Mythic Existence

Legends of hairy creatures stalking the forests and edges of civilization have been a key part of mythology and folklore since humans first started telling stories. Traditions of Bigfoot-like creatures are shared all over the world, and tie together many seemingly unconnected traditions. But how did they end up becoming Bigfoot, the mercurial wild man that we are obsessed with today? That question is what we seek to answer on this episode of Mythic Existence, as we track down the history of Bigfoot.  

In the Fall of 1903, the small town of Van Meter, Iowa was visited by a strange creature that had no business being there. Over the course of several days, well-respected residents of Van Meter saw a giant flying creature with a horrible, uncanny smell, and a light glowing from a horn atop its dinosauric head. This pterodactyl-like being has come to be known as the Van Meter Visitor. For a week it haunted the town, until it was eventually hunted down to a coal mine shaft alongside it's child, never to be seen again. This episode from cryptid history was largely lost for about a century until some intrepid reporters brought the story back to life after reading articles from the surrounding newspapers of the time. But what really happened in Van Meter in 1903? Was this really a monster, or was it a hoax or maybe even an example of mass hysteria? On this episode of Mythic Existence, we'll get to the bottom of the legend of the Van Meter Visitor. 

Deep in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, folklore says that there is a hideous monster with cloven feet, the head of a horse, and giant wings that flies among the remote forests. This creature is said to be the cursed 13th child of an 18th century witch, and it became to be known as the Jersey Devil. But recent historical research has shown that the Jersey Devil was originally known as the Leeds Devil, and was actually a name given to a family of almanac publishers who were political rivals of Ben Franklin. On this episode of Mythic Existence, we try to get to the bottom of the legend of the jersey devil.  

 The Holy Grail is one of the most enduring images in world culture. But what is the grail exactly, and if we can determine that, can it be found? The grail has been described as a cup, a dish, the chalice used by Jesus during the last supper, the philosopher's stone, and even the holy bloodline. The grail itself seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once, and on this episode of Mythic Existence, we'll try to get to the bottom of this endless mystery. 

Deep in the valleys of the Ozarks, lore tells of a terrifying horned beast with glowing eyes and the power to either bring luck to those who see it or predict their death. This monster is known as the Ozark Howler, and on today's episode of The Monster Folklorist with Jack Daly, we'll dive into the legends surrounding this creature. As it turns out, America's Ozark Howler has strong resemblances to the black dogs of British and Irish folklore, and their legends express an anxiety about the encroaching age of industrialism.  

On this episode of The Monster Folklorist, host Jack Daly explores the phenomenon of "the Old Hag," and David Hufford's experience-based approach to the supernatural. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly investigates one of the most notorious figures from the halls of legend: The Cropsey Maniac.*Like and Subscribe!**Follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter!*Comfortable Mystery 4 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100535Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On today's episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers the origins of one of literature's greatest villains: Sauron. Listen to learn how Sauron's story stretches back to the origins of Arda, and how he was the student of the original dark lord of Middle Earth. *Like and Subscribe!**Leave a 5 star review!**Follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter!*Comfortable Mystery 4 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100535Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses contemporary legendary monsters. We build off of one of our most popular episodes, the monster theory episode, by discussing North American monsters that are at times believed to exist, and explore what cultural purposes these creatures serve. By the end, we'll hope to see how these beings have a complex and multifaceted existence and should be studied as such.  Please follow Mythic Existence on social media, like and subscribe on YouTube, and leave a five-star review on your podcast platform.

On this episode of Mythic Existence, guest Steven Merrell joins to talk about his cyclic belief theory and how it applies to folklore and myth. Steven is a second-year graduate folklore student and is finishing his degree at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and in this episode he and host Jack Daly discuss topics like the experiential source hypothesis, Jung's theories of the anima and the animus, and the purpose and function of myths and legends. Please follow Mythic Existence on social media, like and subscribe on YouTube, and leave a five star review on your podcast platform.

This episode of Mythic Existence is the start of a new direction that the podcast will be taking, as I'm recording this episode with a guest, the one and only Carly Schaelling. For those of you who don't know, Carly is my beautiful fiancé. The topic of today's episode is going to be Harry Potter: a topic we are both very enthusiastic about. So sit back, relax, and enjoy another episode of Mythic Existence. Please follow Mythic Existence on social media, like and subscribe on YouTube, and leave a five star review on your podcast platform. Thanks for listening, see you next time. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly talks about ring composition and chiasm in Harry Potter. This is a literary technique in which a story leads to a mid point and then is reversed. By determining this key function of the books, we'll discover how Harry Potter serves as a form of literary alchemy that allows us to transcend pairs of opposites, and have a mystical experience as we search for the divine spark inside the eye of our hearts by living vicariously through Harry. Please follow Mythic Existence on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Like and subscribe on YouTube, and leave a five-star review on your podcast app. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly explores the Tao of Physics, a book written by the physicist Fritjof Capra that examines the similarities between physics and Eastern mysticism. We discover how both science and spirituality point to an inseparable interconnection of nature. The Tao of Physics leaves us with some earth-shattering revelations: that we are all connected, that there is a basic oneness to our existence, and that there truly is nothing outside of ourselves. In fact, our self as we know it doesn't even exist. Please be sure to follow Mythic Existence on social media, leave a 5 star review, and subscribe to the YouTube channel. Thanks for listening, see you next time. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly begins our preparations for St. Patrick's Day by investigating the Irish vampire: the Dearg Due. We'll look at one particular incarnation of this creature by recanting the story of the Abhartach, which may have been an inspiration for Stoker's Dracula. Please follow Mythic Existence on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok. Subscribe and like on YouTube, and leave a review on your podcast platform. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers the history of witchcraft. We journey to Ancient Greece and plunge into the mythic witches of old to dispel the misconception that witchcraft only occurred in the Middle Ages by taking a look at the age of witch trials. We discuss the witches in Shakespeare, learn about the history of Gerald Gardner and Wicca, and finish off by looking at the curious case of witchcraft in Newfoundland. So grab your broom, find your familiar, and settle in for another fascinating episode of Mythic Existence. Be sure to subscribe and leave a 5 star review. Follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter.

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly takes the listener to the island of Puerto Rico, where in the 1990s a stealthy, vampiric creature was reported to kill livestock and suck their blood. This creature came to be known as the chupacabra. By the end of this episode, you'll come to see the tie between the chupacabra and the United States' dark legacy of imperialism, and that the origin of the chupacabra came from somewhere you might not expect. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses Appalachian folk magic. We'll learn about folk traditions for healing wounds, curing illnesses, and how the weather shows portents of things to come. Appalachian magic is a unique treasure trove of folk knowledge. Make sure to put your horseshoe facing up above your door, don't go fishing in the sign of pisces, and don't forget to use ocean water to heal rheumatoid arthritis. Be sure to follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter, subscribe on YouTube, and leave a 5 star review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts If you're so inclined. Thanks for listening, see you next time. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers a fascinating topic: the different types of magic. We discuss the difficulties involved with defining magic, trace the development of European medieval magic, and read excerpts from little-known texts like the Three Books on Life and the Arbatel of Magic. Magic is a fascinating topic that demands to be studied. Learning about a culture's attitudes towards magic can shed important light into their values and how they view the structure of reality. So go ahead and read your Ficino, and maybe you can obtain life from the heavens.

This week on Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly spices up the winter with a holiday-inspired episode. Instead of focusing on the holly and jolly, we dive into some of the darker aspects of Christmas folklore by talking about Krampus, Frau Perchta, and the Icelandic Yule Lads. These tricksy, and sometimes sinister figures remind us that if we're not good, we might be beaten with a stick, disemboweled, or possibly boiled to death. So keep that In mind next time you're trying to decide whether or not to dip your hand into the metaphorical cookie jar. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly  discusses the archaeology of counter-witchcraft and popular magic. We look at how protective charms such as witch bottles and dried cats, along with other magic items were used in England to protect against witches and evil spirits. Counter-witchcraft and apotropaic magic was popular in England well into the 20th century, and is likely still being carried out today. If you or a loved one fear that you have been cursed by a witch, maybe it would be okay to pee in a jar, stick it full of needles, and stuff it in your fireplace. Please follow Mythic Existence on social media, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and feel free to leave a positive review on your podcast app. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses goddesses and goddess worship. We'll trace the development of the divine feminine from paleolithic caves, all the way through to the Greek pantheon. We'll try and understand how the sacred female serves as a metaphor to understand our own divine nature, and seek to add this aspect of existence into our lives just like Odysseus did in his journey to Penelope.  Goethe said that "the eternal feminine is what draws us on." The goddess has been an integral part of our spiritual lives since time immemorial. Unfortunately, our religions and society has systematically submerged the feminine, and it is our job to reclaim it. Please follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter. Leave a review on apple podcasts, and like and subscribe on YouTube. Thanks for listening, see you next time. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, we discuss one of the most important god in the Egyptian pantheon: Osiris. Osiris was clearly one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon for good reason. His stories gave Egyptians a strong moral compass to avoid being like Set in the world of the living so they could join him in the world of the dead.

On this episode of Mythic Existence, we are going to build off of my previous episode which focused on the folklorist's approach to conspiracy theories by discussing rap and hip hop conspiracy theories. In the light of the recent tragedy at Travis Scott's Astroworld performance and the ensuing conspiracy theories, we are going to dissect how these conspiracies voice concerns about racial inequality, and we'll attempt to understand why these viral ideas propagate in the first place. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly explores the origins of vampires and Dracula. We investigate belief about vampires from European folklore, look into the life of Vlad the Impaler, and discuss Bram Stoker's groundbreaking novel.*Like and Subscribe!**Follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter!*

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly digs into the mythological creatures that inspired some famous Pokémon. This includes Pokémon from the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn regions such as the legendary birds, the legendary beasts, and the weather trio. Settle in and enjoy other episode of Mythic Existence!

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly tracks the historical development of beliefs in werewolves which spans from ancient accounts of Herodotus, the ancient myths of Ovid, Medieval fears of the devil and witchcraft, Early Modern and Renaissance trials against alleged werewolves and into the modern day where werewolves have become a staple of popular culture. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, we are going to investigate 5 obscure American monsters. America is a land full of monsters. Some may be real, some may be imaginary, but they can tell us more about ourselves than perhaps we'd like to know. Follow Mythic Existence on Instagram and Twitter, and catch weekly podcast episodes on all streaming platforms. Please be sure to donate to my Patreon; every dollar counts!

On this episode of Mythic Existence we talk about Slavic Folklore! We cover the Slavic Wheel of the Year, discuss some of their major deities, and consider a few of their memorable folk heroes and villains. So sit back, relax, enjoy another episode of Mythic Existence, and always remember to never go into the hut with chicken legs. 

This episode of Mythic Existence is about monsters in Lord of the Rings. We dive into the deep lore of Tolkien's legendarium, which stretches back to the creation of Arda through the Music of the Ainur, straight through to the War of the Ring. We try to determine where these beings came from in myth, and what function they serve. Tolkien's legendarium is filled with creatures that have been existing in myth and folklore from time immemorial. His ability to take recognizable figures like giants and turns them into ents is one thing that keeps readers coming back. We'll have another episode in the future featuring creatures like balrogs, nazguls, and ringwraiths. But clearly, the story of middle-earth is deeply intertwined so you can't talk about one thing without talking about another. 

On this abridged episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly dives into the folklore behind the four Ilvermorny houses from Harry Potter: the horned serpent, the wampus cat, thunderbirds, and pukwudgies. 

Today’s episode is about hauntology, a concept created by the french philosopher Jacques Derrida and later adopted by the cultural critic Mark Fisher. Over the course of the episode, we’ll hope to see how we are haunted by our lost futures and by our imagined pasts. Mythic existence is now on Patreon, so take a look at our site if you would like to donate. Also, be sure to follow the podcast’s Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as the YouTube channel. Thanks for listening, see you next time.

On this episode of Mythic Existence, we have our first guest speaker: Natalie Christensen. Natalie has a master’s degree in folklore from Utah State University where we were graduate students together. She wrote her thesis about rumor and misinformation, and on today’s episode we talk about the spread of rumors, question how culpable tech companies are in their spread, and how folklorists can combat dangerous misinformation. So sit back and get ready for another great episode of Mythic Existence. Mythic existence is now on Patreon, so take a look at our site if you would like to donate. Also, be sure to follow the podcast’s Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as the YouTube channel.

Welcome to another episode of Mythic Existence! On this episode, we discuss Terence McKenna and his concepts of the archaic revival and Gaian holism. Like McKenna, this episode will strive to be a sort of meme replicator to challenge us to re-evaluate our own assumptions of contemporary life and to imagine a more ideal future. Perhaps after you listen you might agree with McKenna’s premise that we need to reinvigorate our lives with the archaic values of cooperation, reverence for the goddess and nature, and freedom to explore oneself with our plant helpers. Of course, the main issue is that their legalization inherently threatens the dominator culture. If this episode could be a call to anything, it would be a call to question at every turn, on an individual level, the logic of our patriarchal, aggressive, ego driven culture. 

Welcome to this episode of Mythic Existence. On this episode, we talk about legends, and in particular what folklorists call "contemporary legends." We will try to reach an agreement on what a legend is, talk about what makes legends traditional in the folkloristic sense, and what it means for a legend to be contemporary. We will see how legends are believable stories set in a historic place and time often with a supernatural element, that they give a marginalized experience a voice, that they often express fears and anxieties, and are constantly being repackaged for new contexts. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence we talk about Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and alchemy. We’ll discuss some of the precepts of Hermeticism and look at some of it’s seminal works which include the Corpus Hermeticum; we’ll journey to Egypt, where the Nag Hammadi scriptures re-birthed an interest in Gnosticism, and we will dive into alchemical thought which permeates the history of both these philosophical inklings. Hermeticism, Gnosticism and alchemy have certainly played an important, if not decisive role in the advancement of western thought. Today, they serve as a provocative alternative to the dogmatic teachings of religion, and offer a course to personal gnosis that for seekers often proves to be a much deeper route.

On this episode of Mythic Existence, we dive into the folklorist’s perspective on conspiracy theories. My research for this episode is mostly informed by a book that recently came out called COVID 19 conspiracy theories: QAnon, 5G, the New World Order and Other Viral Ideas, as well as Richard Hofstadter’s seminal work The Paranoid Style in American Politics. We are going to hope to deconstruct why conspiracy theories exist, why they are appealing, and to whom. Conspiracy theories often feed in to confirmation bias. This manifests itself in a number of ways –through the desire to understand ambiguous phenomena, the wish of having a larger role in the world than you really do, or ethnocentric biases. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t actual conspiracies going on, but its best to think critically. So, sit back and get ready for another episode of Mythic Existence.

This episode of Mythic Existence is part 2 of our Shakespeare power rankings, and we will be listing off numbers five through one. We’ll check in with a crazy king, a powerful sorcerer, the fairy kingdom, three witches, and a certain prince of Denmark. So settle in and get ready for another great episode of Mythic Existence.

Today's episode is about randonauting, a phenomena that has gained popularity in online spaces, particualry Twitter. While randonauting, you travel to a random location sent to you by a bot, with the intention of exploring the hidden places around you. Randonauting can serve as an example for folklorists of how digital spaces create offline ostensive practices. By using random data points, randonauting allows for an individual to forge their own complicated simulacrum trip by creating their own meaning out of a random environment. Similarly, randonauting shows how digital memetics move offline. The rules of the game are learned through social media, are enacted in real life, and are often brought back to the digital sphere. In this regard, randonauting displays the intricate relationship that memetics and ostension have in conjunction with digital and “IRL” constructed personas.

On this episode, our host and resident folklorist Jack Daly gives an overview of what folklore is. This amazing field is characterized by variation and tradition, meaning that folklore is mutable, changeable, and adaptable, and is spread through non-institutional means. Many people may be surprised to learn that we are the folk, and that we create lore, as folklore comprises what we believe, make, say, do, and know. Listen in to another fascinating episode of Mythic Existence, and tap into your inner folklorist.

Today's episode is a discussion of Joseph Campbell's book: Myths of Light, which serves as an introduction to Eastern philosophy and had a profound influence on my spiritual journey. The ineffable mystery of the East is summed up by a short phrase in the Upanishads: tat tvam asi, that art thou. You are what you want to know, you are the world, and the world is you. Everything is connected, everything is one. From this base point, we launch into a fascinating discussion of Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Listen in to another fascinating episode of mythic existence, and remember what Schopenhauer said after discovering the wisdom of the Orient: "man is the truth above all truths; there is nothing above that."

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly finishes his discussion of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey as told in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. The third and final stage of the hero's journey is the return. This occurs after the quest has been completed, and the hero must return with their life-transmuting journey. Here, the hero is poised with the task of returning to the normal world after experiencing the bliss of the deep abode. They must integrate the wisdom they have found into their human life, and possibly wish to share their knowledge with the world. In this last phase, the hero has become master of two worlds, and finally has freedom to live.

Prepare yourself to enter a bewildering labyrinth, wherein lies an unexplored and uncharted realm. This is what Hertha von Dechend and Giorgio de Santillana did when they wrote Hamlet's Mill, where they argue that the tormented, self-questioning Prince of Denmark comes down to us from a long tradition of astronomical myths and that he is himself the Lord of the Golden Age, the Once and Future King. According to these scholars, the story of Hamlet, the melancholic, withdrawn, brooding intellectual, is found all across the world in the Icelandic Edda, the Finish Kalevala, the Iranian Shanama, and the Indian Mahabarata. Further, they say that these epics encode advanced astronomical knowledge of a process called precession of the equinoxes, wherein the constellations gradually shift position in a 26,000 year cycle called the Great or Platonic Year. In these myths, the shifting of ages come to be associated with ages of higher and lower civilizations, in what the Hindus call the Yuga cycle. In Lost Star of Myth and Time, Walter Cruttenden follows in the footsteps of Hamlet's Mill, in search of answers for what causes these ages, in hopes we may return to the Golden Age of the Satya Yuga.

Is Harry Potter based on an alchemical-Rosicrucian text from the 17th century? On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly explores that possibility. Alchemy is not just about the transmutation of mundane lead into mundane gold. Rather, it is about turning the lead of a normal individual into the gold of an enlightened and fully realized self. In this reading of Harry Potter, the story becomes an alchemical allegory and a map towards obtaining the Philosopher's Stone and achieving a union with the divine.

Take a journey through time, to a space where the sound of lutes fills the air, subterfuge, murder, and star-crossed love lurks around every corner, and the esoteric secrets of the ages are encoded on the stage. On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly unveils slots 10 through 6 in his Shakespeare Power Rankings. Stroll down to Eastcheap, pour a flagon of ale with Falstaff, and settle in for another episode of Mythic Existence!

At the edges of the hermeneutic circle, there are monsters policing the borders, discouraging the exploration of uncertain demenses. On this episode of Mythic Existence, Jack Daly introduces us to Monster Theory, a scholarly framework for reading cultures through the monsters they create. Like the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, these monsters remind us that curiosity is more often punished than rewarded. But when the differences that these monsters embody are embraced, the yeti footprints will melt into the snow.

On this week's episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses the findings of Brian Muraresku's new book, "The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion With No Name." The "religion with no name," Muraresku posits, was born out of the Mysteries of Eleusis, an initiation ritual from Ancient Greece. Plato, Pythagoras, and Marcus Aurelius were initiates of this ancient Mystery religion, which centered around the myths of Persephone, Demeter, and Dionysus. Using scientific evidence, paired with ancient literature, texts from the Vatican Secret Archives, and frescos from the Vatican's underground, Muraresku argues that the religion with no name was based off of the ingestion of a psychedelic potion that was brewed by the witches of Eleusis. Furthermore, he says that this elixir may have inspired the Catholic Eucharist, and that Jesus styled himself after Dionysus to convert the inhabitants of the ancient Levant.

In this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses the second phase of the hero's journey: initiation. The initiation phase consists of the road of trials, the meeting with the goddess, woman as temptress, atonement with the father, apotheosis, and the ultimate boon. Settle in for another fascinating episode with references from everything from Ovid to Star Wars, Shakespeare to Harry Potter, and Mesoamerican gods to Lord of the Rings.

On the first episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly introduces us to Joseph Campbell's theory of the hero's journey and the monomyth. The first half of the hero's journey, the departure, is discussed.