Explore the intriguing tension between our innate resistance to change and the necessity for transformation. Using the butterfly's metamorphosis as a vivid metaphor, the discussion sheds light on personal struggles and the vital role of rituals. Discover how creative rituals can alleviate burdens, foster connections, and awaken undiscovered parts of ourselves. The healing power of communal practices is emphasized, alongside the importance of cultivating presence and emotion in navigating life's challenges. Embrace chaos as a catalyst for deeper creativity!

This episode of Living Myth focuses on the struggle between the force of tyranny and the power of liberation from falsehoods and injustice. The old Greek word tyrant was applied to despotic kings and rulers, but was also used to describe popular usurpers who claimed to be all powerful and above the law. In modern usage, a tyrant can be any oppressive or cruel ruler, a would-be dictator or autocrat. The rule of divide and conquer has been a favorite tool of tyrants who typically ascend to power through the manipulation of people's fears and the proliferation of confusion and chaos.   A key characteristic of such a tyrant is an insistence upon complete obedience from other people. And there lies a sad irony, for tyranny is not something simply imposed upon people without their agreement. Rather, the rise of tyranny requires consent from those willing to lose their own sense of individual freedom and liberty. Needless to say, it is when people are becoming smaller at the level of their self that they give the power of their lives over to those who claim to be the strong men, but who turn out to be empty within themselves and lacking that very thing that makes each person meaningful and purposeful, that is to say, a soul.   Opposite tyranny's unfair and cruel use of power would be a greater sense of autonomy and freedom. The word liberal can mean “generous, noble or free,” but can also mean “selfless and unrestricted.” Although it has become common for conservative politicians to use the word liberal as something derogative, it remains the key concept and core spirit of any genuine democracy. The American experiment in democracy was founded upon the liberal principle that all humans are endowed with natural rights and that government exists to protect those rights.   Authoritarianism has always posed the most potent challenge to liberalism, and it has now returned as an ideological force armed with previously unimaginable tools of social media, disinformation and social controls, even reaching into the heart of liberal societies, seeking to undermine them from within.   The dream of America as a liberal democracy was never simply an economic enterprise, never only a search for personal aggrandizement. Rather, America has always been a dream of freedom needing to be renewed and be reimagined by each generation. The seeds of that dream have always included longings for opportunity, but also a desire for living with a sense of justice for all that includes care for those less fortunate and mercy for those suffering illness or trapped in poverty. There has always been a deeper dream of America, not simply the political notion of a union of states, but an intuition of a deeper unity of life. Not simply the chance to win an election, but an opportunity to keep dreaming the dream forward and even the opportunity to sacrifice for a future of renewed meaning and universal ideals.   The word vote can mean more than “the formal expression of a wish or a choice for a candidate or a proposal.” Vote comes from old radical roots that mean “a vow, even a promise to God or a solemn pledge.” And there are times when casting a vote can be both an act of recalling the origins of the dream of freedom and also a strike against tyranny in all its forms. For it is exactly in times of great conflict and fear that the ideals of humanity must be remembered while meaning and truth are being struggled for again.   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 680 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.

One of the problems in the modern world is that people now tend to believe that science and technological inventions can solve problems that exist on much deeper and much greater levels. As Albert Einstein expressed it: “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” In the upward and onward at all costs rush of the modern world, it is the heart and soul of humanity that most often becomes lost.  Fortunately, it turns out that the missing elements that make life meaningful, purposeful and beautiful do not simply disappear. Rather, what is sorely missing in the outside must be sought in the deeper, greater sense of self that is the natural birthright of each human soul. Times of radical change and great uncertainty can become the exact conditions in which we each become the potential recipients of messages from the cosmos that remind us that what we are most desperately looking for already exists inside us in the form of a unifying and guiding sense of self and soul. Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael live by joining his free online event “Finding a Calling in Life” on Thursday, September 5. Register and learn more at 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.

For many reasons, people question whether there is any hope for the world at this time. Yet, it is the nature of hope to become lost before being found again at another level of life. In the old myth of Pandora's Box, hope only appears after all possible troubles, pains and agonies have been unleashed upon the world. At critical times, life can seem hopeless before a deeper level of hope can be found again in the depths of the human heart and soul. This deeper level of hope includes a greater vision of the world, as well as a sharper insight into one's own being, and thus the individual soul becomes the ground of all invention, becomes the root of all genuine imagination that can, in truth, alter the course of life and become the source of renewed hope for the world. When life becomes full of uncertainty and subject to radical changes and continuous shocks, what we need is a radical sense of hope that connects us to the vertical imagination that can, in truth, alter the course of life. Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael live by joining his free online event “Finding a Calling in Life” on Thursday, September 5. Register and learn more at 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 670 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.

Explore the significance of discovering your true calling and unleashing your inner genius. The discussion reveals how early experiences shape our paths and why validating our calling is crucial. It highlights the impact of societal expectations on personal fulfillment and the importance of receiving blessings as we pursue our passions. Delve into the challenges of embracing your unique spiritual path, navigating fears of the unknown, and trusting in what calls you to achieve personal growth and authenticity.

In this engaging discussion, Michael Meade, a storyteller renowned for exploring life's mysteries through dreams and healing, shares an old tale about a journey of self-discovery. He emphasizes that true healing begins with recognizing our own woundedness in a broken world. Meade argues that finding inner wisdom means dismantling our protective barriers and embracing vulnerabilities. Through introspection, he inspires listeners to embark on a collective journey of healing, revealing that the path to wholeness is paved with personal growth and communal support.

In a fast-paced world, feelings of insignificance can emerge, yet they can lead to profound spiritual growth. The podcast explores the connection between our souls and the cosmos, revealing how navigating chaos can help us rediscover meaning. It emphasizes the journey of embracing both the light and dark within ourselves as essential for growth. Listeners are encouraged to connect with their inner spark and recognize their part in the grand tapestry of creation, turning chaos into a catalyst for transformation.

Michael Meade, a celebrated expert on the interplay of politics, nature, and culture, dives deep into contemporary upheavals. He reflects on the drastic shifts in American politics and how they mirror global changes in nature and human culture. Meade emphasizes the necessity for personal transformation amid chaos, urging listeners to reconnect with their souls and the living world. He posits that genuine imagination is vital to navigate these turbulent times and fosters hope for renewal, connecting individual growth to greater societal change.

Exploring ancient myths to overcome conflicts and polarizations in troubled times. The tale of Jason and the Argonauts symbolizes justice and balance needed for peace. Embracing opposites and deep imagination to navigate obstacles and transform dilemmas. Mythic imagination offers solutions to challenges beyond logic, emphasizing creativity and human capacity.

Exploring the call to awaken the deeper self and resident genius within, Michael Meade discusses how major life events provide opportunities to fulfill our inherent gifts and talents. Embracing the call leads to discovering one's natural way of being and serving in the world, transforming not only ourselves but also the world around us. The podcast emphasizes the importance of answering the call and unleashing one's unique brilliance for the benefit of all.