The Selkie Myth // Ep 12

In Flow + On Fire

Welcome to Season 2 of the In Flow + On Fire podcast! Download the Free Study Guide // Send us a voice memo

We’re switching gears and bringing something really special to the podcast. I have always had a passion for fairy tales and myths, primarily because of the powerful archetypes they hold, along with the ability to help us better understand our inner and outer worlds. My enthusiasm for creating children’s books is based in a major desire to bring back many of the gorgeous old myths and fairy tales for our modern audience. However, I realized that I don’t have to wait until I have all my book dreams realized to start bringing more focus to these potent stories.

Now each month on the In Flow + On Fire podcast all episodes will be centered around a specific myth or fairy tale and how it relates to modern life and challenges.

To kick it all off, August is going to be focused on the Selkie (seal woman/man) myth… one of my all-time favorites! This powerful myth deals with issues around burnout, disconnection, loneliness, and over-giving (all relevant themes for women especially in modern life).

Listen in to this episode to hear me reading my favorite version of the myth, “Sealskin, Soulskin,” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, from her book “Women Who Run With The Wolves.”

The story follows a lonely man who encounters a group of seal women and steals one of their sealskins. He convinces one of the women to be his wife, and they have a child. However, after seven years, the seal woman's true nature calls her back to the sea, and she leaves the child behind. The child grows up to be a storyteller and drummer, and he can still be seen communicating with a certain female seal near the shore.

Key Insights

• The selkie myth is a powerful tale that explores themes of loneliness, love, and the connection between humans and nature.

• The story highlights the longing for companionship and the sacrifices that come with it.

• It emphasizes the importance of honoring one's true nature and the consequences of trying to possess or control another being.

• The selkie myth invites reflection on our own inner worlds and how we navigate the external world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Selkie Myth 02:14 Loneliness and Longing for Connection 04:07 Dazzled by Beauty: Possession and Control 08:41 Mother's Love and Sacrifice 10:39 Returning to True Nature 13:02 Reflections on the Selkie Myth