Francis Weller - The Death of the Hero and The Importance of Mythology

It’s difficult for me to describe how much I value Francis Weller and his work, and I wanted him on because of his expertise on grief, something that is—inevitably—a part of every human life. We dig into Western culture's obsession with "the Hero", where we truly find redemption and healing, and the inherent emptiness of individualism. Heavy stuff, and incredibly powerful. This is also a part of a new series I’ve titled Living Through an Age of Crisis. Episodes in this series are dedicated to helping listeners navigate the confusion and chaos of our times. I’ll be bringing on experts in psychology, spirituality, history, propaganda, and culture to offer their insights on what the real situation is and how we can move through it. Francis Weller, MFT, is a psychotherapist, writer, and soul activist. He is a master of synthesizing diverse streams of thought from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, indigenous cultures, and poetic traditions. Author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief; The Threshold Between Loss and Revelation, (with Rashani Réa) and In the Absence of the Ordinary: Essays in a Time of Uncertainty, he has introduced the healing work of ritual to thousands of people. He founded and directs WisdomBridge, an organization that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from indigenous cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from western poetic, psychological, and spiritual traditions.  As a gifted therapist and teacher, Francis has been described as a jazz artist, improvising and moving fluidly in and out of deep emotional territories with groups and individuals, bringing imagination and attention to places often held with judgment and shame. Francis received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and two Master’s Degrees from John F. Kennedy University in Clinical Psychology and Transpersonal Psychology. His writings have appeared in anthologies and journals exploring the confluence between psyche, nature, and culture. His work was featured in The Sun magazine (October 2015) the Utne Reader (Fall 2016) and the Kosmos Journal. (Winter 20201) He is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker at conferences, bringing insight, poetry and a breath of humor to his talks. Francis is currently on staff at Commonweal Cancer Help Program, co-leading their week-long retreats with Michael Lerner. He has taught at Sonoma State University, the Sophia Center in Oakland, and has been the featured teacher at the Minnesota Men's Conference. He is currently completing his third book, A Trail on the Ground: The Geography of Soul. He has created three CD sets, two focusing on healing shame and one on “Restoring the Soul of the World.” His latest offerings are a 10-session audio series on "Living a Soulful Life and Why It Matters." and ​"The Alchemy of Initiation: Soul Work and the Art of Ripening."   Connect with Francis:   Website: https://www.francisweller.net/ Books: https://www.francisweller.net/books.html Programs: https://www.francisweller.net/programs--workshops.html   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they’re looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    Editing & Mixing by: Aaron The TechSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices