In this episode of Story Medicine, we explore "Baldur and the Mistletoe" from Norse mythology - a tragedy about how our attempts to control fate often create the very conditions we fear, and what happens when the Warrior archetype remains in shadow.

Baldur, the most beloved of all the gods, begins having prophetic dreams of his own death. His mother Frigg travels through all creation, securing oaths that nothing will harm her son. She overlooks only the mistletoe - too small, too insignificant to matter. The gods celebrate Baldur's invulnerability by throwing weapons at him, until the trickster Loki discovers the overlooked plant and places it in the hands of Baldur's blind brother. One throw, and the light goes out forever.

This story speaks to anyone who has tried to protect against every danger, anyone carrying unintegrated shadow that acts unconsciously, or anyone living with a loss that will not be restored in this lifetime.

The episode includes the complete story told in full, depth psychology analysis revealing the archetypal patterns and symbolic meaning, and three practical integration exercises to help you embody the medicine.

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