Myth Matters Podcast

  On the surface,  “The Wild Swans” is a fairy tale about cursed brothers who are saved by their sister.  This is a common motif. Closer examination led me to consider the creative power of words and of silence, and … Continued

  In The World’s Wife, Carol Ann Duffy offers myth poems that are also myths for today in the form of a poem.  These poems converse with old myths and stories AND they are stories in themselves. They express a deep … Continued

  April is National Poetry month! Myth and poetry have a long, shared history. In fact, our oldest known myths are poems. Have you ever wondered why this might be? I suspect the intuitive rightness of myth as poetry springs … Continued

    The Greek goddess Athena was a warrior, the patron of cities and mentor of heroes, clear-eyed, practical, and strategic. What was her great power? She was the goddess of Reason. Yes, the ancient Greek patriarchy, a model of … Continued

  Myth has an interesting and complex relationship to history. Myth is part of the historical record of our species, and part of the history of a given people. And myth shapes history. Myth gives rise to the beliefs and … Continued

  The freedom to love and individuality. The difference between spiritual love and carnal love. Love for the self and love for a beloved. The fear and fascination elicited by those who don’t fit conventional categories and definitions. Hans Christian … Continued