Mythic Boston Blake

Welcome to Mythic, where we explore meaningful living through the power of myth, including topics that span ancient lore, modern popular culture, and depth psychology. I'm your host, Boston Blake.
Decolonizing Mythology with Dr. Monica Mody
About Monica Mody
Dr. Monica Mody is a transdisciplinary poet, educator and theorist working at the intersections of embodied regenerative consciousness, earth-based wisdom, and decolonial frameworks of wholeness. She is the author of KALA PANI and a forthcoming poetry collection BRIGHT PARALLEL. She holds a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.A. LL.B. from the National Law School of India University. Her doctoral dissertation was awarded the Kore Award for Best Dissertation in Women and Mythology. Dr. Mody currently serves as Adjunct faculty in the Women's Spirituality Program at CIIS as well as in the Mythological Studies Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute, and as core faculty in the Doctoral Program in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership at Southwestern College Santa Fe. She was born in Ranchi, India, and lives in San Francisco (Ramaytush Ohlone territory).
Key Moments
05:03 A very brief history of the Partition of India11:46 Musings on kintsugi14:05 Marija Gimbutas and goddesses of matriarchal societies15:14 Athena’s role in the myth of Medusa19:02 Saraswati and her wild river origins27:43 Sita Sings the Blues
Links for further exploration
Tusheeta/Tushita, or, Joyous Motherlines - Dr. Monica ModyA Note on Writing “Sarasvati” - Dr. Monica ModySarasvati—a poem by Monica Mody - YouTubeWebsite of Dr. Monica Mody

As a follow-up to the last episode, Becca Tarnas answers Boston's five questions, touching on dark matter, reincarnation, and astrological archetypes.
What were your childhood stories? What do you believe? What's an extraordinary experience that has shaped you? How are you the same as your childhood self? When have you experienced ecstasy?

MomentsBecca’s Origin Story
Connecting mathematics, mythology, and astrology
A mythic interpretation of the December 2021 Venus-Pluto conjunction. Beauty, sexuality, and the arts meet the underworld extremes.
Beauty and the Beast themes in the story of Pluto and Venus
The story of Eros and Psyche plays out in the sky
New tellings of myth from women’s perspective. Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes.
Retelling of myths from vilified women’s perspectives as shadow work and integration.
The Queen’s Gambit
The Lord of the Rings as an inner journey into shadow and addiction.
On encountering Tolkien and making the journey to Middle Earth.
How The Lord of the Rings can be applied to real-world experience.
Idealism in the face of waning optimism.
How astrology can support humanity in turbulent times. (Saturn-Pluto alignment as an augur of global conflict and strife.)
A break in the storm Spring 2022-2023
Jupiter-Uranus conjunction as a herald of positive change in 2024. Hidden births.
The influence of Uranus — revolution, insight, technology, innovation
What is the difference between imaginary and the imaginal?
The term **genius** once referred to a spirit that seized a person, but now it is applied to the person. How can astrology apply?q
MentionsStanislav Groff
Esalen Institute
Richard Tarnas
CIIS
Pacifica Graduate Institute
[Enantiodromia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiodromia)
The Queen’s Gambit
The Bioneers Conference
Matthew Stelzner
Prometheus
James Hillman
Carl Jung
Henri Corban
Samuel Taylor Colridge
Mundus Imaginalis
The Biographia Literaria

Dr. Craig Chalquist explains what it means for a place to have a soul and how ancient myths can play out quite literally in the modern world, offering a tool for predicting the future.

How does the Hero myth necessitate the Villain? What does a post-Heroic myth look like? What's the connection between the decline of patriarchy and the decline of organized religion?
Dr. David Odorisio of Pacifica Graduate Institute shares his own synchronistic journey as we explore hero and villain archetypes in media and culture, as well as how the human potential movement must integrate the Senex and puer in order to outlive the personalities who founded it. Just a few of the topics we cover in this gripping conversation.

The month marks Wonder Woman's 80th Anniversary, and this interview is a love letter to Diana, whose origins are steeped in Greek mythology.
In this fabulous conversation, award-winning comics artist Phil Jimenez reveals the secrets behind Wonder Woman: Historia, his upcoming collaboration with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick for DC Comics Black Label!
Mythology has been central to some of Phil’s highest-profile projects, including  War of the Gods and Gods of Gotham, and of course, Wonder Woman. And after 20 years of immersion in the topic, he has thoughts.
We cover Dionysus’ gender, post-toga Olympian fashion, Hera's burden, and what makes Wonder Woman such an enduring character.
In "Five Questions," Phil shares what brings him joy!
For more, visit mythicpodcast.com.