In 2022, we saw the release of yet another Batman movie. This one, called The Batman, is a little different from recent movie incarnations in that it focuses more on Batman as a detective and also really digs into the negative psychological impact of being a vigilante. Even Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne has succumbed to the darkness–in the new…
Click here for audio version We've all heard the term "resilience." It's the ability to bounce back after a setback or some kind of difficulty. How much resilience we have can determine how successful we are in life, and it's something most of us try to instill in our children. Viking age women had to be resilient. It was a…
Click here for audio version What do the Aesir gods do when they need help finding a cauldron big enough to hold all their ale? They call on Thor. The gods of Asgard decided one day to hold a feast, but Aegir, the god who prepared the ale, told the other gods that he didn’t have a cauldron big enough…
Click here for audio version You may not know the word archetype or what it means, but if you’ve read novels or watched movies and TV shows, you have encountered them. Archetypes are the characters who play a particular role in a story, like the Wise Old Wizard or the Femme Fatale, and we all recognize them when we see…
Click here for the audio version The right-hand man. What does this mean to you? The man who sits at the right hand of a king or other powerful leader, the man who is next in power? Or perhaps the right-hand man is the partner-in-crime or the best friend? Whatever the case, the right hand holds an important, symbolic function…
Click here for audio version What would you do if you lost your favorite possession? Something that kept you and your entire family safe? If you were a man, would you dress up as a woman and pretend to be the bride of your sworn enemy? If you were Thor, you would. Thor Loses Mjolnir One of my favorite stories…
Click here for audio version The People's God It’s a stormy day, thunder crashes, lightning crackles. You think it’s caused by lightning, air currents, and sound waves. But it’s actually caused by the Norse god Thor (one of the mightiest of gods) as he fights giants. Thor is the god of storms and protects both the gods and men. Unlike…
Click here for audio version Odin's Sacrifice No pain, no gain. You can’t get something for nothing. Everything has its price. We’ve all heard these sayings, some of us, perhaps, even live by them. To attain what we want, whether it be a minor goal to get in better shape, or a huge dream like making it to the Olympics,…