Myth Matters

By Catherine Svehla

Welcome to Myth Matters, a thought-provoking exploration of myth in contemporary life and the intersection of myth, creativity, and consciousness. Host Catherine Svehla PhD. shares her knowledge of

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The podcast currently has 151 episodes available.

Best of Myth Matters

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Who are we? Epics, identity, and Nolan's Odyssey
“Epic shows us again and again the pattern of moving from the old myth to a new, carrying everything of value with it as it goes.” -- Louise Cowan Christopher Nolan's film version of the ancient Greek myth The Odyssey has been big news. Written down by "Homer" some 3-400 years after the destruction of the city of Troy, The Odyssey is a mythic account of rise of Greek civilization after the collapse of the Bronze Age Mycenaean kingdoms. It's an old story about ancient times. A blast of the past. And, it always has been. Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks heard the myth and remembered their history. They were looking back, recalling a pivotal time of change. A time when notions of honor, order, and the right way of being and living together were redefined. When we read or watch The Odyssey today, we're stepping into this lineage. Many of us see myth as entertainment, and there have been centuries of cultural change. Still, I wonder if the lasting resonance of The Odyssey reveals the power this story continues to hold and explains the big response to Nolan's movie. We are, after all, living in a time when notions of honor, order, and the right way of being and living together are being redefined. Support the show Email Catherine at [email protected] Post a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.com Buy me a coffee. Thank you!
August 21, 202645min
Number 2: Abundance and the needs of the "kingdom": The Shepherd's Nosegay fairy tale
This episode revolves around a Czech fairy tale that you've probably never heard of but I suspect you'll recognize some of the motifs. The story raises some interesting questions about the nature of abundance and what's necessary to the life of our "kingdom," the kingdom of our inner world and the outer society. Fairy tales speak to us about common life experiences and psychological processes. They also convey cultural values, and the needs and concerns of particular times and particular places. I think the themes and messages that show up in story after story also tell us something about our collective aspirations. I hope you finds something useful in this story. Support the show Email Catherine at [email protected] Post a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.com Buy me a coffee. Thank you!
September 11, 202658min
Number 3: 9MM Memory and the Muses
"It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, that then when we no longer know which way to go, we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings." ---- Wendell Berry The situation that Berry describes is a creative edge, the place where the known meets the unknown, where what is and has been realized and understood fades into the possibilities of what is yet to be. Two questions arise for me in contemplating this creative edge. Where do we look for guidance? Or rather, what are we in conversation with when we reach the edge of knowing? And what is a good way to court this guiding source, energy, inspiration, or wisdom? The nine Muses of ancient Greece and their mother, the Titan goddess Mnemosyne, offer some ideas. Thanks for listening and keep the mystery in your life alive... Support the show Email Catherine at [email protected] Post a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.com Buy me a coffee. Thank you!
July 25, 202636min
Number 4: Moonstruck with Selene and Hecate
Summer is almost here, bringing warm nights perfect for stargazing and communion with the moon. A full moon rises here in the United States on Saturday May 18th, so this podcast includes stories and information about two Greek moon goddesses, Selene and Hecate, and an invitation to develop your night vision and capacity for magic. Bathe in the silver shimmer, get moonstruck, and maybe a little bit mad. A transcript of this episode is available at www.mythicmojo.com. Thanks for listening! Support the show Email Catherine at [email protected] Post a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.com Buy me a coffee. Thank you!
May 16, 201936min
Number 5: Love and Beauty: The Greek Myths of Aphrodite and Eros
“Without warning As a whirlwind Swoops on an oak Love shakes my heart.” ---Sappho In this podcast I share some of the ancient Greek mythology about Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, and Eros, the God of Desire, the force that brings people and things together. These are universal, timeless energies and the Greek ideas about them, personified in this Goddess and God, can help us expand our thinking about the role love, beauty, and desire play in our lives. Aphrodite is depicted as very beautiful. You may be familiar with Botticelli’s painting “The Birth of Venus,” for example. (Venus is the Roman name for Aphrodite). She personifies beauty and yet Aphrodite is not the goddess of beautiful people. She gives her gifts to everyone who wants to know the transformative power of love. A transcript of this episode is available at www.mythicmojo.com. Thanks for listening! Support the show Email Catherine at [email protected] Post a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.com Buy me a coffee. Thank you!
May 02, 201931min