Living Myth

Explore the ancient belief that every soul has a unique path, rooted in the symbolism of the World Tree. Delve into the role of myths in shaping our understanding of life’s complexities and the significance of individual destinies. Discover how recognizing your divine purpose can guide you through challenges and awaken your true self. The podcast emphasizes personal growth and authenticity as crucial for contributing to a more united and renewed human experience.

Explore an ancient Persian myth that reveals the deep-rooted nature of conflict and its psychological impact on society. Discover how poetry and art can serve as beacons of hope during turmoil. Delve into creation myths that highlight doubt as a catalyst for growth and insight. Learn about the importance of healing divisions to foster lasting peace. Embrace the tensions of life, where fear and beauty coexist, driving creativity and connection even in challenging times.

A fascinating Indian myth unfolds as a powerful king meets a ragged orphan boy, challenging the nature of authority and wisdom. The disguised Vishnu reveals the fleeting nature of power, stressing the dignity of every individual. The orphan's perspective sheds light on the dangers of narcissistic leadership and societal division. This discussion emphasizes embracing vulnerability and recognizing our shared humanity, calling for inner exploration to heal personal and collective wounds.

The discussion unfolds around the shattering of the world and its impact on human connections. It explores how crises like climate change provoke personal and collective transformation. Rumi's wisdom highlights the potential for new communities to emerge from chaos. The interplay of logic and imagination shapes our journey, encouraging listeners to nurture their souls amidst turmoil. Renewal and growth are central themes, emphasizing the importance of letting go of outdated perceptions to reconnect with deeper truths.

Explore the transformative power of the heart, where wisdom meets imagination. Discover the universal archetype of divine motherhood and its role in compassion. Learn how pain can connect us to nature and foster personal growth. Delve into confronting darkness for enlightenment, revealing hidden treasures for healing. Examine the traps of desire that bind us, akin to a story of hunters and coconuts. Finally, embark on a journey to open the heart, overcoming fear to embrace love and personal development.

Explore the intricate dance between fate and destiny, emphasizing the importance of personal journeys. Discover how storytelling impacts self-discovery and authenticity, especially through powerful anecdotes. Delve into youthful struggles and their role in personal growth while navigating life's challenges. Reflect on the soul's journey as a theatrical performance, questioning identity and purpose. Finally, be inspired to embrace your unique mission and the courage it takes to live authentically.

This discussion delves into why people are inclined to trust authoritative leaders, especially during uncertain times. It explores how biases can lead to manipulation and conformity within societies. The impact of digital networks in disseminating disinformation is critically examined, highlighting the struggle for truth in a chaotic world. The conversation advocates for seeking timeless wisdom and imagination, suggesting that ancient myths may offer solutions to contemporary challenges. Ultimately, it emphasizes the need for balance in human nature.

Change is often resisted, even when desired. The podcast explores the psychological and mythological reasons behind this resistance. Unconscious forces can create an internal struggle, where intentions clash with hidden oppositions. Understanding one's 'fatal flaw' can illuminate personal growth obstacles. The journey of the soul emphasizes discovering unique essence while overcoming forgetfulness of one's true potential. Resistance to change can ultimately lead to meaningful spiritual development, turning struggles into opportunities for transformation.

Ancient myths reveal how humanity confronts turmoil and existential fears. One tale illustrates the journey from despair to inner buoyancy by letting go of what no longer serves us. A dialogue contrasts theoretical knowledge with practical wisdom, emphasizing real experience as a compass in life's storms. The importance of surrendering to uncertainty is showcased, guiding each individual to profound self-discovery. Amid darkness, the divine presence can shine through, reminding us that small creative actions can foster healing and connection.

On this episode of Living Myth the deep-seated feeling of empathy is viewed in several contexts: as it appears in a traditional story, as it occurs in personal experience, how it is currently being attacked as “toxic and sinful” and how as "suicidal empathy” it is being called “the existential threat to Western civilization.” The idea that truly caring about other people could end civilization is a new extreme in this era of extreme beliefs and what appears to be an endless onslaught of unprecedented ideas and events. As people become increasingly uncertain about the future of the world, they also become more easily divided against each other. Uncertainty can not only cause financial markets to plunge, it can also cause people to become more extreme and absolutist about religious beliefs, secular ideologies, and personal opinions. As collective feelings of fear and uncertainty grow they can be used by self-negating ideologies, not just to claim that we are truly separate from each other, but also to insist that some of us are essentially better than others, and therefore count for more even in God's eyes. In times of cultural upheaval, even empathy and compassion can be weaponized in order to turn those who simply seem “other” than us into those who are enemies to us. Meanwhile, the hidden message of suffering and tragedy in this world involves the sense that we can empathically feel and thereby know the pain that others suffer, precisely because it reflects our own suffering and losses. Just as charity and understanding begin at home, empathy involves being compassionate towards ourselves. It is our mutual fate to be alive at a time in which we are in a struggle between suffering ever greater and more tragic divisions in life, or else awakening to the ways in which we are all interconnected. Rather than something toxic or suicidal, genuine empathy can be an indication of authenticity and psychological understanding. It can also be a source of hope and a deep resource which can help reveal the inner aim of our lives as well as more mutually inclusive and more wisely sustainable ways to live together.   Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael Meade live by joining him for two upcoming events: his free online event “Surviving Uncertainty by Growing Your Soul” on Thursday, May 22 and his new online workshop “Paths of Awakening” on Saturday, June 14.   Register and learn more: mosaicvoices.org/events    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 675 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.