On the Soul's Terms

Medusa was a beautiful maiden in a family of monsters. One day as she prayed to the Goddess Athena (a personification of the rational) she was seduced by Poseidon (the irrational force). Punished by Athena, her face became terrifying to look at and her glorious hair became writhing coiled snakes. Welcome to the realm of Scorpio. It's in this arena that we are able to go deep, to explore the hidden world, go to the uncomfortable places and reclaim the hidden thoughts, desires and drives. Like Medusa, this kind of material can be difficult to look at straight on. We may need a little assistance along the way. Hence the hero Perseus uses the reflection of the shield in order to remove the heady process that such traumatic material can plunge us into. All of this is explored in today's episode as I'm joined, again, by Faye Northgrave to look underneath the rocks and see what ancient creatures we might discover there. Artwork: Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595-1596, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Today I’m joined for a third time on the podcast by Astrologer, Brian Clark. We recorded this podcast on October 2nd and release it now on October 13th on the eve of the solar eclipse in Libra. The episode continues on with the year-long exploration of the signs of the Zodiac, with interviews with people who have strong signatures of the sign that we’re delving into. Brian is no exception to this rule with his Sun and several other planets inhabiting the sign of the scales. It's special for me to have Brian on the show as he is a mentor of mine, as he is with so many others. I have been the benefactor of his lifelong engagement with Greek Mythology. In fact, Brian even helped map out the ancient sites of Greece for me, opening the imagination to where these old stories were dreamed up in the first place.In this episode we focus on a mythic moment where the Goddess Athena, daughter of the great god Zeus, is asked to deliberate on a jury that is hung six-six. The tension point is between the ancient and the modern of their time. We use this myth to explore a moment in Australian history, tomorrow in fact, where the Australian people decide yes or no on whether to add an indigenous voice to parliament. Whatever your stance on this moment, I ask you to hold an open mind to our mythic wanderings. I also remind you to, as always with this podcast, try to think less literally and more mythologically; especially when we enter the depth of the mythic material. When we discuss male, female, mother, father, we are talking about timeless archetypal experiences that are alive within us all. The interior world of Soul. Rather than roles and positions in society at large. Brian's WebsiteChris's WebsiteUluru's Statement from the HeartCover Art is from John Singer Sargent - Orestes Pursued by the Furies - 1921Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Join us as we explore the zodiac sign of Libra with special guest and astrologer, Faye Northgrave. This episode takes us on an enlightening expedition through the cosmos, unearthing connections between Libra, represented by the scales, and mythical tales such as the blind seer Tiresias , Narcissus's love affair with his own reflection, and Paris' judgment of the beauty contest between Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite.The episode probes into the natural and energetic facets of Libra, assessing its inherent qualities of collaboration and relationship-building. We delve further into Libra's mythology, examining the story of Tiresias, his pivotal role in the Zeus-Hera saga, and how his judgement is rewarded with outer blindness and inner sight. Moreover, we explore the dynamics of Libra energy in relationships, tying all elements together to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Libran archetype.As we venture deeper, we touch upon the mythology of Aphrodite/Venus, underpinning the Libra zodiac sign. The discussion extends from Aphrodite's oceanic birth to her association with Anchises, her role in the battle of the gods, and her representation in the Renaissance period through the iconic 'Birth of Venus' painting by Botticelli. As we navigate the fascinating cosmos, we also unravel the lessons and mysteries of the Aries/Libra axis and the upcoming eclipse season. Be sure not to miss our next episode as we continue this captivating cosmic journey with Brian Clark.Contact Faye: fayenorthgrave.comArtwork for the episode is from William Adolphe Bouguereau, The Birth of Venus (1879), Oil on canvas 300 × 218 cm, Musée d'Orsay, Paris - FrancePodcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Today I’m joined by a dear friend and colleague, Colette Davis.We got together to discuss the intersections of Shaiva Tantra and Depth Psychology, but in the end we enter deep waters as Collette opens up about the tragic story of her relationship with her mother who passed earlier this year. She brings a depth, sensitivity and vulnerability to this personal yet universal theme of love and loss between mothers and daughters. From Collette's Bio: https://www.samavesayoga.com"I’m an Embodied Flow™ facilitator, Senior yoga teacher and humble shepherd of the Samāveśa School of Yoga, where I offer online and in- person trainings, courses, retreats and community. I’ve been a devoted student and practitioner of Non-Dual Shaiva Tantra since 2014 and have studied with some of the world’s leading teachers, including Tara Judelle, Sianna Sherman, Hareesh Wallis, Leila Sadeghee, and Adyashanti."I don’t get down so well with hierarchical systems of power and am interested in disrupting the teacher-student binary. I advocate for circular communities where we get to co-create a safe and kind space together, weaving trauma informed practices so we all feel held and supported. I’m a mama bear at heart so you can expect a big generous holding field and a healthy friendship that honours boundaries on both sides."My Clark Kent job, for twenty years, has been as a copywriter and brand consultant and I have been the Director and Creative Director of Found for Words since 2010. I have two Masters degrees with Distinction and my most recent degree was in Interdisciplinary Psychology, which I thread through my teachings and trainings."Artwork: Frederic Leighton - The Return of Persephone (1981)Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Today the podcast receives the 'Virgo treatment'; a clean up and a recalibration to a new format of astrological exploration.We begin with a few questions: What is the purpose of all of this? What are we trying to get to the bottom of? Why am I speaking these words and why are you, the listener, tuning into them?This leads into an exploration of why this podcast exists in the first place. Like a re-connection to the origin myth of the show. Which takes us into what I see as the origin myth of astrology itself; a structuring of ancient mythic material projected outward onto our night sky.With this clear we get into the sign of Virgo. Perhaps moreso than any other sign this one is in need of some deep rehabilitation, linked as it is with the word 'Virgin'. As Brian Clark says, 'a complex image that has undergone a considerable transformation from its original meaning. Ironically it implies an image of freedom and independence, a woman in relationship to her internal self, contained and autonomous, in charge of her own destiny. It did not originally mean chaste, quite the reverse. The image is centred in the fertility of nature and the freedom of the great goddess to revel in her own creation.'The consensus understanding of the sign is explored. And then the episode takes it back to its mythic roots to clean up and expand upon the images, myths and stories that give it is life force and potency.The myths of Hestia, Athena, Artemis, Asclepius and Chiron all feature.The art for the episode is from an unknown artist circa 1900 and depicts the Virgin Goddess Artemis/Diana.Music is from Charles Murdoch - No Lungs.I'm thankful to the works of Saffron Rossi and Brian Clark as well as information from the Faculty of Astrological Studies.Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

James Mattingley is an embodied movement specialist who facilitates couple's work with his wife, Megan. He is the father of Lila and the expecting father of a baby boy on the way.James opens the show with a poem he wrote recently about the inherent tension within being and becoming a man. From there we move into conversations around men's work, highlighting some of our shared experiences from being in a group together for the last four years. The conversation takes some unexpected turns and we end up with Hercules and his music lessons as a child. In a fit of rage he kills his music teacher, Linus: brother of Orpheus. After this he is banished to live with the beasts and receives no further tutelage in the arts.We wonder what could have been if Hercules had been encouraged to continue his explorations of soul. You can find out more about James at jamesmattingley.com.Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

In the next instalment of the Zodiac series we enter a tunnel underneath a great mountain where Hercules wrestles the Nemean Lion... Of course, then, we have entered the realm of Leo. We spend time with CG Jung and his Leo Sun and explore the concepts gifted to us from his life, particularly the field of individuation as it pertains to the Herculean task of becoming ones true self. It's an episode where we have full permission to explore through the lens of myth and fairytale - as these are the ways that Leo prefers to experience reality.The stories of Phaethon, Icarus, Narcissus and Cinderella are all a part of this one, each story giving us a different perspective on Leo and what it is to be children of the Sun.Music for this episode: Takuya Kuroda, Everybody Loves the SunshineCover Art: PETER PAUL RUBENS, HERCULES STRANGLING THE NEMEAN LION, C. 1620Martha, Melanie and Chris discussing Venus and Innana.Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

In Part Two of this Two Part conversation with Mothers at Midnight hosts Indigo Melrose and Rose Harvey we begin with the idea of dropping down to source to access the inner well spring of creativity. This takes us into the process of individuation; being safe enough to explore the outer world. And then we get into the idea of the heroine’s journey as it stands apart from the hero’s journey. The ability to go inward to discover the true nature of the soul, and to bring that lived embodiment back to the lives we live.Indigo leaves us with the cover art from this episode: the Sacred Cycles Oracle by Jill Pyle and Em Dewey.Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

Today I’m joined by two dear friends, Rose Harvey and Indigo Melrose, from the Mothers and Midnight Podcast.  The three of us were all part of a two year program at Metavision Institute in Australia where we learned Process Oriented Psychotherapy.For the occasion of the Cancer New Moon, we talk about Mothers. The light, the dark and the many shades in between. It ended up being such a rich area of exploration that I’ve split it into two episodes.Here in part one we open up the fairy tale lens through old stories like Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty. We explore the 13th fairy or wise woman and uncover the wisdom of these stories to help us sit in the fire of transformation that is the hearth - the eternal flame at the center of the home.Through this lens we talk about Rose’s encounter with a shadow component of motherhood that she talked about in their podcast during a pivotal episode on the dark mother. Then Indigo speaks of her early childhood, growing up deaf in a Vipassana center and how that shaped her experience of the inner and outer world. We also discuss, and challenge, the idea of Tabula Rasa - that human beings are born as a clean slate. And look to what astrology might be able to add to the discussion about the pre-existence of the soul. The episode begins with a poem by Rose that takes us into the lived experience of Motherhood. Through her eyes we enter and inhabit the world of Mother.Cover Art is from the Sacred Cycles Oracle by Jill Pyle and Em DeweyPodcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

In this episode we explore the first water sign of the Zodiac: Cancer. Ruled by the moon, Cancer is linked to the archetypal mother and so rules over the lunar side of our consciousness; fluid, emotional, imaginal, creative, nurturing and receptive.As this 'night world' consciousness responds best to images, sounds and sense impressions, the episode begins with a look at a few Cancerian artists; DJ Shadow and Frida Kahlo. We then settle in to a look at Cancer key words and ideas, followed by a deep dive into the crab itself as it scuttles sideways between land and see, carrying its home on its back.Mythologically Hestia, goddess of the hearth comes to the table. Tantalus shows us what not to do at a dinner party, especially one where the gods are the guests. We look at the Earth Mother lineage of Gaia, Rhea, Hera. And then go deep into the tensional point between Hera and Herakles as it plays out through the image of the terrifying nine-headed water snake, the Hydra.Resources for this episode:Mort Garson - Cancer 1969DJ Shadow's album Entroducing... especially the song Changeling.Frida Kahlo - The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth, Myself, Diego and Senor Xolotl, 1949 (cover art)Brian Clark - Mythic SignsCrabs Trading Shells - BBC EarthNami · Chihei Hatakeyama · Federico DurandPodcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.