Episode 441 - A Light Within Dark Times

Living Myth

Michael Meade

Transformation, Philosophy, Society & Culture, Genius, Education, Myth, Soul, Culture

4.9 • 944 Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this episode of Michael Meade recounts a myth from ancient Persia, the name by which Iran was known for centuries. The ancient tale predates all historical hostilities and battles in the Middle East and offers surprising insights into the origins and nature of the kind of conflict that can plunge whole peoples and entire epochs into darkness.

Way back at the beginning, the original clash of opposite forces and the presence of great uncertainty about the future of life entered the world together. The force of chaos and darkness attacks the principle of order and creation using the weapons of lies and aggression. However, that is not the end of the story, but rather a critical turning point in which a greater sense of consciousness and a deeper sense of wisdom can shift the balance back to the process of creation.

The primary problem is that breaking the tension of opposing forces requires that the original split in life must become more conscious. No true healing unless the original split is touched. No true changes without a moment of wholeness that can offset the underlying doubts and projections of guilt and blame. No lasting treaty unless those claiming to create peace already have peace in their hearts.

Only then can it be understood that the effect of an elemental opposition is to generate a deeper sense of meaning and a greater sense of understanding that does not simply stop the hostilities, but also stimulates life itself. Creation is the only outcome of conflict that can satisfy the soul.

Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael Meade live by joining his free online event “Finding Unity in a Divided World” on Thursday, July 17.

You can further support this podcast by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 700 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles.

If you enjoy this podcast, we appreciate you leaving a review wherever you listen and sharing it with your friends. On behalf of Michael Meade and the whole Mosaic staff, we wish you well and thank you for your support of our work.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the Living Myth podcast with Michael Mead, where this shifting, changing world is looked at
0:18.9	from a mythic perspective.
0:21.6	On this episode, Mead recounts a myth from ancient Persia, the name by which Iran was known for centuries.
0:29.6	The ancient battle predates all historical hostilities and battles in the Middle East,
0:35.6	and offers surprising insights into the origins and nature of
0:39.4	the kind of conflict that can plunge whole peoples and entire epochs into darkness. Way back at the
0:47.9	beginning, the original clash of opposite forces and the presence of great uncertainty about the
0:53.8	future of life entered the world together.
0:57.0	The force of chaos and darkness attacked the principle of order and creation,
1:02.0	using the weapons of lies and aggression.
1:06.0	However, that is not the end of the story, but rather a critical turning point in which a greater sense
1:13.3	of consciousness and a deeper sense of wisdom can shift the balance back to the process
1:19.8	of disappointment.
1:47.0	I had gone to sleep, having just heard that there might be a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Iran.
1:57.0	The sadness was about all the people who probably couldn't fall asleep last night because they
2:03.0	were under dire threat or all the people waking up caught in the circumstances of war and not
2:11.0	knowing what the day might hold for them. And as has happened before, I thought of that prescient poem by Rumi that speaks from some
2:22.5	endless place about how often, about how many have awakened in the morning, feeling fearful and
2:32.2	in doubt. The poem goes like this.
2:36.2	Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
2:42.6	So listen, don't open the door to the study and begin reading.
2:47.9	Rather take down a musical instrument and let the beauty that we love be what we do.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Michael Meade, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Michael Meade and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.