🎙️ Episode Summary

In Episode 05 of The Alighted Way, Janelle and Colleen step into the Western mythological tradition to examine how dragons came to be framed as monsters—and why heroes were celebrated for slaying them. Through stories drawn from Christian, Norse, and Greek mythology, this episode explores the cultural roots of the dragon-slayer narrative and what it reveals about power, fear, and moral storytelling.

From St. George and Archangel Michael to Thor, Apollo, Medusa, Typhon, and Python, Janelle traces how dragons were defeated, subdued, imprisoned, or killed, and questions whether these victories were truly heroic—or simply a matter of who survived to tell the story. The conversation expands into Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey and the blurred line between good and evil, asking listeners to reconsider who the real monsters might be.

A reflective dialogue follows, where Janelle and Colleen unpack these myths through lived experience, travel, and personal reflection, setting the stage for a future shift toward Eastern perspectives where dragons are revered as guardians, allies, and teachers rather than enemies.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:00 — Entering the Western lens on dragons and hero myths
• 01:00 — Monsters, perspective, and who gets to tell the story
• 03:30 — Origins of the word ‘dragon’ and ancient interpretations
• 06:20 — St. George, Christianity, and conditional salvation
• 08:45 — Archangel Michael and the myth of cosmic battle
• 11:00 — Norse mythology: Thor, the World Serpent, and Ragnarök
• 14:00 — Greek dragon myths: Medusa, Typhon, and Apollo
• 17:30 — Blood, purification, and the cost of dragon-slaying
• 19:00 — Reflective dialogue: story-making and lived experience
• 24:30 — Medusa reconsidered and reframing villain narratives
• 28:30 — Setting up the Eastern perspective on dragons

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such.”
• “People fear what they don’t understand—and call it a monster.”
• “The victor is usually the one who gets to tell the story.”
• “The line between good and evil is rarely as clean as fairy tales suggest.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Western Dragon Mythology • Hero’s Journey • Monsters & Morality • Power & Perspective • Storytelling & Cultural Memory • Fear vs. Understanding

💠 Takeaway Message

Western dragon myths often frame destruction as heroism, reinforcing the idea that what we fear must be conquered. By revisiting these stories with discernment, we can begin to see how narrative, power, and perspective shape belief—and open the door to more nuanced ways of understanding both dragons and ourselves.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• St. George and the Dragon

http://www.saintgeorges.ca/our-patron

• Archangel Michael and Michaelmas

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/st-michaels-day-and-michaelmas-traditions

• Norse mythology: Thor and Jörmungandr

https://www.norsegarde.com/en-ca/blogs/lore-and-mythology/thor-and-jormungandr-the-eternal-rivalry-that-ends-in-ragnarok?srsltid=AfmBOorZeWc5UXk984Ike8I1SspPsEaAFpzYUCoH8Czz4OdRSYV2Ppj2

• Greek mythology: Medusa, Typhon, Apollo, Delphi

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

https://www.theoi.com/Gigante/Typhoeus.html

https://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakainaPython.html

• Joseph Campbell – The Hero’s Journey

https://www.jcf.org/learn/joseph-campbell-heros-journey

✨ Call to Action

If this episode challenged how you think about heroes and monsters, share The Alighted Way with someone who enjoys myth, meaning, and re-examining old stories. Join us next as we turn toward the Eastern reverence of dragons as allies, guardians, and guides.

In this episode, Colleen joins Janelle to share a deeply personal and unexpected spiritual experience: meeting a dragon guide during her Master Reiki training. What began as a meditation to connect with a Reiki guide became the start of an ongoing relationship with Praxis—a green and gold dragon whose presence offers healing, protection, humour, and grounded support.

This conversation explores how spiritual guides can arrive in surprising forms, how readiness and trust shape these relationships, and why dragons may be appearing more frequently during times of collective healing.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

• First encounters with spiritual guides during Reiki practice
• What it means to work with a dragon guide
• Trust, timing, and spiritual readiness
• Dragons as symbols of protection and healing
• How guides evolve alongside us
• Subtle versus vivid spiritual experiences
• Personal boundaries and consent in sharing spiritual connections

Episode Timeline

• 02:20 – Welcome & Introduction
• 02:41 – First Meeting Praxis
• 03:27 – Who Is Praxis?
• 04:10 – Comparing Reiki Guides
• 05:00 – What Was Most Surprising
• 06:14 – Looking Back: Dragons Then and Now
• 07:02 – The House Guardian Dragon
• 08:10 – Messages, Readiness, and Consent
• 09:32 – How Communication Happens
• 10:18 – Do Others Have Dragon Guides?
• 10:57 – Abilities and Surprises
• 11:45 – The Dragon Realm
• 12:29 – Why Dragons Now?
• 13:06 – Closing

Resources mentioned:

• Colleen's website: omspirit.ca

Notable Quotes

• “He’s my Reiki guide, but he’s also just a regular guide—and he’s not going anywhere.”
• “It’s about levels of readiness, not just mine, but the dragon’s too.”
• “The world needs a lot of healing—and for me, that healing came in the form of a dragon.”

Listener Reflection Prompt

Have you ever had a guide, symbol, or presence show up in a way you didn’t expect?
What helped—or hindered—you in trusting that experience?

In this vivid and culturally rich episode, Janelle returns to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, weaving together humour, awe, anthropology, and mysticism. She explores Bhutan’s unapologetic phallus symbolism, tracing how penises and testicles appear in art, architecture, rites, and everyday life as agents of fertility, protection, and good luck. From wooden phalluses placed on rooftops to blessings bestowed by monks, she unpacks how ancient traditions endure despite modern shifts.

Janelle expands the conversation globally, touching on phallic rites in Greece, Italy, Nepal, Japan, and beyond, before transitioning into the deep mythic heart of Bhutan: dragons. With striking storytelling, she recounts her powerful dragon initiation at Burning Lake, where a vision of a small dragon named Orchow became a transformative companion during her shamanic training. The episode closes on themes of guardianship, spiritual relationship, and how beings of myth offer wisdom for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.

🔥 Key Moments

02:03 — Welcome to Bhutan: Land of thunder dragons, and unabashed phallic reverence.

03:16 — Phallus Culture Explained: Protection rituals, fertility symbols, house blessings, and rural traditions.

04:52 — A Global Pattern: Parallels in Greece, Nepal, Italy, Japan, and even modern Iceland.

10:20 — The Divine Madman: Drukpa Kunley, his flaming thunderbolt of wisdom, and the temple rituals linked to his legacy.

12:30 — Festival of the Naked Man Dance: A sacred cultural rite.

13:40 — Dragons & Bhutanese Mythology: Thunder, lightning, protection, and national identity.

14:20 — Burning Lake Vision: Encountering a guardian serpent and receiving permission.

15:12 — Dragon Initiation: Meeting Orchow, exchanging essence, forging connection.

16:16 — Power Animals & Shamanic Training: How Orchow participated and evolved.

17:38 — Endings & Return: Orchow’s healing departure, and lasting presence.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“It symbolizes fertility, protection, and good luck. In Bhutan, the phallus is never just a phallus.”

“He struck the demoness with the thunderbolt of flaming wisdom.”

“The dragon ran straight toward me. We circled each other, eye to eye, soul to soul.”

“They come for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. For Orchow it was a season.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Cultural Symbolism • Tradition and Modernity • Mythic Beings as Teachers • Vision States • Fertility & Creation

💠 Takeaway Message

Symbols endure because they hold cultural memory, spiritual power, and collective meaning. When we meet these symbols with openness, we step into deeper relationship with ourselves and the unseen world.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Fertility temples of Bhutan

• Divine Madman (Drukpa Kunley) 

• Phallic festivals worldwide

• Icelandic Phallological Museum

• Burning Lake (Mebar Tsho)

• Dragon symbolism in Bhutan

✨ Call to Action

If this journey into Bhutan’s mysteries stirred something for you, share The Alighted Way with a friend, leave a review, and follow the show for upcoming episodes exploring symbolism, spirit allies, and the extraordinary woven into everyday life.

In Episode 02 of The Alighted Way, Janelle is joined by award-winning photographer Mark Laurie of Inner Spirit Photography for a deep and thoughtful exploration of fire, photography, and the mysterious beings known as sprites. Together, they examine how working with fire becomes a powerful tool for empowerment, confidence-building, healing, and self-trust—particularly for women stepping into embodied courage.

Mark shares decades of experience capturing fine art photography and describes how sprites—animal, mythic, and symbolic forms—emerge within flames during body fire sessions. These shapes, often perceived differently by each viewer, appear to mirror the inner world of the person working with fire, revealing deeply personal meanings and emotional truths.

The conversation moves beyond spectacle into psychology, boundaries, and integration. Fire becomes a marker experience—a high-water point that recalibrates how fear is measured in everyday life. Through stories of transformation, healing, and reclaimed agency, this episode highlights how consciously chosen challenges can reshape identity and restore personal power.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:07 — Welcome back to The Alighted Way and introduction of Mark Laurie
• 02:19 — Elementals and body fire: empowerment through safe fire work
• 03:09 — What are sprites? Animals, mythic beings, and meaning in flames
• 05:36 — Perception and symbolism: how sprites differ for each viewer
• 06:36 — Witnessing body fire: fear, awe, and rapid transformation
• 08:29 — Trusting the fire practitioner and the importance of safety
• 09:23 — Fire as a playful but powerful initiatory tool
• 10:49 — Fire as a personal benchmark for fear and resilience
• 12:34 — Boundaries, discernment, and conscious risk-taking
• 15:36 — Integration, healing, and reclaiming agency after trauma
• 17:14 — Closing reflections and invitation to the dragon path

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “The flames speak to different people on different wavelengths.”
• “Fire becomes the high-water mark for fear.”
• “Once you push one boundary, the next one gets easier.”
• “Safety always comes first.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Sprites & Elementals • Empowerment Through Fire • Perception & Symbolism • Boundaries & Consent • Fear Recalibration • Healing & Integration

💠 Takeaway Message

Fire, when approached with preparation and trust, becomes a mirror rather than a threat. The courage cultivated through embodied experiences does not end in the moment itself—it continues as a reference point, reminding us that we are capable, resilient, and far more powerful than we once believed.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Inner Spirit Photography – Mark Laurie
• Body fire photography
• Elementals and sprites in flame
• Fire as an empowerment practice
• Public speaking and confidence-building through challenge

✨ Call to Action

If this episode sparked curiosity or reflection, share The Alighted Way with someone who values conscious transformation. Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes exploring dragons, symbolism, and the forces that shape our inner landscapes.

In the inaugural episode of The Alighted Way, Janelle and Colleen invite listeners into a raw and reflective exploration of fire—not just as an element, but as a teacher. Through firsthand stories of fire eating, fire walking, volcanic landscapes, cultural fire performance, and the visceral experience of being lit on fire during a professional photoshoot, Janelle examines how fear, preparation, and presence shape transformative moments.

The episode weaves together personal narrative, cultural observation, and philosophical reflection, moving from glowing coal paths to erupting volcanoes in Hawai‘i and Iceland, from sacred fire dances in Bali and Polynesia to the controlled intensity of a live lava show. At its core, this episode asks what it truly means to take calculated risks, to know one’s limits, and to step willingly into experiences that demand trust, focus, and surrender.

The conversation closes by reframing fire not as reckless danger, but as an initiatory force—one that reveals resilience, sharpens self-knowledge, and leaves behind sparks of insight for those willing to walk through it.

🔥 Key Moments

• 00:07 — Welcome to The Alighted Way: Adventure, transformation, and the call of fire
• 01:10 — Fire Eating & Fire Walking: Technique, trust, and mind-over-matter
• 01:48 — Coal Walking: Entering the “mind palace” and committing fully
• 04:40 — Volcano Encounters: Lava flows in Hawai‘i and risk awareness
• 06:45 — Icelandic Fire Experiences: Lava shows and the line between awe and safety
• 08:25 — Fire Performance Traditions: Polynesia, Māori poi, and Balinese Kecak dance
• 10:28 — Being Lit on Fire: The photoshoot, expectations vs. reality
• 12:25 — Sprites & Dragons in the Flames: What reveals itself in fire
• 13:20 — Closing Reflections: Courage, boundaries, and walking beside one another

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Those who have walked through the fire leave sparks of light everywhere they go.”
• “Some fear the fire. Some become it.”
• “The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes.”
• “Safety always comes first.”

🪶 Themes Explored

Fear & Courage • Calculated Risk • Embodied Presence • Fire as Teacher • Cultural Fire Traditions • Transformation Through Experience

💠 Takeaway Message

Transformation does not come from recklessness, but from conscious choice. Fire teaches us that clarity, preparation, and self-awareness determine whether we are burned—or illuminated. Knowing when to step forward, and when to step back, is part of walking an aligned path.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• Fire walking and fire eating traditions
• Active volcano experiences in Hawai’i: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Live lava shows in Iceland: https://www.lavashow.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21031327585&gbraid=0AAAAAC8xrHeUBLvnLevk0pYlui-oJz2_x&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUBIsiJgwIhzcfHWTpWOs_FJ_XoVJnSq1xdCgk5C6XJWGGITbCXU_0hoCaqUQAvD_BwE
• Polynesian fire performance: https://www.polynesia.com/packages?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19311784&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ZKoa-BfJE8-GkhcYus6QogM5_b&gclid=CjwKCAiAmp3LBhAkEiwAJM2JUNoGz615ZARW7c66qZHt9yo0poEtmSMa7qd1F4zyTRsI-9v0CF_y3RoChAIQAvD_BwE
• Māori poi spinning
• Balinese Kecak (fire) dance: https://www.theungasan.com/blog/the-kecak-dance-a-fiery-display-of-balinese-culture/
• Cultural fire rituals across the world

✨ Call to Action

If this episode sparked reflection for you, share The Alighted Way with someone who appreciates meaningful risk and deep listening. Follow the podcast for future episodes exploring elemental wisdom, spirit encounters, and the stories that shape who we become

We explore stories of mystical adventure, inner transformation, and a little bit of fire – sometimes literally.

This show is about pushing limits into the unknown, discovering who we really are in the process, and celebrating the moments of connection that make us feel more alive.

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Contact Janelle & Colleen: 

• TheAlightedWay.com
• Instagram: @TheAlightedWay
• Email: [email protected]