David Newell: What Is a Myth and Why Does It Matter?

I'm pleased to welcome my dear friend David Newell to the show. David wears many hats—writer, philosopher, consigliere, and more. He knows more about myths, the collective unconscious, and Carl Jung's works than anyone I know. And, as he put it: "The meaning and morality of One's life comes from within oneself. Healthy, strong individuals seek self-expansion by experimenting and by living dangerously." David Newell Quotes From the Episode "The redemption of the soul is not through the hero but through the savior, through Christ, through love, and through being of service." - David Newell on true transformation comes not from achievement but from letting go of ego, embracing love, and serving others. "The opposite of love is not hate, it's power." - David Newell on love as openness and growth, while power is about control and restriction. "All life is a stage. We're almost all walking around in a Shakespearean comedy or tragedy, whichever mood you're in that day." - David Newell on life as theater, each role we play reflecting our inner conflicts and narratives. Additional Resources David Newell's websiteDavid Newell on LinkedinDavid Newell on Spotify Trauma and the Soul by Donald Kalsched The Red Book by Carl JungAnswer to Job by Carl JungThe Middle Passage by James Hollis Show Notes 00:00:43 – David Newell on Myths, Jung, and the Collective Unconscious00:01:13 – Why Myths Matter: Consciousness, Learning, and Meaning-Making00:03:53 – Inanna, Cinderella, and the Archetype of Death and Rebirth00:06:00 – Modern Relevance: How Myths Guide Adults in Self-Understanding00:09:39 – Chaos vs. Order: Uranus, Saturn, and Life's Defining Crises00:13:35 – Myths as Moral Maps: Projection and the Power of Story Archetypes00:16:23 – Synchronicity Explained: Jung's Symbolic Coincidences00:20:08 – Into the Unconscious: Jung's Dreams, Madness, and the Inner Child00:34:18 – Trauma and the Fragmented Soul: Developmental Wounds in Adulthood00:40:50 – A Flower and a Lifetime of Shame: The Hidden Cost of Childhood Trauma00:49:52 – Power vs. Love: Why Control, Not Hate, Is Love's True Opposite00:56:59 – Conscious Crucifixion: Pain, Healing, and the Christ Archetype01:01:13 – Christianity and the Shadow: Jung's Critique of Suffering and Integration01:10:14 – Jordan Peterson's Archetypes: Masculinity, Shadow, and the Jungian Legacy01:16:25 – Parenting and Myth: Letting Children Choose Their Stories Great ideas. Bold conversations. Be part of it, connect with us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.