Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Allison Stieger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I’m a professional mythologist. While most people can figure out what a “mythologist” is generally, it does seem to be a difficult job for many folks to wrap their head around in practical terms. I usually end up explaining that being a mythologist means that I share wisdom and inspiration for how to live a better life through understanding mythology, and I do that by writing, speaking, and teaching.
Because humans are so deeply story-driven in the way we process the world, most people who hear about it find it interesting, but most also don’t understand it. They want to know what a mythologist is, and I consider that a huge gift, because it gives me the opportunity to share not only what I do but why I do it; why it’s worth walking this highly unusual path and just how much myth has to offer that makes it worth it. Sometimes it feels like walking through hip-deep snow. It’s much easier, after all, to walk a path that has been cleared by others. I have both the sacred responsibility and the opportunity to break a path forward, which is not a calling that is felt by many. It is my hope that my ability to do so will create a path into this work for those who would like to come along after me. For me, that makes all of the struggle and frustration worth it, because I know how much myth has to offer to make our lives better.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a professional mythologist, and what that means is that I use mythology, archetypes, and ritual to teach clients and students how to navigate their lives more effectively through the guidance of wisdom present in the world’s oldest stories. These stories have lasted for a reason, and they have a tremendous amount of applicable information for making it through the challenges of human life.
I offer two different platforms under the brand Mythic Stories-work with individuals in their personal lives, and work with organizations on understanding the mythic patterns that exist in groups of people working together. This usually means writing, coaching, public speaking, and teaching.
I’ve been working as a mythologist since 2006, when I completed my graduate work in mythology.
We’re all living the stories of our own lives, and we also show up in the stories of every person that we know. The beauty of looking at our lives mythically is that it helps us recognize the mythic patterns that are constantly pushing our lives in different directions. Once we see how these patterns are playing out, we have the ability to change the patterns that are no longer serving us.
Our ancestors left these stories behind as a gift for us for a reason. They had their own struggles in getting through their own lives, and it seems to be a completely human and loving impulse to share the stories of our successes and failures, to help our loved ones find their own way forward. We have more support than we know, and through my work I teach my clients how to access these gifts from those who came before. The best part about it is that doing this work prepares us to become the ancestors that those who will come after us will need in turn. By showing up for our own heroic journey we can add to the lineage of care that extends back as far as human history reaches. I find this so beautiful, and I’ve seen first hand how powerful and transformative this work can be.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Myth can and does change lives. It seems a little counter-intuitive, at first. Old stories that we might have read for the last time when we were kids, how can they possibly still matter? They do matter, and I’ve gotten to see first hand the ways that lives are transformed with a mythic approach. Working with my clients to understand the mythic patterns that are present in their lives so that they can grow and be changed by them, and then change them in turn, is deeply meaningful for me. I’m not particularly motivated my money or prestige, but watching the way that heroic journeys are discovered and embraced in my clients is so powerful for me. It gets me up in the morning, and keeps me passionate about my work.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Mythology as a path toward a more meaningful life is not understood by our culture really at all. This is my mission. I’ve seen how it can work on a small, individual scale, and I’m driven to bring it to the wider culture, through my books, public speaking, and media appearances. It excites me every day, and I’m so moved when I see the lives being made better, and the trauma being transformed that happens through this work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mythicstories.com
- Instagram: @mythicstories
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonstieger
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-stieger/
- Twitter: @allisonstieger
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allisonstieger
- Other: TikTok @mythicstories
Image Credits
Patti Shelton