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The Stories That Shape Us: Myth, Scripture, and the Search for Meaning

 

There’s something timeless about the stories humanity has carried forward — from whispered myths by firelight to sacred texts handed down through the centuries. These narratives weren’t just entertainment; they were maps for the soul, helping us make sense of the world, ourselves, and what lies beyond what we can see. Today, as we navigate a complex, fast-moving world, these ancient stories still offer guidance — if we know how to look.

In our latest Language of the Soul episode, we explore this idea with Michael McPadden, a former naval aviator turned mythologist and author of Genesis to Revelation. Michael’s journey alone is remarkable: from piloting aircraft across the skies to charting the depths of human consciousness through biblical and mythological narratives. His work invites us to see old stories with fresh eyes — not as distant religious teachings or dusty legends, but as living allegories that speak to who we are and what we’re called to become.


This conversation isn’t about theology or dogma. It’s about understanding how myths and scriptures — from Sumerian tales to the Bible’s Genesis and Revelation — mirror the human journey. Michael unpacks the universal hero’s path hidden in these texts: the trials, transformations, and ultimate return to self that all of us, in our own way, travel. He draws connections between these stories and our inner world, weaving in insights from psychology, including parallels to Freud’s model of the psyche. It’s a reminder that these ancient symbols still resonate because they reflect our shared struggles with ego, desire, purpose, and redemption.

We touch on big themes: the metaphor of the fall from grace, the symbolism of the four horsemen, and how literal interpretations can rob these texts of their deeper, transformative power. This episode encourages reflection on how our personal myths — the stories we tell ourselves — shape how we see the world, and how revisiting old narratives can help us heal, grow, and reimagine our purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered how ancient wisdom might illuminate your modern life, or how stories passed down across cultures and ages still hold keys to personal transformation, this episode is for you.

Ready to listen? Join us as we explore the rich intersections of myth, scripture, psychology, and human potential. 

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