out more and book your Medicine Illumination call HERE Sara Sanderson has a background in coaching and mentoring across the arts, business and community sectors with a passion for supporting people to bring out their creative expression. She sees the potential in others and love to help them to see it too and live fully. Sara has an open and honest approach to life offering a nurturing, loving, truthful, and playful connection with the people she meets and works with. Sara guides and liberates people to live from the truth of who they are, fully expressed to be and do what their soul came here for. She does this professionally through her role as Connection Creatrix at Waking The Wild, and for her own 1:1 clients. She is currently on a journey to undertake an apprenticeship to become a Soul Guide with Waking The Wild Ltd, and to rebirth the social enterprise she co-founded in 2020. Pablo Meccano is a life coach, shadow worker who was once an accomplished designer/maker, turned to living his truth and works from a cabin as a writer and guide, landlocked but never bored in Hertfordshire. He is a grower of herbs, a forager who advises on nutrition and some of nature's more medicinal gifts, and describing his latter-life, as the difference between night and day, guides others to discover the same for themselves. Currently he is setting up a retreat for self-discovery in Cornwall, and continues to write in the genre of science-fiction, both short stories and novels. He invites us all to get out of our head – to that place where us humans were always meant to manifest – meaningfully – quite purposefully from heart in the now. Find out more about Pablo at shamandalacoaching.com Kate Barsby is a Meaning-Maker, Spiritual Guide, Rites of Passage Doula, Ceremony Creator and Holder. She provides spiritual support and soul guidance to women in midlife who long to deepen into themselves, and life, create more ease and love in their relationships and express the fullness of who they came here to be. Find out more about Kate at sacredopenings.com Georgie Anstey is an unlikely farmer who, as part of a cooperative of people, runs a community supported agriculture project in Stroud in Gloucestershire. Common Soil provides nourishing food grown in a respectful relationship with nature and in a way that supports wildlife habitats. The initiative offers people very local food, a say over how food is grown and provides a place where they can connect to the land, the seasons and each other. Georgie completed Medicine in 2021, while setting up this community farm. Find out more about Georgie at commonsoil.co.uk Karl Brooks' drum circles: dragonflywellnessuk.co.uk Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan