Be Mythical

This week’s show is a special one in which Be Mythical Soul Guide Sara J. Sanderson interviewed Lian about all things ‘doing the work’ - inspired by Lian’s recent post on the topic. Lian and Sara explored the concept of 'doing the work', a term often used in personal development and spirituality circles, often without an understanding of what it really means. They delve into the differences between truly doing the work and other forms of self-improvement, emphasising the importance of consciously choosing the Great Work of individuation and union. Some of the questions explored and answered were: 1. How can we differentiate between 'the work' and other forms of self-improvement or self-care practices? 2. Could you provide examples of how 'the work' relates to individuation, and union? 3. In what ways can we identify whether we're truly engaging in 'the work' versus engaging in activities that may seem similar but ultimately bypass the deeper aspects of ourselves? 4. Can you share more about the role of fear and resistance in undertaking 'the work', and how one can overcome or navigate through these challenges? 5. Could you provide ways those who are feeling called to embark on 'the work' are supported? And if you are a healer, guide or coach how do you ensure you are supporting in the best way? The conversation highlights the role of fear and resistance in preventing us from doing the work and the challenges of recognising and navigating our projections and co-dependency. They also touch upon the potential pain and challenge of doing the work, as well as the importance of community and support in the process - which is why we created UNIO, The Academy of Sacred Union. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What you’ll learn from this episode: The Great Work involves consciously looking at the hidden aspects of ourselves and bringing them into the light, whilst seeing and navigating all of the illusions, blockages, fear, and resistance that will show up along the way. The work can take various forms, such as shadow work, inner child work, or working with teacher plants but no matter the form, it requires a conscious devotion to the Great Work for it to be so. Recognising and becoming accountable for our projections and codependency is an essential part of doing the work. Doing the work can be challenging and painful, but is for those is it right for - a choiceless choice and one of the most rewarding ones we can make - having a supportive community and seeking guidance from those who understand the Great Work is crucial in sustaining the journey. Resources and stuff they spoke about: The post that inspired this conversation. Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul’s calling to truly live your myth. Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us on: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube - if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode).

All The Everything is Lian’s monthly solo show where she often shares what she’s been creating, consuming, and celebrating before diving deep into a topic inspired or chosen by members of the Be Mythical fb group. The LIVE making of the show is recorded in our Facebook group and for the first 30mins before Lian hits the record button you are invited to a pre-show party to get up close and personal with Lian and have your questions on the month’s topic answered. To receive a reminder of when the pre-show party and LIVE making of All The Everything is happening, make sure you’re subscribed to our email list and are a member of the Facebook group. All the details you need are HERE! In this show, Lian shared her own version of the folktale ‘Fox Woman’ and the powerful symbols of Fox Woman, her Pelt and the Hunter that it invokes. She shares her personal experience with the story of Fox Woman and the synchronicities that led her to explore this folktale. After Lian tells the story, she invites listeners to engage with what it activates within them, offering questions for reflection. The story follows a lonely hunter who discovers mysterious acts of kindness in his cottage, leading him to encounter a woman who is part woman, part fox, and part spirit. The tale of Fox Woman and the Hunter explores the relationship between the mythical feminine and masculine, and invites us to be in conscious relationship with each of these within our own pysche. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What you’ll learn from this episode: The banishment of the Mythical Feminine is a common theme in society, both internally and externally - the story of Fox Woman invites us to reflect on how we banish and reject these aspects of ourselves. Fox Woman represents the accepted, nurturing face of the Feminine, while her pelt symbolizes her wildness, power, and enchantment. The Hunter represents the part of us that banishes these aspects of the Feminine to feel safe and accepted. This story highlights the suffering that occurs when we separate parts of the Feminine and reject the fullness of her expression - it invites us to recognise and embrace all aspects of the feminine within ourselves and in the world. Resources and stuff spoken about: Share in the group what showed up for you listening to this show, including any questions: Be Mythical fb group If you want to go deeper then take a look at Medicine Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1694264587546957 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be.mythical TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bemythical YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeMythical Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube - if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode).

Are you ready to uncover the old story that may be keeping you from living fully? Having quit her life long profession as a dental hygienist due to chronic back and shoulder pain, and navigating all the additional challenges that arose with that, guest Kate Motley began on a long journey of self discovery to reconnect her back to her sense of self and what she was here for. The endless fears Kate has faced along the way, and her own personal resistance to the work that is required, has given rise to a deeply embodied upstanding of what it is like to transform overwhelming feelings of shame, into loving ourselves back to life. Kate’s experience has ignited a passion in her to support women who may also have experienced a disconnection to themselves. Through her offering of women’s sharing circles, Kate creates the opportunity for women to share their hearts in the presence of others. In this show, Kate and Lian explored Kate’s journey from living her old story of people-pleasing and keeping herself small to embracing her new story of living from her brave heart. Kate reflects on her upbringing, and how she didn’t even realise the effects of it until she began the work making it conscious and understanding its impact on her life. They explored Kate’s journey of liberation and the challenges she faced along the way in her own healing, right up until the present day, when she’s stepping into the role of being medicine for others. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What you’ll learn from this episode: Resources and stuff spoken about: Find out more about Kate Motley and her in person Circles on her website: katemotley.podia.com/ Join Kate's Upcoming Online Circle: Braveheart Women's Circles Online Follow her on Facebook: Kate Motley Be Mythical Join our mailing list for soul stirring goodness: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube - if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode).

Have you considered how alchemy can affect your personal growth and healing? William Apple, a Psychological and Spiritual Mentor, as well as a Psychodynamic Coach, joins Lian as a returning guest to explore the concept of alchemy and its relevance in healing and individuation. They delve into the traditional definition of alchemy as the process of turning lead into gold, and how it’s used metaphorically - which is the psychological aspect of alchemy, as described by Carl Jung. They highlight the appeal of alchemy and the tendency for people to project their fantasies and unmet needs onto the concept. They also discuss the shadow side of alchemy, including the dangers of misunderstanding and unintentionally bypassing the work, especially when we dive straight into collective shadow work, instead of beginning with the inner child. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Alchemy is the process of turning lead into gold, both literally and metaphorically - psychological alchemy, as described by Carl Jung, involves the work of becoming conscious of our internal processes in service of individuation. The appeal of alchemy lies in the recognition of a natural inclination towards wholeness and the desire to refine and transform ourselves, however there is a danger in projecting fantasies and unmet needs onto the concept of alchemy, as it can prevent us from engaging honestly in the real work. It is important to understand the lineage and historical context of alchemical teachings to avoid appropriation and make-believe. Begin with the inner child - recognising the oppressed child within - is essential in any true shadow alchemy. This is why we need to work with the personal shadow before we begin the work of the collective shadows that we all share. Resources and stuff spoken about: Our last episodes about How to create a relationship with the Child and learn the true extent of our conditioning Phantasy vs. Fantasy... how to know which you're engaging in (and why it matters) William’s Website - Aion Psychodynamic Coaching Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).

Have you ever felt a deep resonance with being an old soul? Join Be Mythical co-founders, Lian Brook-Tyler and Jonathan Wilkinson as they delve into navigating the intricacies and challenges of being an old soul in this modern world. Together they explore the recognition and journey of old souls - someone who has chosen to come to this life with deep work to do and has likely journeyed through many lifetimes. They discuss the challenges of knowing oneself as an old soul, including resistance, fear, and grandiosity, as well as the purpose of old souls, the wound of separation, and the common threads that unite them. The conversation also touches on the call of the wild, the significance of neurodivergence, and the changing landscape for old souls in the modern world and the need for community, support and guidance. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Old souls are individuals who have chosen to come to this life with significant work to do and have likely journeyed through many lifetimes. They tend to possess a deep reverence for life and a sense of ancient wisdom. Old souls often have a deep recognition of themselves as such, which goes beyond any challenges or doubts they may face. Although knowing oneself as an old soul can bring challenges such as resistance, fear, and grandiosity, embracing the term 'old souls' can be empowering and help individuals fully embody their gifts and purpose. Old souls come to this world with a purpose and Material for Liberation to work through. The journey of an old soul involves healing the wound of separation and returning to the truth of who they are. Finding guidance and soul family is essential for old souls on their journey… UNIO is a community and academy that provides the alchemy, kinship, and support for old souls to alchemise and fulfill their purpose. Resources and stuff spoken about: Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul’s calling to truly live your myth. Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).

This week's show is with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH, a retired emergency medicine physician who works to improve the global relationship of science, clinical practice, mental health and the public to the phenomena that might be referred to as spiritual, meditative, energetic, mystical, psychedelic, magical, and related phenomena. To those ends, he is currently the founder, philanthropic supporter, and volunteer CEO and Board Chair of the Emergence Benefactors registered charity, and chief organizer and co-founder of the global Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. He is currently involved in neurophenomenological research of advanced meditative states with colleagues at Harvard and has been a participant in numerous fMRI and EEG studies of advanced meditators, including at Harvard, Yale, U Mass, and Vanderbilt. He has published scientific articles in Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Medical Toxicology. He is the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, co-author of The Fire Kasina, and co-founder of the Dharma Overground. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Vice, Wired, BBC Radio 4, Evolving Dharma, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, Dan Harris’ 10% Happier Podcast, Slate Star Codex Blog, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Meaning of Life TV, Deconstructing Yourself, Spiritual Explained website, Guru Viking, Buddhist Geeks, Cosmic Tortoise, Startup Geometry, Imperfect Buddha Podcast, and many others. In this conversation, Daniel and Lian explored the intersection of magic, spirituality, science, and healthcare. Daniel shares his personal journey and the three aspects of himself that led him to explore this integration within and without via the work of the Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium, which aims to bridge the gap between the clinical mainstream and the emergent world. The conversation explores the importance of understanding phenomenology, establishing diagnostic categories, and conducting epidemiological studies. As well as the topics of neurodivergence and shamanic sickness, highlighting the need for understanding and support in these areas, and the challenges of recognising and relating to unusual experiences, as well as the tension between regulation and accessibility in alternative healing practices. Finally, Daniel shares his vision for the future, where knowledge and capabilities in these areas are equitably distributed and supported by scientific research. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below or share in our fb group. What you’ll learn from this episode: The integration of magic, spirituality, science, and healthcare can lead to transformative experiences and intentional healing. Understanding phenomenology and establishing diagnostic categories are crucial for bridging the gap between the clinical mainstream and the emergent world. Epidemiological studies can provide insights into the impact of transformative experiences on mental wellbeing and society. Special projects related to military, security, space, and big data require careful consideration and ethical approaches. Normalization and connection with others who have had similar experiences can be healing and provide support. Understanding and support for neurodivergence and shamanic sickness are important in the context of spiritual and mystical experiences. Recognizing and relating to unusual experiences can be challenging, but pattern recognition and training can help healthcare professionals provide better care. There is a tension between regulation and accessibility in alternative healing practices, and it is important to find a balance that allows for both safety and inclusivity. The vision for the future includes a global clinical mainstream that has a sophisticated understanding of alternative healing practices and the ability to provide equitable access to knowledge and...

How do you think the concepts of morals and ethics influence our daily lives, and have you considered the role of myth and storytelling in shaping our ethical decision-making? Returning guest Erik Jampa Andersson, founder and director of Shrimala, is an author, a London-based practitioner, teacher, and scholar of Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa), Tibetan Buddhism, and Environmental History. Join Erik and Lian as they delve into the intricate realm of morals and ethics, uncovering the subjective nature of morality, the influence of vertical morality, and the pivotal role of empathy and storytelling in shaping ethical decision-making and fostering compassionate relationships for the betterment of society and deeply knowing ourselves. What you’ll learn from this episode: Resources and stuff spoken about: Visit Erik’s Website: shrimala.com erikjampa.com Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly "How do you think the concepts of morals and ethics influence our daily lives, and what role do you believe storytelling plays in shaping our understanding of empathy and ethical decision-making?" UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: Doors opening soon! To get your special invitation register HERE. Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).

This week’s show is with the amazing Erik Jampa Andersson. Erik Jampa Andersson is the founder and director of Shrimala, an author, a London-based practitioner, teacher, and scholar of Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa), Tibetan Buddhism, and Environmental History. He is a graduate of the Shang Shung Institute School of Tibetan Medicine, and recently completed his MA in History at Goldsmiths University, where his research focused on the historical intersection of ecology, health, and mythology in a more-than-human world. He is the author of Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House, May 2023). In this conversation, Erik and Lian explored the hierarchical way humans relate to non-humans (especially in relation to people getting into Shamanism or Jungian approaches). Erik shared his journey through Tibetan Buddhism and into a more immanent approach. They explored the significance of storytelling and fantasy in reclaiming enchantment and fostering a more animistic worldview, emphasising the importance of recognising the personhood of non-human beings and the need to break free from an anthropocentric worldview. They both spoke of the recognition of animism as a foundational way of experiencing the world and the importance of preserving unbroken animistic traditions. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Recognise the personhood of non-human beings and embrace the relational experience of enchantment, developing an animistic worldview that acknowledges the diversity and continuity of beingness. Engage in storytelling and fantasy to reclaim enchantment and challenge our conditioned anthropocetric worldview. Preserve and learn from unbroken animistic traditions while being cautious of cultural erasure. Learn from wisdom holders and engage with their knowledge with gratitude and humility, whilst approaching traditional systems with pragmatism and nuance, adapting them to your own life and circumstances rather than taking them on in a way that doesn’t take into account the change in context. Focus on building meaningful relationships with others, including non-human beings - this is something we focus on in an upcoming episode Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Visit Erik’s Website: shrimala.com erikjampa.com UNIO: The Academy of Sacred UnionHERE Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian & Jonathan

This week’s show is with Ian Watson. Ian is an educator, author and facilitator who has worked in the field of well-being, holistic healing and inner transformation since 1988. He has travelled extensively giving seminars, courses and retreats around the world. Ian became widely known as a speaker and writer in homeopathy, which he taught and practised until 2003. He subsequently trained in a wide variety of psychological and emotional healing disciplines in the following decade. Ian has been a lifelong student of the work of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung and the great spiritual traditions of the world, taoism and zen buddhism in particular. In 2011 he discovered the work of Sydney Banks which has been pivotal in aligning his psychological and spiritual understanding together with his holistic approach to health and healing. In this conversation, Ian and Lian journeyed into the topic of balancing the descent to soul with the ascent to spirit, or said differently, the transcendent path versus the path of knowing oneself. They explored the transcendent aspect of the mythological journey and the integration of the spiritual and earthly realms. Lian and Ian both share personal experiences of the transcendent and discuss the role of the Three Principles understanding in making sense of these experiences. They also explored the Western focus on individuality and the importance of heeding intuition and wisdom in order to follow the path of our own soul. The conversation highlights the need to balance the transcendent and earthly realms to live a spiritual life in the physical world. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: The mythological journey can take us onto seemingly contrary paths that honor both the transcendent aspect and a descent into the human experience and our unique bodies and souls. Following intuition and wisdom can lead to a deeper understanding of one's path and the integration of the transcendent and earthly realms. Living a spiritual life involves recognising the sacredness of the earth and the body. Remembering and forgetting is a natural part of our experience. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Details of Ian’s work can be found at www.theinsightspace.com Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Ian Watson. Ian is an educator, author and facilitator who has worked in the field of well-being, holistic healing and inner transformation since 1988. He has travelled extensively giving seminars, courses and retreats around the world. Ian became widely known as a speaker and writer in homeopathy, which he taught and practised until 2003. He subsequently trained in a wide variety of psychological and emotional healing disciplines in the following decade. Ian has been a lifelong student of the work of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung and the great spiritual traditions of the world, taoism and zen buddhism in particular. In 2011 he discovered the work of Sydney Banks which has been pivotal in aligning his psychological and spiritual understanding together with his holistic approach to health and healing. In this conversation, Ian and Lian journeyed into the topic of myth as a path of self-illumination and healing, our own stories of discovering the power of myth, some of the myths that have called us to work with them, and the ways that anyone called to myth and self-knowledge can journey deeper. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: The mythical worldview is one that comes naturally for humans, we are conditioned out of it but can reclaim it - we just need to pay attention and heed the call Notice what resonates for you and trust it is the path to gold, this is a journey of the heart, not the head alone Value and prioritise your time in non-ordinary consciousness, day dreams, night dreams, and trance, and working with the symbols that arise. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Details of Ian’s work can be found at www.theinsightspace.com Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Dr. Helané Wahbeh. Helané is the Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Wahbeh is clinically trained as a naturopathic physician and research trained with a Master of Clinical Research and two post-doctoral research fellowships. Recently named President of the Parapsychological Association, she has published on and spoken internationally about her studies on complementary and alternative medicine, mind-body medicine, extended human capacities, stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, and their relationships to physiology, health, and healing. Dr. Wahbeh is especially known for her research around — and noetic approach to — channeling. She is the author of some 90+ peer-reviewed publications, the new book The Science of Channeling: Why You Should Trust Your Intuition and the Force That Connects Us All and Free To Be Me: A Journey of Transformation through Generational Healing. In this show, Helané and Lian explored the topics of telepathy, precognition, and intention - specifically through the lens of harnessing those abilities in the healing arts. Helané shared research on telephone telepathy, where people accurately guess who is calling them above chance, and the power of bringing focused positive intention to support others' health. They also spoke about the unique ways individuals express their intuitive wisdom - although these are abilities we can see in many humans, some do have a genetic propensity to be especially strong in certain abilities - and that’s something we can train and hone too. We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Telepathy is the communication of impressions from one mind to another that is independent of recognized channels of sense. Research shows that telephone telepathy is a common phenomenon, with people accurately guessing who is calling them above chance. Intention plays a significant role in healing and can be used to support others' health and well-being. The Noetic Signature explores the unique ways individuals express their intuitive gifts, but it’s important to recognise that it seems that everyone has the capacity to tap into this wisdom. Using focused positive intention can influence the physical world and contribute to creating a world of peace, love, and freedom for all. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Institute of Noetic Sciences Research Free To Be Me: A Journey of Transformation through Generational Healing The Science of Channeling: Why You Should Trust Your Intuition and the Force That Connects Us All Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Caitlin Matthews. Caitlin is an internationally renowned author, a teacher of shamanic training programme, a facilitator of Systemic Ritual® and the co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies (FÍOS). Caitlín Matthews is the author of over 80 books, including Diary of a Soul Doctor, Singing the Soul Back Home, the Art of Celtic Seership, Celtic Devotional and The Celtic Book of the Dead. Her books have won a number of awards. She is known internationally for her work on the spiritual, mythic and ancestral traditions of Britain and Ireland. She teaches and works with communities and spiritual institutions worldwide from Iceland to Portugal and from USA to Australia. Caitlín is a co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies (FÍOS), which is dedicated to the sacred arts that shape the landscape of the soul, via vision, dream and memory. FÍOS hosts masterclasses with exemplars of living, oracular sacred traditions that are rarely recorded in writing or given an honourable place in modern society. Caitlín has had a shamanic healing practice in Oxford for the last 30 years, working in the community to deepen connections to the ancestral traditions which are our heritage. In this conversation, Caitlin and Lian dived deep the importance of reconnecting with ancestral traditions for those of us who are change-workers and healers. They discussed the power of perception, the call to shamanism, and the role of myth, symbol and metaphor in healing. Caitlin emphasised the importance of voice and singing in ancestral traditions and the fear that often surrounds it. They also explored the unique qualities of the islands and the importance of being rooted in the land. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Perception plays a crucial role in shamanic experiences, allowing individuals to perceive things and in ways that others may not be able to. The call to shamanism often comes in a way that gets our attention and may not be comfortable, but it is a powerful and transformative journey. Connecting with ancestral traditions and the land is essential in shamanic practice, as it provides a deep sense of rootedness and connection. The power of voice and singing is a central aspect of ancestral traditions, and overcoming the fear of singing can be a transformative experience. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: For Caitlin’s books & courses see: www.hallowquest.org.uk For Caitlin’s more writing on a range of topics, including a year-long course, Blessings of the Celtic Year, see her Hallowquest Sanctuary at www.hallowquest.substack.com Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Joshua Michael Schrei, a writer, a teacher, the founder and host of The Emerald podcast. The Emerald combines evocative narrative, soul-stirring music, and interviews with award-winning authors and luminaries to explore the human experience through a vibrant lens of myth, story, and imagination. The Emerald draws from a deep well of poetry, lore, and mythos to challenge conventional narratives on politics and public discourse, meditation and mindfulness, art, science, literature, and more. A writer, teacher, and a lifelong student of the cosmologies and mythologies of the world — in particular the Indian subcontinent — Josh has sought to navigate the living, animate space of the imagination and advocate for a world that prioritizes imaginative vision. Josh has taught intensive courses in mythology and somatic disciplines for nearly 20 years. In this conversation, Joshua and Lian journeyed into exploring the role of the mythopoetic worldview in change work, i.e. for those of us healing and guiding others. We discuss the importance of myth and the animistic worldview but also that it’s the one that humans have held for the vast majority of our time on earth, the need to go beyond intellectual analysis and engage in practical actions and offerings to establish a deeper relationship with the living forces around us, and the challenges of bridging the gap between Western analytical approaches and the embodied knowing of mythic work. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Myth is not an abstract concept but a living reality that can be experienced through practical actions and offerings. Engaging with myth and the animistic worldview requires a shift in consciousness and a recognition of our relational responsibility to the living world. The Western worldview often separates us from the animate world, but our ancestors lived in deep reciprocal relationship with the land and its beings. Symbols and archetypes are not mere abstractions but tangible forces that can be experienced and engaged with in a direct and practical way. Forgetting and remembering our connection to the animate world is a continuous process that requires humility and openness to new experiences. Seek out spaces and practices that offer tangible spiritual experiences. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: To find out more about Joshua's work, visit The Emerald Podcast at: patreon.com/theemeraldpodcast Be Mythical is soon opening the doors to our new academy of alchemical arts - UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union... To get your special invitation register HERE. Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This was the first episode of the new Be Mythical podcast with Lian and Jonathan. In this conversation, we discuss the launch of all things Be Mythical, including the work of living your soul’s truth, the challenges faced by old souls in the modern world and the need to reconnect with nature and rewild oneself, the power of community and ritual in the journey of self-discovery. We also shared more details about the upcoming Mythical Academy and improvements to this show. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Register your interest in the new academy HERE Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with the amazing Dr Joanna LaPrade. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., is a Registered Psychotherapist, author, speaker, and educator. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., earned her doctorate in Jungian and archetypal psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is now the founder of Aion Psychotherapy and a practicing Jungian psychotherapist in Colorado. Her therapeutic work focuses on helping clients find a meaningful connection to their inner worlds. Outside of her practice, Dr. LaPrade is a speaker and educator whose expertise focus on myth, psyche, and the Jungian and archetypal perspective. She is also the author of Forged in Darkness: The Many Paths of Personal Transformation, a book that unites self-discovery with mythology, to handle an important dilemma of our times—how to navigate the darkness of life. In this conversation, Dr Joanna and Lian dived deep into an exploration, inspired by the question of: What is true growth? They nerded out on telos, fate, astrology, and symbols, and the inherent paradox and challenges we’re brought present to whilst journeying on this path. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Joanna shared Jung’s self-reflective question of “Who am I to have this happen to me?” - this is an orientation to our lives that can invite and open us into having a deep intimacy with ourselves. Allowing symbols to emerge and yet, holding them lightly and allowing the space for the tension of not knowing allows more to arise What will help you to hold the tension between the known and unknown, to journey with the deep questions without needing to kill the questions or fix the problem? Resources and stuff that we spoke about: For more information about Dr. Joanna’s work, visit www.aionpsychotherapy.com Books mentioned: The Sound of Bells by Norah Moore Jung’s Studies in Astrology: Prophecy, Magic, and the Qualities of Time by Liz Greene Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Maggy Whitehouse. Maggy Whitehouse is an independent sacramental minister, a lifetime student of Judaeo-Christian mysticism, the author of 20 books on spirituality, mysticism and Bible metaphysics and started out as a stand-up comedian at the age of 56. She was a finalist in the 2015 UK Funny Women Awards. Maggy has worked in newspapers, radio, TV, for the BBC’s famed World Service and, most recently, was Sunday morning faith presenter for BBC Radio Devon. She made it on to Wikipedia after writing a sensible book about Opus Dei at the time of all the palaver over The Da Vinci Code. She has been widowed, divorced, healed from cancer, worked as a hospice chaplain, ridden on a Bengal tiger and survived a barracuda attack off the Barrier Reef. Both Maggy’s mother and her Bishop think she should get a proper job. In this show, Lian and Maggy explored resistance, specifically through the lens of how it shows up in the form of temptations to avoid expressing our soul’s truth, how we can tell when it’s showing up (by design it’s sneaky), and how we can learn to orient back to our souls and God. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Noticing your ‘Should’s and ‘Yes but’s… they are clues to resistance showing up Make your connection to the Divine a priority, do it first and often, 30 seconds of meditation, lighting a candle, going to your altar, speaking a prayer… a little goes a long way to taking you back to your soul Let the light of your own unique soul be that which helps others to navigate back to theirs Resources and stuff that we spoke about Maggy’s Website that you can check out: maggywhitehouse.com treeofsapphires.com Listen to Maggy’s podcast: Train Wrecks for Jesus. Introducing Mark and Maggy The Chapel of Liberation meditation that Maggy offered: here’s a link to her podcast in which she shares it Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe you’ll receive every show as soon as it's released (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Wendy Dooner. Wendy Dooner is a Medical Herbalist and Shamanic Practitioner from Scotland who is passionate about reconnecting women with the innate healing wisdom of nature and their bodies. Wendy graduated from university in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) and, more recently, a 3-year advanced Shamanic Practitioner course. Weaving back together the threads of science, magic and spirituality in herbal medicine has been a major focus of her practice recently and is a cornerstone of her teachings; she now practices what she has called Shamanic Herbalism. Through her online courses, workshops, or one-on-one consultations, Wendy ensures that this wonderful blend of ancient wisdom and modern science reaches all her students. At the heart of Wendy's practice is her profound connection with her native medicinal plants. She believes that these plants hold the answers to many of our modern ailments. In her practice, Wendy doesn't just prescribe herbs; she introduces her clients to a world where plants are people; they are teachers, guides, allies and elders. She believes that every plant has a story to tell and a lesson to impart, and it's her mission to facilitate these transformative conversations between nature and the individual. She lives happily in a small community in the foothills of the Cairngorms in Scotland with her husband and 2 young sons, where she forages in the wilds of the moorlands, grows herbs in her messy garden and skateboards at every spare opportunity. In this show, Lian and Wendy explored our experience and understanding of autistic people, and maybe especially women, being designed to be healers, how the very aspects of ourselves that have created struggles, can be used in service of helping others to heal, and what we’ve seen can be helpful to alchemise those challenges into gold. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: As both Lian and Wendy’s experiences showed, being late diagnosed as a woman can bring its own emotions and challenges - there’s a reckoning and grieving needed in order to move forward into claiming the gifts that autism brings Pattern recognition, empathy, adherence to ritual, openness to spirits and other realms, and attention to detail are all aspects of autism that can be used in service of supporting others in their journey to wholeness Diving into the work of reclaiming the unwanted and hidden parts of us is challenging for most people but maybe especially for autistic people for whom there has been an even greater challenge, necessity, and effort needed to fit in and function - it requires the right support and readiness, and we can be helped by understanding and using some of the very same gifts we will ultimately serve to others. Resources and stuff that we spoke about Visit Wendy’s Website: wendydooner.com The Center for Shamanism: Shamanic Herbal 1:1 with Wendy Follow The Center of Shamanism in Social Media: Facebook: Wendy Dooner Instagram: @wendy.shamanicherbalist Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe you’ll receive every show as soon as it's released (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is a round table conversation with five medicinal souls sharing their journey of becoming their medicine. They are Sara Sanderson - a soul guide and seer, Pablo Meccano, a coach, shadow worker, science fiction writer & grower of medicinal plants, Kate Barsby - a soul guide, Georgie Anstey - a community farmer, and Karl Brooks - a drum circle facilitator. All of whom are alumni of different cohorts of our signature crucible Medicine, which guides medicinal old souls to discover their purpose, uncover their unique gifts, and become their medicine. The journey they went on is an ancient journey, experienced in different ways in different cultures across the world and throughout history, and so the episode was a rich exploration of their own personal journey of this archetypal journey, traveling deep into their sacred wounds, to alchemise their medicine, first giving it to themselves and then serving it to others. Lian was called to hold the conversation in a circle-style way, similar to Medicine itself, so you’ll hear each person speaking themselves into circle using their medicine name, something that was uncovered during their work in Medicine. Notice what intrigues or activates you, both in the medicine names and also throughout the episode - and what it might reveal about your own soul’s calling. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: I loved how each of the medicinal ones had different experiences of Medicine, including why they joined, even though the work journeyed through was apparently the same - this is because the work is really happening inside them - their own soul’s longings, wounds, alchemy, and medicine. What Karl said, and Pablo echoed, about the power of not knowing and journeying with the mystery, is an important principle of initiation, and is required when we are journeying into territory beyond the ideas and tools we have learned and clung to. Kate and Georgie both shared about how their medicine was first taken by themselves - we can only alchemise that potency and uniqueness of medicine ourselves - and this is true nature of healing. What Sara shared about truth and expression is something that is so important for all medicinal souls to hear - most of us are meant to express ourselves in ways that are different to most people in our modern culture. That’s the most challenging thing of all for so many of us, and why we benefit from doing this work in a circle of others who can witness and support us in that unfurling into our truth. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Medicine ‘24: find out more and book your Medicine Illumination call HERE Sara Sanderson has a background in coaching and mentoring across the arts, business and community sectors with a passion for supporting people to bring out their creative expression. She sees the potential in others and love to help them to see it too and live fully. Sara has an open and honest approach to life offering a nurturing, loving, truthful, and playful connection with the people she meets and works with. Sara guides and liberates people to live from the truth of who they are, fully expressed to be and do what their soul came here for. She does this professionally through her role as Connection Creatrix at Waking The Wild, and for her own 1:1 clients. She is currently on a journey to undertake an apprenticeship to become a Soul Guide with Waking The Wild Ltd, and to rebirth the social enterprise she co-founded in 2020. Pablo Meccano is a life coach, shadow worker who was once an accomplished designer/maker, turned to living his truth and works from a cabin as a writer and guide, landlocked but never bored in Hertfordshire. He is a grower of herbs, a forager who advises on nutrition and some of nature’s more medicinal gifts, and describing his latter-life, as the difference between night and day, guides...

This week’s show is with the amazing Dr Joanna Laprade. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., is a Registered Psychotherapist, author, speaker, and educator. Joanna LaPrade, M.A. Ph.D., earned her doctorate in Jungian and archetypal psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is now the founder of Aion Psychotherapy and a practicing Jungian psychotherapist in Colorado. Her therapeutic work focuses on helping clients find a meaningful connection to their inner worlds. Outside of her practice, Dr. LaPrade is a speaker and educator whose expertise focus on myth, psyche, and the Jungian and archetypal perspective. She is also the author of Forged in Darkness: The Many Paths of Personal Transformation, a book that unites self-discovery with mythology, to handle an important dilemma of our times—how to navigate the darkness of life. In this conversation, Dr Joanna and Lian dived deep into the underworld, what that means for us personally and in our work with others, the challenges of that given the functioning bias of our modern culture, and how we can better honour and become intimate with the dark places in our psyches and our work. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: Our culture is so focused on functioning, the direct route, bigger, brighter and braver, it can be very unwelcome to be pulled into the underworld to meet the parts of ourselves that have been left there, especially when that entails a risk of not functioning As change workers we need to go first, embodying and modeling an intimacy with the darkness, it is only from here that we can hold the space for our clients to do the same The myths can illuminate the path into and out of the darkness - allowing us to see the deeper, collective, and archetypal nature of what we’re experiencing Resources and stuff that we spoke about: For more information about Dr. Joanna’s work, visit www.aionpsychotherapy.com Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

This week’s show is with Michael Meade. Michael Meade, D.H.L., is a renowned storyteller, author, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology. He combines hypnotic storytelling, street-savvy perceptiveness, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths with a deep knowledge of cross-cultural rituals. He has an unusual ability to distill and synthesize these disciplines, tapping into ancestral sources of wisdom and connecting them to the stories we are living today. He is the author of Awakening the Soul, The Genius Myth, Fate and Destiny: The Two Agreements of The Soul, Why the World Doesn't End, The Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of the Soul; editor, with James Hillman and Robert Bly, of Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart; and the creator of the Living Myth Podcast. Michael Meade is the founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, a nonprofit network of artists, activists, and community builders that encourages greater understanding between diverse peoples. In this conversation, Michael and Lian explored the wonderful topic of how mythic narratives reveal hidden knowledge for healing and making things whole, especially for those of us working as change-makers and healers of others. I’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below. What you’ll learn from this episode: I’ve noticed that so many people can connect the dots back to events in childhood that seeded their destiny, or marked their soul, as Michael said. Michael’s own story of being gifted the book of mythology was a beautiful example of this. I also loved how he said that our calling will keep calling! Stories are a way we can enter the dream, the other world, as a group - and discover our place in the story. As Michael said, archetypes come with vital energy and intention - which is exactly what we need right now for healing ourselves and the collective Myths show us that beginnings come with endings and that as Michael said “the cracks are where the archetypes get through.” Resources and stuff that we spoke about: Mosaic Website: https://www.mosaicvoices.org/ Living Myth Podcast: https://www.mosaicvoices.org/podcast Michael Meade Events: https://www.mosaicvoices.org/events Michael Meade Courses: https://courses.mosaicvoices.org/ Thank you for listening! There’s a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you’ll get each new episode delivered to your phone every week automagically (that way you’ll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan