The Mystic Loom: Recent Episodes
Dina Luna
By exploring the deeper meaning of our best-loved fairytales, we travel through the mysterious realms of our ancestral past, only to discover that we traverse these hidden dimensions every night while we dream... In this monthly podcast, host Dina Luna breaks down the shamanic teachings hidden in both dreams and fairytales, bridging the gap between the "collective unconscious" and the "personal unconscious" while straddling the psychedelic worlds of folklore, mysticism and spiritual psychology.
In season 3 of the Mystic Loom Podcast, we visit Brazil for a look at some of its indigenous stories as told by the various tribes of the Amazon.
In this episode we look at the Makurap myth, “The Flying Head” and use it to get a deeper insight into the plight of women in indigenous Brazilian society as well as looking at the role of “the sacred feminine” in the indigenous Brazilian cosmovision. We then branch out into the wider world and look at how this story intersects with other famous accounts of “headless women” such as the Greek tale of the Medusa whose decapitated head had the power to turn men to stone.
We use the stories of these two headless women to help us unpack the archetype of the “scorned feminine,” one of the many manifestations of the “Dark Feminine” and look at how cultural portrayals of this sacred dimension of femininity impacts women’s spiritual development as well as their place in society.
We conclude the episode by looking at a woman’s “birth dream” and discuss how we can use ancient dream incubation techniques to help us solve the issues that plague us in our waking life.
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If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
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PERSONAL WEBSITE
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A NOTE ON THE FOLKTALE
"THE FLYING HEAD" from the 2002 publication "BARBECUED HUSBANDS AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE AMAZON" by Betty Mindlin.
Abridged and re-written by Dina Luna.
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
Stock Media provided by Stock19/ Pond5
Paschi - Peace In Earth - Ayahuasca Song, (Special Edition) Music by Pond5
Today, we will take a look at “The Frog Maiden,” aBurmese “Cinderella” story and use it to discover old animist beliefs that once flourished in Myanmar (Burma). We dive deep into the world of Burmese mythology and trace the evolution of Burmese rain-spirits and thunder-gods, following them all the way back to their humble origins as tribal frog totems.
We look at tribal customs surrounding “frog drums,” a shamanic instrument used in parts of Myanmar to help communicate with rain spirits. These drums link the frog to both the myths and rituals of some of the oldest inhabitants of Myanmar and give us good insight into the symbolism of the frog as seen through a pan-Burmese lens.
We connect this to current practices related to Thingyan (Burmese New Year) which, to this day, is a time of year still steeped in old traditions such as water-throwing celebrations and hair-washing rituals. We link this to the cultural and spiritual significance of hair in Myanmar as well as in other parts of the world and look briefly at an old mythological Burmese ogress who entices a frog to help delouse her hair. We tie this into other mythological deities such as the Inuit goddess, Sedna, whose hair is connected to her shamanic and spiritual purpose as a " bringer of abundance."
We end the episode by looking at pre-cognitive dreams including how to identify them and how to work with them on a practical level.
This concludes our foray into the “collective unconscious” of Myanmar.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
PERSONAL WEBSITE
www.themysticloom.com
A NOTE ON THE FOLKTALE
"THE FROG MAIDEN" from the 1948 publication "Burmese Folk-Tales" by Maung Htin Aung.
Abridged and re-written by Dina Luna.
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
Stock Media provided by Stock19/ Pond5
Law Of Relaxing Music by Pond5
From the crocodile cults of Sobek in Ancient Egypt, to the supernatural crocodile-companion of the Goddess Ganga, crocodiles are one of the most ferocious and fearsome creatures in animal totenism. In Burma (Myanmar), crocodiles are linked to the Naga, a mythical race of serpents who were once depicted with the lower bodies of crocodiles and in the folklore of Lower Burma, they are associated with Ngamoeyeik, a once popular folk-hero known as the “King of the Crocodiles,” whose stories have now largely been forgotten.
In this episode we look at the whimsical and melancholic tale, Raincloud the Crocodile and use it to explore various beliefs about karma and reincarnation in Myanmar and beyond. We also look at the theme of time and how time is encoded into the spiritual anatomy of the human body by way of the chakras (subtle energy centres).
By delving deeply into the rich and varied symbolism of the crocodile, one of the first creatures in the world to be deified by ancient man, we discover how this mighty creature is linked to the activity of the sacral chakra via the subterranean movement of our samskaras, whichform every mental impression, story, dream and memory of a past that stretches further back in history than our own individual timeline, showing us that time is a living field with its own consciousness.
We conclude the episode by looking at the themes of déja-vu and reincarnation in dreams and how to identify if you’ve had a “past life dream.”
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
PERSONAL WEBSITE
www.themysticloom.com
A NOTE ON THE FOLKTALE
"RAINCLOUD THE CROCODILE" from the 1948 publication "Burmese Folk-Tales" by Maung Tin Aung.
Abridged and re-written by Dina Luna.
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
Stock Media provided by Stock19/ Pond5
Law Of Relaxing Music by Pond5
Paschi - Peace In Earth - Ayahuasca Song, (Special Edition) Music by Pond5
In this episode, we look at the Myanmar fairytale “The Diminutive Flute Player,” and see what it has to say about the role of women in modern Burmese society, tying this into past and present issues surrounding masculine-feminine power dynamics and how this echoes the cosmic dance of Shakti (feminine power) and Shiva (the light of masculine consciousness).
In addition to this, we discuss the significance of stories featuring miniature humans and explore various esoteric and folkloric concepts that link these diminutive beings to the Hindu belief in the Ātman, or, soul. We also take a deep dive into what these miniature beings mean on both a psychological and symbolic level and tie this back into Burmese and global folklore, thereby bridging the gap between mythology and depth psychology.
We conclude the episode by analysing the dream of a subscriber and what it means to dream of music all the while giving listeners step-by-step instructions on how to use a simple, three-step process which will enable them to successfully analyse their own dreams.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
INFORMATION ON THE FOLKTALE
"THE DIMINUTIVE FLUTE PLAYER" from the 1948 publication "Burmese Folk-Tales" by Maung Tin Aung. Abridged by Dina Luna.
Visit www.themysticloom.com for more information.
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
Stock Media provided by Stock19 / Pond5
Law Of Relaxing Music by Pond5
This episode kicks off Season 2 and the start of our journey through the collective unconscious of Myanmar (Burma). We start off by looking at the fairytale The Snake Prince and then discuss the significance of the snake in Myanmar culture using different time periods as a lens to help us gain deeper insight into the “collective soul” of the nation. By looking at what the snake has represented in the past, present and future of Myanmar, we are able to weave together various strands of the nation’s folklore, history and ancient pagan rituals to paint a vivid picture of its people and their deep connection to different manifestations of the Divine Feminine. We conclude the episode by analysing a snake dream of a subscriber that helps us broaden our understanding of the archetype of the Snake, which we do by using different cultural representations of the creature to help amplify and illuminate its hidden meaning.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
"THE SNAKE PRINCE" from the 1948 publication "Burmese Folk-Tales" by Maung Tin Aung. Abridged by Dina Luna.
Visit www.themysticloom.com for more information.
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
Stock Media provided by Stock19 / Pond5
Law Of Relaxing Music by Pond5
In this episode, we look at the Trini fairytale Sweet Misery and discuss the symbol of the monkey in a mythical, tribal, and Buddhist context while relating it back to the collective unconscious of Trinidad and Tobago. We use the symbolism surrounding the monkey to look at the themes of ownership, autonomy and exploitation that are touched upon in this tale, exploring them through both a Trinidadian and a global lens. Before concluding the episode with one of our listener’s dreams, we discuss the importance of finding the courage to take fate into our own hands while, paradoxically, submitting to the divine will of the Universe. This episode concludes our journey through the collective unconscious of Trinidad & Tobago.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
If you are interested in having one of your dreams analysed in a future episode, please consider becoming a subscriber. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking the link below.
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
"Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad" by Pond5
Stock Media provided by Borth_Music / Pond5
Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad - P5 Music by Pond5
In this episode, we look at the Trinidadian “origin story” How the Agouti Lost his Tail, which is about one of the most notorious animal-tricksters in the indigenous storytelling traditions of the Americas. We look at the unique anatomy of the agouti, tying it into the geography of the region and the fragile sense of identity that often comes with being a “hybrid human.” We relate this back to indigenous concepts of the trickster archetype and look at how the figure of the trickster has expressed itself in Trini society throughout history. The trickster, with its strong links to indigenous Caribbean shamanism, also highlights global themes of individualism vs collectivism which we touch upon in this episode. We conclude our session by looking at a subscriber’s dream and tying it into themes of approval and belonging versus the anxiety, fragmentation and social alienation that comes with being a misfit or social outcast.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
PERSONAL WEBSITE
http://www.themysticloom.com
EPISODE MUSIC
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
"Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad" by Pond5
Stock Media provided by Borth_Music / Pond5
Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad - P5 Music by Pond5
In episode two of the Mystic Loom Podcast, we look at the Trinidadian fairytale “Young and Old Nelson” and explore what it has to say about the ancient theme of rivalry between fathers and sons, discussing its implications in both mythic and mundane life in Trinidad and Tobago. We also investigate how rivalry influences issues such as personal authority in the context of colonial rule and look at the lessons we can learn from mythology’s – and history’s – “Terrible Fathers.” By unpacking the “Terrible Father” archetype, we tie it into issues such as identity, freedom and sovereignty. The episode ends by interpreting the dream of one of our listeners, whose themes overlap with the ancient, mythic themes touched upon in this installment of the Mystic Loom Podcast.
KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
THE MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE IS BOUGHT TO YOU BY:
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
"Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad" by Pond5
Stock Media provided by Borth_Music / Pond5
Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad - P5 Music by Pond5
In the inaugural episode of the Mystic Loom Podcast, we look at the tale of "Why the Tortoise's Back is Cracked" and the deeper implications of the story in Trinidadian culture, past and present. We also look at the symbolism of the tortoise and turtle in various mythological traditions from across the globe and end the episode with an in-depth look at a listener's dream, which ties into the key themes touched upon in this episode.
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THE MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE IS BOUGHT TO YOU BY:
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
This episode highlights the differences between common dreamworld concepts such as "conscious" and "unconscious," "subjective" and "objective" and "purusha" and "prakriti." Having a solid understanding of these definitions will help to up your dream interpretation skills from the get go.
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https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
THE MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE IS BOUGHT TO YOU BY:
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
This episode highlights the universal appeal of fairytales, which can be used as profound tools that can help govern our lives and heal our souls. Fairytales are believed to stem from the same place as dreams and in this episode we discuss their importance in a modern cultural context since they represent intelligent universal patterns at work in our lives that have been weaving their magic through the tapestry of existence since the dawn of time.
To read a fairytale is to dive into the deepest recesses of the universal mind as they are the truest and most profound statement of who we really are since, like dreams, they speak to us in metaphors and, metaphor is the language of the soul.KO-FI MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
https://ko-fi.com/themysticloom
THE MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE IS BOUGHT TO YOU BY:
"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio