Welcome to the new podcast feed!  In our seventh episode, we step back from the close reading of the text to talk about what it is we are doing with our analysis of symbolism and mythology.  We'll discuss how A Song of Ice and Fire fits into a critically important tradition of esoteric and symbolic art and literature, and why that is so relevant and compelling to us in today's modern era. This forms the foundation how we at Mythical Astronomy view the books, and thus, our methodology for analyzing them. This isn't just a case of a clever author hiding double-meanings in his writing for his own amusement, but rather the continuation and elevation of a grand literary tradition.

We've also got some very important information about the state of the podcast at the beginning.  The matching text to this episode and all episodes can be found on lucifermeanslightbringer.com.  Featuring the local talents of the Amethyst Koala and the music of Animals as Leaders.

Our first character-centric breakdown takes up the theory that Tyrion is a Targaryen bastard by examining two of his symbolic personas - the gargoyle and the twisted monkey demon. We'll dive into mysteries such as "why are Dragonstone and Winterfell the only two castles with gargoyles on them?" and "Is there a connection between the Last Hero and Azor Ahai?" We'll also ponder one of the first examples of mythical astronomy in the books, Bran's fall from the tower. Featuring the vocal talent of Paige Lawrence & Lady Nightwind. Matching text to the podcast can be found on lucifermeanslightbringer.com

Chapter review, Mythical Astronomy style: we rip into the trial by combat scene, of the most detailed examples of mythical astronomy in the series. We'll explore the symbolism of Oberyn Martel and Ser Gregor Clegane, and we will finally answer the question about what the Hammer of the Waters really was, and when it happened. Guest appearances by John the Fiddler, Tyrion the "giant" of Lannister, Sansa the medusa-maiden, the Last Hero, the sword Widow's Wail, and the purple wedding. As always, you can find the text of the podcast in essay form (plus a few pictures)at lucifermeanslightbringer.com

A special edition of the podcast - we join up with Aziz and Ashaya from History of Westeros for a joint episode on all things Asshai! Call it the 'Ancient Mythical History of Westeros (and sometimes Asshai).' There is no accompanying essay for this one - podcast only - but the video version of this is available on the History of Westeros Youtube channel, if you'd like to watch (we recorded live). Enjoy!

In this episode, we are going to explain: moon blood and a maiden's flowering; Oathkeeper's waves of night and blood; Melisandre's black and bloody tide, Jon Snow's rivers of black ice and Drogo's oily river of darkness; starry cloaks and decapitated bulls; dragon eclipses, lunar eclipses, and solar eclipses; dark stars and black hole moons; black iron roses and black iron ravens. We'll also ponder the possibility of an undead Azor Ahai and his army of zombies, not to mention undead Night's Watch brothers. We'll wave hello to gods and goddesses and get some blood on our hands. As always, you can follow along with the text of the episode on my lucifermeanslightbringer.com.

The legend of Azor Ahai says that he cracked the moon when he forged Lightbringer. Does this make Azor Ahai "the bad guy?" He stabbed his wife too, and to work blood magic. Is blood magic heroic, or abomination? And what's with this Bloodstone Emperor guy, who worshiped a black meteor during the Long Night? Is there a link between this black meteor, the meteors of the moon explosion, and the greasy black stone? And what does this tell us about the nature of Lightbringer? Follow along with the text of the episode at https://lucifermeanslightbringer.com/2016/01/04/thebloodstoneemperorazorahai/

What was the cause of the Long Night? Who was Azor Ahai, and what was Lightbringer? What is the meaning of the relationship between comets, dragons, and flaming swords? We'll attempt to answer these questions and a few others as we get blood on our podcasting sword for the first time. Follow along with the text of the episode on lucifermeanslightbringer.com, where you can also find my other essays. A big thanks to Animals as Leaders for allowing us the use of their music.