We begin our exploration of the Kalevala, the epic national poem of Finland. Hear our introduction to this amazing poem, compiled by Elias Lönnrot as Finland sought independence from the Russian Empire. We introduce many of the main characters including Väinämöinen, the old, wise bard who was the inspiration for Gandalf of the Lord of the Rings. The prologue of the Kalevala describes Lönnrot's motivations, and aligns closesly with what we're trying to do at the Northern Myths Podcast. Join us as we start this new journey into this epic poem. If you like the Northern Myths Podcast please like, share, subscribe, comment, and review! This is the Northern Myths Podcast, an archetypal exploration of the myths and legends of Northern Europe. Join us as we learn about Norse Mythology, Jungian Archetypes, and much more. Dan and Luke are both a part of the Asatru and Heathenry community, and they have a passion for Norse Mythology and Germanic Mythology. Together, we hope to have Norse Mythology explained in a way that can appeal to everyone, and learn how to apply its lessons to everyday life. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter:https://www.facebook.com/northernmythshttps://twitter.com/NorthernMyths This podcast is inspired by the work of Dr. Jordan Peterson, Professor at the University of Toronto, especially by his series of biblical lectures available on YouTube. The translation of the Poetic Edda that we're reading by Jackson Crawford can be found here: http://a.co/j1bfvKJ To learn more about Norse mythology and the Old Norse language, see Jackson Crawford's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCxNFxw6iq-Mh4uIjYvufg To learn more about archetypal narrative see Jordan Peterson's YouTube Channel, especially his his playlists entitled 2017 Personality and its Transformations, 2017 Maps of Meaning, and The Psychological Significance of the Biblical Stories: https://www.youtube.com/user/JordanPetersonVideos/playlists Also see Jordan Peterson's website for a list of recommended reading if you're interested in learning more about the psychology behind his work among other things: https://jordanbpeterson.com/2017/10/great-books/