Hi everyone. I'm Josh, and this is The Emerald,

currents and trends through a mythic lens.

The podcast where we explore an ever-changing world and our lives in it

through the lens of myth, story, and imagination.

The Emerald. All that's happening on this green jewel in space. Hey, everyone. This is Josh. Thanks to everyone who heard the call in the last episode and became patrons. We got a good rush of patronage. And it really warms my heart that so many people are supporting the podcast and

supporting the work. And for those who are wanting to support this labor of love, becoming a

patron is easy. You can find out more at patreon.com slash the Emerald podcast. And in addition to

supporting the time, vision, energy, money that goes into creating a podcast

like this, patrons also get access to twice-monthly study groups and a variety of other

benefits. So if you're interested in supporting, check it out at patreon.com slash the Emerald

podcast. And as many of you know, I will be offering a year-long course of

mythic immersion starting in October 2022, and I'll be opening it up for applications on April

1st. If you're interested in finding out more about this deep dive into the myths and how the myths can be

translated ritually and somatically into our daily lives, then send me an email requesting

info on the course at the mythicbody at gmail.com. That's the mythicbody at gmail.com.

Now on to our episode.

There was a moment four years ago or so.

Back before my first son was born,

when his mother's belly was swelling and I was reflecting on all that was to come.

I was feeling into all the joys to come,

feeling into all the conversations we'd one day have, and all the moon rises we'd someday gaze upon,

and the penguins in the story books, and the trucks and tractors and elephant sounds,

...