The hottest Mythology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Reasoning the Volcano: Sam Harris & the Limits of Analysis

The Bigger Picture β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jun 20
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. The current cultural eruption cannot simply be analyzed or explained away; it is a profound psychospiritual process.
  2. Reasoned debate and analysis alone may not be sufficient to navigate complex societal issues; understanding through symbolic mythic lenses is vital.
  3. To handle the depth and complexity of the current societal challenges, we need to go beyond rational discourse, embrace multiple perspectives, and engage with our humanity fully.

Loki, Gender, and Sexuality in Norse Society

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore β€’ 1 HN point β€’ 22 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. Loki in Norse mythology is often portrayed as a man who engages in behavior considered unmanly, particularly highlighted by the insult 'ergi'.
  2. Norse society had rigid gender roles and expectations, with certain actions, like being accused of 'ergi', leading to severe consequences.
  3. While Loki is known to shapeshift into a woman on occasion, the majority of his appearances and actions in the myths are as a man, and he is referenced with male pronouns predominantly.

Nature Diary: Spider

As Ever β€’ 2 implied HN points β€’ 18 Feb 23
πŸ”¬ Science Mythology
  1. The story reflects on the idea of disrupting natural agreements and consequences
  2. Reflecting on childhood fears and realizing they may have been misunderstood or misplaced
  3. Appreciating spiders as solitary creatures with unique characteristics and behaviors

How Did Friday the 13th Become Unlucky

Marlene’s Newsletter β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. The superstition around Friday the 13th being unlucky has a long history, which was popularized by cultural references like the slasher movie series 'Friday the 13th.'
  2. One of the early promoters of the number 13 as unlucky was Captain Fowler, who established the Thirteen Club to challenge superstitions around the number.
  3. Various cultures and historical events have contributed to the superstitions surrounding the number 13 and Friday the 13th, with examples ranging from maritime traditions to myths in Norse mythology.

The Grimoire of Fancy Pants-Pikachu

Ulizzle On Software β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 18 Feb 24
βš” Fiction Mythology
  1. The post tells a story about a dark and chilling night in Austin, with a mysterious encounter that leads to a possibly supernatural pursuit.
  2. There's a theme of supernatural elements, such as demons and guardian angels, woven into the narrative.
  3. The narrative hints at a deeper, mystical world with references to Ragnarok, vampires, and the Dreaming.
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Norse Cosmology Part II: The Shape of the World

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 08 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. The Norse mythological world is not neatly divided into nine realms as commonly believed, but rather revolves around Yggdrasill, a tree with roots connecting different locations.
  2. Descriptions of the Norse cosmos, including the locations of various beings, are influenced by Christian ideology, leading to unique interpretations of the layout of the world.
  3. Ancient Norse people likely viewed the world as an expansive, uncharted territory with limited geographical knowledge, shaping their mythological depictions of travel between realms.

Fragments, Chapter 16, pp.316-322 - Reading Club posting 57

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 27 Oct 23
β›ͺ Faith & Spirituality Mythology
  1. The dense vibrations of matter determine its level of intelligence and consciousness. Different creatures have distinct levels of intelligence based on the density of matter and vibrations they possess.
  2. Living beings are classified by cosmic traits: what they eat, what they breathe, and the medium they live in. These traits define their place in the universe and relationships with other creatures.
  3. While beings cannot change their food or the air they breathe due to cosmic laws, they can enhance their evolution by refining the quality of impressions they receive. Evolution is dependent on improving the impressions one takes in.

A mythological rabbit hole πŸ‡: The Divine Dragon πŸ‰ in Sekiro 🏯 : The Sword and the Everblossom

Rabbit Holes πŸ‡πŸ•³ β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 25 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Mythology
  1. The Seven-Branched Sword in Sekiro symbolizes the connection of the dragon to the divine realm through intricate design and historical significance.
  2. The Everblossom Tree represents impermanence and the beauty of ephemeral existence in Japanese culture, with the loss of the tree being a significant event tied to the quest for immortality in the game.
  3. Eastern dragons in popular media such as Spirited Away, Dragon Ball series, and Legend of Zelda embody mythical themes like guardianship of water bodies, granting wishes, and control over weather and natural elements.

A mythological rabbit hole πŸ‡ : The Divine Dragon πŸ‰ in Sekiro 🏯

Rabbit Holes πŸ‡πŸ•³ β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 25 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Mythology
  1. The design of the Divine Dragon in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is influenced by mythology and art, featuring elements like the environment, the dragon itself, a significant sword, and a giant cherry blossom tree.
  2. The Divine Dragon's presence in the game's Divine Realm is enhanced by themes of rain, lightning, and gloomy weather, connecting to mythological beliefs about dragons.
  3. The Divine Dragon's serpentine form and potential Korean origins give an interesting twist compared to typical Western dragon depictions, showcasing unique cultural perspectives in character design.

Institutional code and human behavior (2)

Space chimp life β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 20 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. Processes are a collection of actions that help achieve a goal. They can vary depending on how you define them, like swimming or walking.
  2. Stories and reenactments can shape behavior by creating shared understandings of roles. They convey lessons and expectations in a way that can influence people without direct language.
  3. Shame and rituals, like dance or religion, can enforce social codes and behaviors. They help society manage roles and relationships, guiding how people interact with each other.

The Book of Η΄enh: Reimagining our Origin Story for a Life-Centric Reorientation

As If We Were Staying β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 24
πŸ“š Literature Mythology
  1. Our origin stories shape how we see the world. Different cultures tell different stories about where we come from, and those stories influence our actions and beliefs.
  2. Life on Earth is special and rare. The unique conditions and events that allowed life to flourish here emphasize how precious our existence is.
  3. We have a responsibility to cherish and protect life. By recognizing our position as fortunate caretakers of Earth, we can find purpose and hope in our lives.

The Family Curse

Captive Liberty β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 18 Oct 24
πŸ“š Literature Mythology
  1. Iphigenia and her family had a curse where each woman lost vision in their left eye after being told to bathe in a lake on a specific day. This repeated for generations.
  2. The nixie, a water spirit, cursed the family because of a past deception by Iphigenia's ancestor Helena. He wanted revenge by taking their eyes each generation.
  3. In the end, Marta outsmarted the nixie by showing him a three-eyed fish from a TV show, which lifted the curse and allowed her family to live free from his demands.

The Wendigo's Acolyte

Marlene’s Newsletter β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 02 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. The wendigo is a spirit in Native American folklore that represents extreme hunger and can possess people, turning them into cannibals, especially during times of famine.
  2. Swift Runner was a man who, driven by starvation, resorted to cannibalism and claimed he was possessed by a wendigo spirit during his actions, resulting in his execution.
  3. The wendigo is often described as a horrifying skeletal creature, which reflects the themes of deprivation and the loss of humanity that accompany extreme hunger.

Live call tomorrow 11am EST

Charles Eisenstein β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 12 Dec 25
πŸŽ™ Podcasts Mythology
  1. There’s a live call tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST as a follow-up to recent Half Moon podcasts about the Feilong Dragon and the Monkey King.
  2. The hosts will respond to listener comments, riff on the topics, and take real-time questions from attendees.
  3. The event is for paid subscribers, so you need to subscribe or sign in to join.

On Milton's Paradise Lost

aquaflamingo β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 15 Feb 23
πŸ“š Literature Mythology
  1. Milton's Paradise Lost explores the fall of Satan and humankind, questioning God's will.
  2. The story presents philosophical motives challenging divine authority, leading to reflection on human rationality.
  3. The text delves into the concept of surrendering to authority and the complexities of Good and Evil in the context of divine rule.

The Legend of Kin-Ga and the Golden Dragon

Once Upon A News β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 28 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Mythology
  1. Kin-Ga had a rare gift of understanding others' thoughts and emotions, bringing harmony and happiness.
  2. Despite her small size, Kin-Ga's compassion and bravery helped her save the kingdom from a dragon's wrath.
  3. The story introduces the concept of 'Nunchi' - an intuitive understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, fostering empathy and harmony.