Enchantment in a Disenchanted Age (Dr. Martin Shaw) | Ep. 570

Mar 16, 2026

Dr. Martin Shaw, mythologist, storyteller, and bestselling author who leads wilderness rites-of-passage, discusses the power of fairy tales and the hunger for heroic quests. He recounts a 101-night forest vigil that changed his life. Short takes on rites, attention to small wonders, and recovering romance over emptiness.

01:50:43

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INSIGHT

Nontransactional Encounters Deliver Grace

Mundane kindnesses and non-transactional encounters open people to transformation.
Shaw recounts hugging his taxi driver Jamal after bestseller news and emphasizes noticing people's small actions as moments of grace.

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ADVICE

Avoid Being A Slave To Your Lesser Talents

Keep pushing your edges and avoid being boxed by a single talent or routine.
Shaw quotes Gary Snyder: don't be a slave to your lesser talents; cultivate art and occasional risk beyond administration or comfort.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Use Rites Of Passage To Channel Youthful Ambition

Rites of passage are necessary to channel adolescent ambition into maturity; create liminal challenges for teenagers.
Shaw runs wilderness initiations: nights alone, tracking, listening, and stories to catalyze growth into responsibility.

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Modernity's Story: Too Many Narratives

01:00 • 4min

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Writing Liturgies of the Wild

04:57 • 1min

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Bestseller Surprise and Human Encounters

06:00 • 4min

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Quest, Rites, and Primordial Ambition

09:33 • 57sec

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Attention to Small Things Expands Life

10:30 • 2min

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Staying Wild: Discipline and Chivalry

12:50 • 4min

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The Story We Tell Ourselves Today

17:00 • 3min

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Working with At-Risk Youth and Rites

20:10 • 3min

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Meaninglessness of Materialist Cosmology

22:47 • 4min

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Shaw's Conversion Moment Preview

27:00 • 30sec

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From Heavy Metal to a Tent Life

27:30 • 11min

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The 101-Night Vigil Encounter

38:13 • 9min

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Dreams, Lockdown, and Compassion's Arrival

47:17 • 2min

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Why Associate Visions with Christianity

49:18 • 6min

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Exploring Churches and the Divine Liturgy

From Mystical Encounter to Church Life

59:10 • 10min

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Fairy Tales as Christian Preparation

01:08:50 • 8min

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Fairy Tales, Romance, and Restoring Imagination

Why Fairy Tales Feel True

01:26:52 • 5min

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Story Structure: Severance, Threshold, Return

01:31:36 • 7min

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Dragons, Symbols, and Mythic Interpretation

01:38:41 • 3min

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Re-enchantment and the Poetic Mind

01:41:52 • 4min

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Why Read Liturgies of the Wild

01:46:21 • 2min

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Unimpressive Leisure: Solitude and Cooking

The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad

The Lost Adventures of Sir Galahad

A. S. Peterson (Contributing Scholar)

Junius Johnson (Contributing Scholar)

Jonathan Rogers (Contributing Scholar)

Malcolm Guite (Contributing Scholar)

Ned Bustard (Editor/Illustrator)

The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad presents historical documents featuring the previously unknown adventures of the legendary knight during his time lost in the Wild Forest. Compiled and annotated by leading experts with contributions from visiting scholars, the collection includes stories of dragons, trolls, magic, mystery, and heroic deeds that shaped Galahad's journey before his famous quest for the Holy Grail.

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Elder Thaddeus's "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives" offers profound insights into the spiritual life and the power of thoughts to shape our experiences. The book emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance over one's thoughts, recognizing that many thoughts are not our own but originate from external sources. Elder Thaddeus guides readers on how to identify and reject negative thoughts, replacing them with prayer and positive reflections. He stresses the interconnectedness of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, emphasizing the transformative power of inner work. The book is a practical guide for spiritual growth, offering guidance on prayer, self-awareness, and the cultivation of virtue.

• Mentioned in 536 episodes

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.

#30905

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The handless maiden

Mary Elizabeth Perry

#44946

The Perfect Joy of Saint Francis

Felix Timmermans

Felix Timmermans' classic work presents a profound interpretation of Saint Francis of Assisi, conveying the saint's all-consuming desire to follow and imitate Jesus Christ. The book communicates Francis's joy through lyrically simple prose reminiscent of Francis's own hymns and words, emphasizing how perfect joy comes not from wisdom or successful preaching, but from accepting trials without complaint and enduring suffering gladly for the love of Christ.

#392

• Mentioned in 73 episodes

The Lion, The witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a portal fantasy novel that follows the story of four English siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who are evacuated to the countryside during World War II. While exploring the large, old house of Professor Kirke, Lucy discovers a wardrobe that serves as a portal to the land of Narnia. In Narnia, they encounter various magical creatures and the evil White Witch, who has cast a spell to keep Narnia in perpetual winter. The siblings soon learn that they are part of an ancient prophecy to save Narnia, aided by the lion Aslan. The story is an allegory of Christianity, with Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection mirroring the story of Jesus Christ. The novel also incorporates elements from Germanic, classical Greek and Roman, and Celtic mythology.

#7321

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Liturgies of the Wild

The Myths That Make Us

Martin Shaw

#1073

• Mentioned in 35 episodes

Iron John

A Book About Men

Robert Bly

In this book, Robert Bly uses the Grimm fairy tale 'Iron John' to analyze and redefine traditional notions of masculinity. Bly draws on Jungian psychology and mythology to outline a journey of male maturation, emphasizing the importance of male initiation rites, the role of the 'Wild Man' archetype, and the need for men to balance their emotional and instinctual selves. The book is a seminal work in the mythopoetic men's movement and has been influential in discussions about modern masculinity.

Martin Shaw is a mythologist, storyteller, and New York Times bestselling author of Liturgies of the Wild: Myths That Make Us. Together, Matt and Martin discuss the power of fairy tales, the need for a quest, and a profound 101 night vigil in the woods that lead Shaw to Christianity. Whisky and cigars included.

Ep. 570

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📚 More About Dr. Martin Shaw:

Liturgies of the Wild: Myths That Make Us: https://a.co/d/03ZWk5Qg

Learn More: https://drmartinshaw.com

Dr. Martin Shaw is a writer, mythographer, and Christian thinker who has authored seventeen books. He holds a visiting position at the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University and is a fellow of the Temenos Academy. He founded the Oral Tradition and Mythic Life courses at Stanford University and is director of the Westcountry School of Myth in the UK. For thirty years Shaw has been a wilderness rites-of-passage guide, working with men and women seeking a deeper life.

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