In this inaugural episode of the Wake Up, Human podcast, I talk with Tonja Reichley, an herbalist, ritualist and author in the Irish Celtic tradition. Our conversation centers on the theme of the mythic resistance: exploring myth as a tool for reclaiming our place—and our power—within the often confusing matrix of modern cultural and social identities.

The mythic resistance offers us a pathway to reclaim our ancestral wisdom and resist harmful cultural narratives through connection with ancient stories, rituals, and traditions. A few themes we'll explore:

• Tanya's journey from corporate life to herbalism began, land connection, and ancestral roots
• The mythic resistance: remembering what it means to be human in relationship with the earth, as a form of resistance and rebellion
• Myths are different from folktales—they shape cultural identity and speak the language of our souls
• Cultural appreciation versus appropriation—honoring the distinction between learning from other traditions and capitalizing on them
• The need for connecting to the land where we live while finding roots in our own ancestral traditions
• Racial justice work, reconnection to indigenous tradition, and the weaving of story and myth as intertwined spiritual practices.

Visit Tanya's website at dancingwiththewild.com to learn more about her classes, courses, and offerings. To learn more about me, and the Wake Up, Human Podcast, visit my website at shannonwills.com. Thanks for listening.