True genius isn’t necessarily a high IQ score or prodigy, although it often manifests as such. It’s the spirit within each of us. Michael Meade explains that “the genius is a unique spirit in a person; it’s the part of them that makes them unique and it’s tied to their destiny, or the destination of their soul…” He asserts that we have an obligation in this broken society to find and use our genius to help repair and avoid further damage. When we practice genius-to-genius mentoring, we can light a spark in someone who hasn’t yet discovered their purpose. Modern society tends to create a map for us to follow, but sometimes the only way to discover our genius is to make our own path, to “get off the map.” Sometimes, genius is revealed by tragedy, pushing us toward our wounds. Or it can be revealed by our success. Meade shares a fairy tale about a boy who upon meeting his genius is at first frightened and threatened. However, because the lad is courageous enough he ends up with the powerful gifts of imagination, hope, and curiosity. (hosted by Justine Willis Toms)
Bio
Michael Meade is a renowned storyteller, author, scholar of mythology, and student of ritual in traditional cultures. He has scoured the world to bring to us meaningful folk tales that tap into ancestral sources of wisdom, and acts as a guide to connect them to the stories we are living today. Meade is the founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation.
Michael Meade’s books include:
- The Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of the Soul (GreenFire Press 2006)
- Why the World Doesn’t End, Tales of Renewal in Times of Loss (Greenfire Press 2012)
- Fate and Destiny, The Two Agreements of the Soul (revised & expanded, Greenfire Press 2012)
He is the creator of many CD and audio recordings as well, such as:
- The Soul of Change (Mosaic 2010)
To learn more about the work of Michael Meade go to www.mosaicvoices.org.
Topics explored in this dialogue include:
- What is “genius” and how is it expressed
- Why we must seek and encourage genius
- What is talent
- Why talent and fame can be gifts as well as burdens
- The different levels of education
- What is “initiation” and what are its three elements
- How art can be a ritual search for the divine
- What are “vertical living” and ”horizontal living”
- How do our wounds become our gifts
- How can tragedy and success lead to the same outcome
- What is the African folktale of the Divine Twins, the Soul Tree and Tree of Forgetfulness
Host: Justine Willis Toms Interview Date: 8/18/2014 Program Number: 3518