This episode begins with the idea that we are living in the dark times in which the storms, conflicts and tragedies that darken the earth place us in a crisis of spirit and soul. Either we find a greater sense of our own life spirit and soul purpose or we become overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, helplessness and despair. As the light hidden in darkness, the soul includes the power of imagination as well as surprising capacities for creativity and renewal.   Michael Meade describes how the dark time of the year, as well as the dark periods in life, were the precise times when ancient cultures turned to myths, stories and rituals to find ways to restore the imagination of people and renew the spirit of life. Meade offers two ancient myths that show how genuine visions, creative ideas and healing come from consciously entering the darkness in order to bring lost knowledge and wisdom back into the light of consciousness.   The lives of the artists and creators, the healers and the peace makers involve conscious descents into darkness to find what is hidden and what has been lost. That's the mythic message, the ancient learning and the hidden light waiting to be found in the darkest of times.   Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can further support this podcast by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 560 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at patreon.com/livingmyth.   If you enjoy this podcast, we appreciate you leaving a review wherever you listen and sharing it with your friends. On behalf of Michael Meade and the whole Mosaic staff, we wish you well during this challenging and uncertain times and thank you for your support of our work.