Living Myth

Episode 471 - The Importance of Creative Practice

On this episode of Living Myth, Michael Meade turns to the realms of art and practice as ways to avoid overwhelm and find coherence in an increasingly chaotic world. Since the world will not settle soon, the unity and wholeness so sorely missing must be found within us. Fortunately, as fears and uncertainty grow, a balancing imagination and healing energy tries to awaken within our souls. The creative arts and spiritual practices are the traditional paths that can lead us to the deep resources and inner resiliency of our self and soul. The two traditional roads of practice appear as the inward path of contemplation, meditation and deep reflection and the expressive path of creative arts, such as music and dance, painting and writing. Some people are more drawn to one than the other; others go back and forth or mix the two. They each have their value, and each can connect us to the ground of being and the ever-resilient core of life. Whether it be through meditation and introspection or art and creative expression, a practice helps us gain an emotional seating and a place of refuge to return to again and again. Having a meaningful practice can give us ways to awaken further and grow within ourselves, while also becoming more able to contribute to the healing and restoration of the world. 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 740 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.

Episode 470 - Lifting the Veil

This episode begins with the differences between paradigm shifts that replace old theories with new ones and a shifting of the archetypes that can transform all levels of life. The origins of apocalypse involve an archetypal shift that begins with a period of chaos and collapse before it leads to creation and a renewal of life. The initial phase of an apocalyptic period also involves a "lifting of the veil" that reveals what has been concealed behind closed doors and uncovers what has long been covered up. The United States, in particular, has entered a stage where the veil lifts and ideas and motivations normally uttered in the back rooms of power become stated out loud, in public. Wildly divisive ideas and brutal practices that other regimes would try to cover over become boldly declared and are doubled down on when challenged. Whether it is the incursion into Venezuela, threats to acquire Greenland by military force or the rush to condemn an unarmed mother of three recklessly killed by a masked "federal officer," the point is to make each tragedy a polarizing and dehumanizing event that further divides people, not just from each other, but also internally, so that the lack of empathy and loss of our shared sense of humanity becomes diminished and is replaced with a fear of living fully and freely and standing for the deeper truths of the human soul. At a time when political and cultural divisions are intentionally driven deeper, what we need are not just better politics and policies, but also a greater psychological sense and deeper understanding of the sanctity of life and the importance of the individual soul. For, the original meaning of the archetype of apocalypse includes an awakening of the individual soul that can initiate a process of renewal of human society based upon the core values of meaning and truth, justice and inclusion and love over fear. 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 740 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 find this podcast meaningful, 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.

Episode 469 - World Upside Down

This episode looks at the shocking beginning of the new year in which the U.S. government invades Venezuela, extracts the sitting president and announces that it will be "running the country" that has the largest reserve of oil in the world. A dream that follows what appears to be the dissolution of the international order, that has mostly prevailed for the past eighty years, depicts the confusions and fears of a world turned upside down. It also shows how in the maelstrom of reckless conflicts and cultural betrayals, something ancient and enduring about the world is trying to be remembered and be rediscovered, and it seems to take some big trouble to awaken to it. 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 740 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 find this podcast meaningful, 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.

Episode 468 - The Soul's Great Adventure

Michael Meade explores how the soul's great adventure tries to surface throughout life, so that any moment can become a true turning point if we leave the maps that others have made, follow the soul's original calling and enter life more fully and more meaningfully. He suggests that ultimately it involves a "gnosis," a deeper way of knowing that uncovers our inner resources and reveals the unique powers and gifts of our soul. We are repeatedly asked to choose: either we accept the life that has been given to us or we undertake the greater adventure of the soul. 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 725 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 in this new year and thank you for your support of our work.

Episode 467 - How Healing Songs Began

This episode of Living Myth begins with a Native American story of the origin of healing rituals. In telling the tale Michael Meade emphasizes a remarkable point in the story when knowledge, healing and songs all enter the world at the same time. The songs become central elements in the original healing ritual which brings those that are sick or wounded to the center of the community. Having established the importance of healing songs, Meade introduces an excerpt from Mosaic's recording "A Song is a Road" [https://store.mosaicvoices.org/products/a-song-is-a-road]. 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 725 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.