In this episode of Story Medicine, we explore "The Morrígan and Cú Chulainn" from Irish mythology's Ulster Cycle. The story is from oral tradition but was first written down as early as the 8th century. It's a tale about what happens when we refuse alliance with necessary forces, with strong themes around the masculine and the feminine.

A seventeen-year-old warrior defends Ulster alone against an entire army. The Morrígan - goddess of war, death, and fate - appears offering her love and alliance. He refuses her, believing he needs no help. She opposes him in battle, appearing in three hidden forms. He wounds her, then unknowingly heals her whilst offering kindness to an old woman. Years later, she washes his armour before his final battle - a prophecy of death.

This story speaks to anyone carrying everything alone, anyone facing a threshold moment, or anyone who believes accepting alliance would weaken them rather than strengthen them.

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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Learn more about Joe's therapeutic work: www.joesummerfield.co.uk

Connect on Instagram: @joe.therapies

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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Support the show

Learn more about Joe's therapeutic work: www.joesummerfield.co.uk

Connect on Instagram: @joe.therapies

In this episode of Story Medicine, we explore "Psyche and Eros" from Greco-Roman mythology. This story offers a map of the soul's journey from unconscious to conscious, from mortal to divine. It explores the themes of divine union of masculine and feminine, wholeness, and integration.

Psyche's beauty provokes a goddess's jealousy, leading to a mysterious marriage, a forbidden lamp, and four impossible tasks. With help from ants, reeds, eagles, and towers, she descends to the underworld itself - only to fail at the final test and discover that some rescues require love.

This story speaks to anyone who has undergone wounding in order to bring light to darkness, anyone facing tasks that seem impossible, anyone who feels held back from genuine connection, or anyone who still believes they must be perfect to be worthy of love.

The episode includes the complete story told in full, depth psychology analysis revealing the archetypal patterns of individuation and sacred marriage, and four practical integration exercises to help you embody the medicine.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more about Joe's therapeutic work: www.joesummerfield.co.uk

Connect on Instagram: @joe.therapies