On the Soul's Terms

The Ancient Greek myth of the Labyrinth is one of the most rich, complex and compelling stories of the ages. It provides us a metaphor for moving through the winding tunnels of our own individual Psyche as well as a navigation tool for our modern days in the apparently post truth world.Pick up Ariadne's Thread and come along for a journey into:* The nature of ancient stories and why we need to leave the more gruesome and unappealing parts in, despite it making us uncomfortable.* An ode to the Nodes in Scorpio - Taurus (briefly)* Ancient Bull Cults spreading from Crete to the Indus Valley in the Age of Taurus (circa 4400 - 2200 BCE)* Zeus & Europa, King Minos, Poseidon, Daedalus, Theseus, Ariadne and Icarus - as they all weave their way into the tapestry of this epic tale.Cover Art: Maestro di Tavarnelle Theseus and the Minotaur, aka The Labyrinth ca 1500-1525If you're enjoying what you're hearing please consider joining the Patreon community.Thank you to Marlia Coeur who has provided us with the soundtrack for the show.You can find her on Spotify and YouTube.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Dr David Russell joins me on the podcast this week. David recently wrote an essay centered around James Hillman’s 1979 book: The Dream & the Underworld. I’ve posted it with David’s permission on the Abaton Blog here.We discuss ideas about the nature of dreams as David argues for allowing dreams to be lifeforms unto themselves - perfect within their own context - and not to be simply mined for the betterment of the upper-world.To begin the episode, David opens up about his own story. After a decade in a Catholic monastery, studying theology in Europe, he was drawn to question the literal interpretations of the scriptures. This led to an opening to the mythic realm and on a winding path out of organised religion into Psychology; eventually becoming President of the NSW Jung Society.We then chat about Robert Johnson’s visits to Sydney and the impact that his presence had on David in the '80s and '90s; the revelation of seeing Johnson standing on stage telling stories for hours at a time as a way to engage the psyche of the room. And then how the Mythopoetic Men’s Movement of Hillman, Michael Meade and Robert Bly further informed his path towards poetry and myth as an access point to wisdom.The conversation then moves to the mythic: the Sumerian myth of Inanna as well as Hercules' 12th task, both enduring a journey to the Underworld and back. Each, by learning the customs and rules of the Underworld, are able to bring back with them a particular gift - specific to their Age - to share with the world above.Dr. David Russell has a psychotherapy/psychology practice in Darlinghurst (Sydney CBD). In his therapeutic work his intention is to attend to the experiential nature of desire and compulsion as experienced in everyday life. David is a past president of the Sydney Jung Society and past Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at Western Sydney University.During the episode I mention Madness Radio which can be found here.If you're enjoying what you're hearing please consider joining the Patreon community.Thank you to Marlia Coeur who has provided us with the soundtrack for the show.You can find her on Spotify and YouTube.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

In Part Two of my discussion with Melanie Reinhart we start where we left off; the ability of humans to communicate with plant life. This is considered 'ancient' wisdom, but perhaps it shouldn't be placed in the context of time, making it seem like it's something in the past. It's now. It's then. It's always the truth.We then track the fascinating square between the centaurs Chiron & Pholus: astronomical bodies squaring each other over the span of almost a decade. The symbolism and the timing of their connections are uncanny - and may give us some clues as to another layer of what we're here to learn in these days of the pandemic.Chiron and Pholus are connected in myth. Chiron is in the lineage of Saturn, Pholus is in the lineage of Mercury. They come together in Chiron's cave in a fateful way; Pholus opening the lid of the wine of Dionysus that he wasn't meant to have. This attracts the unruly and wild centaurs, ultimately causing his own death and the wounding of his friend, Chiron. Pholus' story: The Lid Comes Off. These are the times we're in, according to the Centaurs. We circle back to talk about grief; the rituals we perform as a collective to acknowledge the deep loss inherent in being human, especially in times of upheaval and change. Which brings us to meaning and the symbolic life of having an intimate connection with one's own mythic story.To hear the story of Chiron on this podcast go to Apple or Spotify or simply scroll back to hear Alexandre and I discuss the story when we were Tending the Sun Fire.For more about Melanie visit her website here.Thank you to Marlia Coeur who has provided us with a new soundtrack for the show.You can find her on Spotify and YouTube.Cover Art: Hendrick Goltzius, Apollo Entrusting Chiron with the Education of Asclepius. Circa 1590.If you're enjoying what you're hearing please consider joining the Patreon community.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Melanie Reinhart has been a professional astrologer since 1975. She is a patron of the Faculty of Astrological Studies and in 2004 received the Charles Harvey Award from the Astrological Association of Great Britain for 'exceptional service to astrology.'This is Part One of a two part conversation. We begin, as is the custom on the show, with land acknowledgements. This takes us on a fascinating journey into Melanie's lineage and how synchronicity played a big role in connected her back to her ancestors, just as Chiron was crossing over her IC (the lowest part of the chart and connected to our unseen origins).This leads us into a deeper dive into the world of Chiron and the Centaurs and their position in the Kuiper Belt of the solar system. An astronomy magazine once referred to the Kuiper Belt as 'the pristine remains of our celestial origins.' We dream along with this concept and wonder if Chiron might, in fact, take us back to our very roots, so long as we're willing to see the world from his viewpoint.Towards the end of the episode Melanie is inviting us into the ancient world view that we can commune with plants and when we do their extraordinary healing potentials are often revealed.It's there that we take a break, and pick up the flow again in Part Two.To hear the story of Chiron on this podcast go to Apple or Spotify or simply scroll back to hear Alexandre and I discuss the story when we were Tending the Sun Fire. For more about Melanie visit her website here.Thank you to Marlia Coeur who has provided us with a new soundtrack for the show. You can find her on Spotify and YouTube.Cover Art: Hendrick Goltzius, Apollo Entrusting Chiron with the Education of Asclepius. Circa 1590.If you're enjoying what you're hearing please consider joining the Patreon community.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Delve into the enchanting tale of a king and his three sons, where the simplest sibling's journey proves that wisdom often comes from unexpected places. Explore how 'The Three Feathers' reflects current themes in intuition and femininity through a Jungian lens, revealing the magic lying beneath the surface. Discover the transformative power of chance, the importance of balancing logic and intuition, and the cosmic insights from astrology that guide us towards harmony and earth wisdom.

"Did we learn anything in these last 19 months? Did we learn to value life differently?"Brian Clark is a Classics Scholar with a rich and comprehensive knowledge of Greek Mythology and Astrology. He joins me on this Christmas Eve Edition of the show to discuss:Venus/Aphrodite and her historical roots that reach back into various ancient cultures and through the dreamtime of pre-history.This current 19-month Venus cycle coming to a close; reflecting on our individual and collective values.The relationship between Saturn and Uranus in myth and astrology.The story of Oedipus and Sigmund Freud's connection to it through his life and legacy.We then settle in to discuss the state of culture in the world today. What happened to the revolutionaries of the '60s? How can we escape the hypnotic grip of advertising and commodification to return to a sense of place and purpose in life?Naturally, this leads us back to C.G. Jung; the archetypal lens; and the sense that even though we're lost in troubled seas the gods have not deserted us. In fact, Venus is preparing, yet again, to be born in the Eastern Sky - an event that begs our participation.I invite you to join us for this wandering, meandering journey. Brian is a true elder and a master in his field. It was an honour to have him on the show.AstroSynthesis was set up by Brian in 1986 and taught extensive trainings in astrology (4-7 year diplomas and masters) until 2010. His 12-module course is still available at this website as well as an almost endless reservoir of his essays and teachings. He is the author of many books including Soul, Symbol and Imagination; the Artistry of Astrology. He is also a lecturer at The London Faculty of Astrological Studies and has written extensively for The Mountain Astrologer.Cover Art: The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli circa ~1480sIf you're enjoying the show you can show your support by becoming a Patron here. It's deeply appreciated and helps a lot.Thank you and Merry Christmas/Saturnalia/Festival of the Trickster/Birthday of Dionysus and more.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

The word ‘Pandemic’ comes from two Greek words: Pan - all; and Demos - people. We use it to imply that it is affecting all the people. But the word ‘demos’ aslo has a close link to the word ‘demon’. Pandemic - all the demons. And it has felt as thought this time has aligned with the opening of Pandora’s Box. Pandora, of course, meaning ‘all the gifts’.Such is the way when it comes to words. They’re ruled by the god Mercury/Hermes and are often betraying double meanings. (Before Freud’s rebrand, the Hermetic Slip was the trickster getting your tongue. Not necessarily a revelation of some sexual compulsion, as was the place all of Freud’s roads led.)Pandemic suggests, then, that we’re all in this together. And so are all of our demons. Not to mention all of our gifts.At this point, it’s likely that we all know someone who has had the virus and has experienced long term effects or has died. We also know many negatively affected from the response to the virus: loss of employment and livelihood; suffering from isolation, anxiety, depression, hopelessness. We might know people suffering from adverse reactions to the shot, some also severe and long lasting.The numbers might be telling us a story, and our felt experience telling us something quite different. Data vs Anecdotes.We are all in several double binds. For instance, personally, I’m thankful for the fortress that is Western Australia for keeping this thing away from my mother and her chronic lung condition. Whilst I’m frustrated that I can’t enter that fortress and be with my dear aunt who has a rare and relentless form of cancer as she tries whatever experimental medicines are available to her to survive. Precious moments I won’t get back.Like Theseus, we may have taken up our sword and shield and attempted to enter the labyrinth of the internet to work out what the hell is going on - only to have found ourselves confounded and confused by all the conflicting information. Or maybe we discovered ‘The Truth’, but it took its toll on our body, mental health and relationships and left us in a state of paranoia or nihilism.I haven’t spoken to much of this in my podcast. For many reasons. The confusion in the field. Not wanting to be just another conflicting voice. Fear of persecution (it’s a very real fear for the more mystically oriented - and for good historical reason). And the big one - what if I’m wrong?In today’s podcast, however, inspired by the Gemini Full Moon, symbolic of our need for critical thinking, open communication, questioning authority and acknowledging the ‘dark twin’, I’ve decided to step into the polarising field like The Fool stepping into the great abyss.I’ve brought some magical helpers with me. The Greek Myth of Eris, who isn’t invited to a wedding banquet so does what any rational Goddess would do; starts the Trojan War. And my spirit companions - C.G. Jung speaking to the Clergy and the Astrologer, Rob Brezny, from his book Pronoia: The Antidote for Paranoia.I’ve spent way too much time on it, as well as this blurb. My wish is that it is coherent and that it helps us think beyond our fixed positions, if only for a moment.Thanks for reading. Thanks even more for listening in.Astrology Art by Johfra.If you're enjoying the show you can show your support by becoming a Patron hereJoin the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

James Mattingley joins the show to perform a poem by Tom Hirons called, Sometimes a Wild God.It's a powerful rendition, and leads us into a discussion of the wild one within and without. When have we felt the presence of the wild god in our lives? What happens to us when that one withdraws? How might we beckon him back into our living rooms so that he might make those rooms truly live again?James is a teacher, coach, speaker, yoga teacher, movement specialist, new father and many other things. He lives in Bali with his wife and their couple-of-moments old daughter. He brings presence and deep questioning with him wherever he goes.It was a pleasure to have him on the show. I hope you enjoy listening in.Find out more about him at www.jamesmattingley.com.Poem Artwork by Rima StainesIf you're enjoying the show you can show your support by becoming a Patron here. Patrons help us to keep nasty advertising away and to keep the electricity on around here.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

The total solar eclipse of December 4th is only visible in Antarctica. That said, the partial eclipse will be visible from the southern most points of the planet. Makes us wonder if our attention might be drawn towards southern parts of Africa :-).The Sagittarius New Moon gives us a chance to ponder the philosophical underpinnings of our reality. As such, this episode is dedicated to questioning what exactly it is we mean when we talk about 'The World'. The final four signs of the Zodiac are dedicated to this question and each approach it in different ways:Sagittarius (fire): Philosophy, religion, mythos and pointing the mind up in the direction of spirit.Capricorn (earth): Structures, hierarchies, evolution of species, our relationship to the wild (and control).Aquarius (air): Systems of thought, science, mathematics, the collective consciousness.Pisces (water): Dreaming, poetry, art, altered states, seership, the consulting of Oracles, divination.Once we understand these 'four ways' of approaching the world, we can then go into what Sagittarius' contribution is. As it's the first of the four, it impacts the other three. If our Sag Arrow is pointing in slightly the wrong direction it can take us a long way the wrong way.To explore this more fully, of course, we need to bring in some mythological material. This time - the creation myth from Ancient Greece [29:02]. From Chaos, to the dysfunctional relationship of Ouranus (Sky Father) and Gaia (Earth Mother), to Cronus taking the throne and eating his children, to the eventual overthrow by Zeus (aka Jupiter).For this episode the arrow will then point at Zeus and his relationship with his Mentor, Metis. Their steamy love affair of metamorphosis. And the birth of their child, Athena, born out of the skull of Zeus! And ultimately, the idea that true understanding is the combination of knowledge from the Sky and wisdom from the Ocean.Isn't that a much more satisfying story of how the Universe came to be than what you (probably) learned at school about a random big bang in an empty, meaningless space? I think so.If you enjoy this and want the podcast to continue doing its thing, please consider becoming a Patron for just $5 a month.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

This week Dr Carolina Herbert joins us from Epidaurus, Greece. Epidaurus was the first site of the Cult dedicated to the demigod, Asclepius (see episode 13) in Ancient Greece. Our chat weaves together Carolina's personal journey in the healing arts with the historical and mythological lineage of western medicine. It's an inspiring conversation that reminds us that 'medicine' is much more than simply the prolonging of death. We discover the inner workings of the temple: a labyrinth that leads down to the dream chambers (Abaton); an Olympic-style arena where a variety of tournaments occurred; and an amphitheater that could host 13,000 people with perfect acoustics that still holds events to this day.Meanwhile, Carolina's own arc is explored from origins as an emergency nurse to becoming an Integrative Arts Psychotherapist. The journey took her to war-torn Cambodia where she spent almost two decades working to support the rebuilding of communities through the healing arts. She reflects on how the soul of Cambodia taught her how the remembering of the ancient myths and connecting to the inner world of creativity can have a powerful transformational impact; both on the individual level and on the life of a community recovering from war and genocide.Recently, Carolina completed her PHD: The Alchemy of Healing Songwriting. It's a research study exploring the healing power of creative therapeutic songwriting in understanding and navigating times of global crisis and transition.For more on Dr Carolina: www.alkimiasoul.comEpisode Artwork: This photo of the amphitheater in Epidaurus was taken by Carolina last month.If you enjoy this and want the podcast to continue doing its thing, please consider becoming a Patron for just $5 a month.Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.