Mythos & Logos

Exploring Jātaka tales, stories of the past lives of the Buddha, allows us to better understand the world of folktales, history of the early Buddhist community, and the journey of the soul in reincarnation across the cosmos toward enlightenment. We will explore nine of the 547 Jātakas: Sammodamana, Suvannahamsa, Nigrodhamiga, Mandhatu, Vedabbha, Mahajanaka, Sama, Muga-Pakkha, and Vessantara. Mytho...

Many people have encountered Ireland over the millennia. The Emerald Isle has hosted scholars and poets, as well as fierce warriors and mighty High Kings. All have been touched by the land differently, and no one has left the same. We see this in the oldest stories of the old Celtic gods, the Tuatha Dé Danann, including figures such as the Dagda, the Morrigan, and Lugh, and their battle against th...

An in-depth podcast conversation exploring philosophy, mythology, rhetoric, justice, the Ancient Greek afterlife, and more! Plato's Gorgias is not one of his most famous dialogues, but is one of the most mysterious and thought-provoking, as Socrates discusses virtue with some of Classical Athens' most prolific thinkers. The dialogue ends with a fantastic account of the last judgement, in which Soc...

The Japanese Ministry of Forestry promotes mindful time in nature, called forest bathing, citing health benefits for those in urban environments to spend time in the natural world. This video explores the deep reverence for nature at the heart of Japanese culture, through the lens of Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, and traditional folk tales. I spend some time in nature to try forest bathing...

It is said that when you hear a story about Coyote, it is really a story about yourself. Coyote stories are found in traditional folklore across North America, with the trickster figure one of the most recurring characters in Native American mythology. The three legends which we will share today show a variety of themes in Coyote myths, and how similar the spirit animal is to us, living in the spa...

Even listening can be an act of great compassion. Thank you. Called the Buddha of Compassion, the Goddess of Mercy, the One Who Hears the Suffering of the World, and many other names, Avalokiteśvara is one of the most widely revered Buddhist figures. Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and com...

Virgil's Aeneid is the Ancient Roman epic penned as a sequel to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, that tells the story of the Trojan War and its aftermath from a hero on the Trojan side, Aeneas. The epic poem has dramatic scenes, personal and cosmic in scale. Following Aeneas from Troy's fall, the end of the world as he knew it, through his struggles to rebuild, and glimpses into the glorious future to c...

Homer's Odyssey is a massively influential poem from Ancient Greece filled with epic battles, fantastic monsters, gods, spirits, and a journey around the known world and into the underworld. Through three episodes, Odysseus' encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus, his descent into the Hades where he meets his family, comrades, and the ancient hero Heracles, and his return to Ithaca and retaking of...

Homer's Iliad is the oldest work of European literature and forms the foundation of the Western canon. Not only does this ancient epic tell the story of the Trojan War, it contains profound emotional truths that have been understood from ancient times through the Renaissance and is harmonious with classical teachings of self discipline and the psychology of Carl Jung. Understanding the Greek Gods...

Ambiment - The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under Creative Commons

The marriage of the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati is a beautiful story of union, with symbolism that applies from the highest cosmic levels to the inner workings of our consciousness. Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and commenting to join the conversation! Patreon: https://patreon.com/mytho...

Myths and legends can often seem strange to us. But behind shapeshifters, ancient curses, and magic spells are surprisingly practical, down-to-earth meanings. One of the best ways to see this is to look at the influences of ancient stories that carry through into modern works. One Old Norse story, The Saga of the Volsungs, features themes of power, corruption, and transformation using a symbolic l...

The Divine Comedy is one of the most influential works in history, shaping much of modern Italian language and culture, and serving as the inspiration for countless other works. This is because Dante Alighieri's journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven mirrors an internal journey that is taken by all. This look at all three books of the Divine Comedy, Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, will exp...

People from all around the world go through rites of passage. Some are once-in-a-lifetime events, others happen regularly. These are the moments that form the chapters of our lives, when everything forward is different. In many Native American cultures, the most important rite of passage is a spiritual journey known as a Vision Quest. By listening to traditional Native American stories of Vision Q...

Pride appears across Biblical stories as one of the most dangerous sins; even angels are not immune. Likewise in our world pride can lead us into a tunnel vision, blind to others. One morning in Medieval Italy, a young man named Francis would take an act of humility that would change himself, his community, and his culture forever. This change lives in each of us; beautifully, mystically illustrat...

All channel income from October 31-November 30, 2021 will be donated to To Write Love On Her Arms to help the Hungry Ghosts around us every day. Thank you for supporting an organization that helps those who are struggling. We each have a Hungry Ghost inside of us; if you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out to a professional. Many great organizations, including TWLOHA are filled wit...

Thank you @Anna Bridgland for your amazing contribution! This video wouldn't be the same without your great work and talent. We often don't stop to think about the details in the stories that we've heard the most. For hundreds of years, one of the most popular stories in the world has been that of King Arthur, but across countless versions, it can be easy to get lost in the differences and forget...

Let's start from the beginning: The beginning of everything. Looking at the Ancient Mayan creation story in the Popol Vuh , we can come to a greater understanding of who we are, what our purpose is, and how to live a meaningful life. Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and commenting to join t...

Medieval Times are often written off as "dark ages" but a look into the history and culture of the time shows a great beauty hiding beneath the surface. The Dream of the Rood, one of the first poems written in the English language, is a perfect example of this, showing a blend of Christian and Pagan cultures, with beautiful religious symbolism that is universally applicable, both in history and to...

What does it mean to be a hero? Every culture has stories of larger-than-life characters who change the world. Looking at one hero in particular, Maui, we can learn what makes a hero in the eyes of Polynesian culture, as his legends are told across Polynesian mythology from Hawai'i to New Zealand. Stories of Maui from New Zealand's Maori people use traditional culture to teach what a hero is. Myth...

What is the difference between mythology and religion? Is mythology simply a religion plus time? Or is there something deeper? Join as we study the Homeric Hymns to Aphrodite, the tale of the goddess' encounter with the mortal Anchises, father of Aeneas, and the tale of her birth, to see what role myth and story played in Ancient Greek religion – and thereby better understand their role for us tod...

Exploring Thunderbird Symbolism in Native American Mythology, Religion, & Culture through ancient and contemporary art, artifacts, poetry, and traditional stories and legends. Despite the great diversity within indigenous North American cultures, the Thunderbird is a recurring symbol all across the continent. We uncover the practical meaning behind this ancient symbolism. Mythos & Logos ar...

Study of Norse mythology and practical wisdom in Old Norse culture through the story of Utgarða-Loki. When Thor, Loki, and Thjalfi arrive in the strange land of Utgarðr, they are given unexpected challenges. And in this mysterious realm, nothing is what it seems. Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Support the channel by subscribing, li...

Symbolic reading of the Book of Exodus influenced by The Life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa. The story of Moses provides a blueprint for how to live a spiritual life in a materialistic world. Though our human nature means that we will surely have failures on our journey to our own promised land, Gregory sees in Exodus an example of constantly reaching. striving toward our ideals will guide us along...

Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.” Celebrating 1,000 Subscribers with a Modern Mythos! Enjoy as we study the real-world influences on the mythology, culture, & symbolism of Avatar: The Last Airbender. From religion to martial arts to mythical creatures to a Chinese Moon Goddess, Avatar's worldbuilding echoes our own in order to cre...