Pamela Jaye Smith & MYTHWORKS |
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In This Issue:
We Gotta Get Past It
Now What Path?
Who's Out There --
Articles / Books / Etc.
Coming Soon
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Alpha Babe Academy
MYTHWORKS - Applied Mythology
Mythic Challenges - Create Stories that Change the World
Create Now - Empowering Youth through Arts Education & Mentoring
Center for Conscious Creativity - Creating a better future through Arts and Media
Entertainment Industries Council - Encouraging the Art of Making a Difference
BIRTH2WORK
RAISING FAMILIES
When Parents Lead, Children Succeed
Thriver Sisterhood - Helping Women Sexually Abused as Children Thrive through Drama Therapy
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FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Find out how Applied Mythology can work for you, your projects, your organization.
Free 20 minute consultation. Just mention this newsletter when you email to set up an appointment!
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The Past is the Present? Well, it certainly can affect it. Are we doomed to continually repeat the Past, as some warn? Not necessarily. If we’re smart about it we can avoid some of those “Groundhog Day” hamster wheels.
What about Truth and Consequences? Does anyone adhere to them anymore? A look back at how things used to be can be informative…and often entertaining, too.
Why do we do the things we do? A quick look at our Centers of Motivation can help us understand emotions, both ours and others’. With so many people operating from these Inner Drives, it can be helpful to understand it all better.
Here are three of our past Newsletters whose short first articles seem really relevant again given what’s going on across the world today.
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Again…? Really…?
Sometimes it's a comfort that history repeats itself, sometimes a comedy, sometimes a tragedy. Unfortunately it always seems to be a guarantee that somewhere, someone, somehow will recycle the past without even knowing it.
As the Battlestar Galactica mantra goes, "This has all happened before. It will all happen again."
Read more here --
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HERE COMES THE JUDGE
The judge sat on an elaborate stone chair up on a dais. A lion crouched at his side. Both glared out at whoever approached the throne. The lion, it was said, was able to smell a liar and at the first whiff of perjury would leap on the would-be deceiver and devour them on the spot.
Needless to say, this cut down on frivolous lawsuits, vindictive plaintiffs, and prevaricating witnesses.
Or so it was said about one of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
More effective than an electronic lie-detector test or a Senate hearing, but a bit harder to control, one might suppose.
Read more here –
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THEY DID WHAT?! WHY…?
What the heck were they thinking when they did what they did?
Maybe they weren’t and that’s the problem.
As the saying goes, “Most people don’t have thoughts, what they have are opinions about their emotions”.
Or maybe someone else was manipulating their emotions and thus affecting their behaviour. But how about those emotions? Can we even begin to understand what’s going on there?
As meaning-making creatures, humans are always looking for ways to analyze and hopefully gain control of our ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Some of the systems for doing that include the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Enneagrams, astrological signs, and as one of our documentarian colleagues offered: SWAGS – Scientific Wild-Ass Guesses.
A very ancient system of analysis based on actual physiology is that of the chakras - the nerve clusters controlling our endocrine glands that excrete hormones. They affect us physically, which quite often affects us psychologically.
Read more here –
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MYTH TIPS
How many repetitive systems can you name? In temperate zones the Seasons would be one. [Though not so much these days with the Climate Catastrophes.]
Is there a pattern you keep repeating? Maybe one you'd like to break? On the romance side, someone once commented after a party, "Oh, sure. He's cute enough, and smart. But he's the kind of mistake I used to make".
Each of the Articles above has specific MYTH TIPS and suggestions at the end of it.
Find our Newsletter Archive here --
http://pamelajayesmith.net/articles/newsletter-archive/
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A lot of us are still caught up in the ennui and inertia of the last couple of years. Getting going again can be difficult depending on what your experiences were, what challenges you faced, and how you worked to meet and overcome them.
A lot of us want to expand ourselves into new realms, or to move forward in arenas we’ve been doing fine in so far. Some want to reclaim a part of themselves they’d left behind for one reason or another.
One of the best ways to get traction and move forward is to return to the center, to the essence of who you are and who you want to be. From there you can consciously assess and decide what are the next best, most efficient and effective steps for you to take.
Exploring the ArchePaths can be a great way to do that.
Warrior, Magician, Scientist, Clergy, Lover
What is your main Path now? What have you learned from the others you’ve spent time on? Where are you going next?
A Personal Mythology Consultation can help identify your unique qualities and combinations along the ArchePaths and give you practical, enjoyable tools to enhance your natural tendencies – and your next steps.
Each of the Paths has 3 Levels [Beginner, Adept, Master]
Each has 3 Approaches [Emotional, Mental, Synthesized]
The Paths are gender-neutral and non-age-specific. Two different friends recently described their toddler grandchildren as little "Justice Warriors” demanding fairness for themselves and others, be they siblings or pets.
The state of the world today cries out for more individuals of integrity, balance, wisdom, courage, and compassion – all of which can be found on all of the ArchePaths.
Better defining and aligning with your own ArchePaths can not only improve your life but it can inspire and inform those around you to more positive action for themselves and the rest of the planet.
Like the saying goes: Be the Change you Want to See.
We offer a FREE 20-minute phone consultation to discuss how a Personal Mythology Consultation can best work for you.
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BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS
“A body at rest tends to stay at rest.
A body in motion tends to stay in motion.”
Isaac Newton’s 1st Law of Motion
Can’t move forward?
Everyone’s got a great idea but we often don’t know how to get started. Having a mythic framework can really help.
Or maybe you’ve reached a point where you don’t know what to do next with the plot. A fresh pair of eyes plus time-proven mythic structure can offer choices aligned with your vision and goals – and that can help you advance your project.
Want to develop out that great idea you've either come up with during Covid or have had for a long time now?
Our Brainstorming Session can help you solidify your inspiration and sort all those great ideas into workable form.
“Suffice it to say, if you’re on a quest to bring your work to the next level and then get it out to the world in the most appealing (buyable) way, make sure Pamela Jaye Smith is on your brainstorming team from the beginning!” Reece Michaelson
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PITCHPROXY for Your Project
Got a story almost ready to pitch?
Besides recent requests from a couple of well-known production companies for the proposal and scripts, we've recently submitted the Pilot Script to two companies for our TV series proposal "Operation Magic Fire", a limited series inspired by Norse myths, set in Afghanistan.
“This is fantastic, Pamela Jaye, and just the kind of guidance and insight I so need. You got this concept instantly, and I have a perfect path forward. I am excited to start putting the ideas to work. This all has been fun, and anything from here is gravy.” RC Long
We can craft Pitch Materials for your projects, too. Plus give you guidance on Target Acquisition and Pitch Coaching. Or do it for you if you like.
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LINKS TO SERVICES
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WHO'S OUT THERE DOING WHAT? |
“Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks.”
Will Durant – THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION
[11 Volumes and well worth the read]
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Democracy at Work – economist Richard D. Wolff
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Hedge Fund head promotes sustainability.
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Discover impactful jobs at the world’s leading climate tech companies and environmental nonprofits.
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Reclaim Paradise: RESET for the Common Good
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A Sustainable Fashion Future
Recycling to help address the Fashion Waste Crisis
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“A great many people think they are thinking when they are just rearranging their prejudices.”
William James [1842-1910] American philosopher
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EXISTENTIALISM
A philosophy with no future.
Audrey Austin
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Albert Einstein
“Relativity: The Special and General Theory”
Cherry blossoms fall
at light speed through curved space-time
and land with a thud.
Haiku from “Haiku U. – From Aristotle to Zola, 100 Great Books in 17 Syllables” by David M. Bader
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Curious about different belief systems?
Check this one out – but have some Parmesan handy.
Become a Pastafarian!
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Articles, Books, Podcasts, Etc. |
The Royal Society Open Library
The independent scientific academy of the UK (the oldest one in continuous existence) is dedicated to promoting excellence in science for the benefit of humanity. An excellent source of authoritative information on anything science.
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Mac McCord’s screenplay THE LIGHT AT THE EDGE is a Quarter-Finalist in the Season 7 Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards.
In 1920’s Ireland, an ageless Faery and her human lover, now a nun, work secretly together to save babies from abuse in a nunnery run by a sadistic Mother Superior. A dark fantasy of forbidden love, madness and religious persecution.
Mac was one of my Mentees at the 2019 Summer Rocaberti Writers retreat.
CONGRATULATIONS, Mac!!!
https://rocabertiwriters.com/hall-of-fame/
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Richard Wilkinson’s Fantasy Adventure Limited Series
THE LOST GEM placed in the Semi-Finals for a
ScreenCraft Science Fiction/Fantasy contest.
CONGRATULATIONS, Richard!!!
In this story a young boy awakens to his destiny – reunite kingdoms and races, defeat the Darkness haunting the lands, and lead everyone back into the Light.
Richard’s saga follows young Macheeba, adopted by loving giants, who discovers he is actually the lost son of a royal family, destined to be an Emperor. He unites unlikely allies and sojourns far through tumultuous challenges to confront the Darkness plaguing the lands. Loves lost and found, wizards good and evil, dragons, boiling seas, valiant knights and brave adventurers, sacrifice and redemption create an engaging large-scale saga.
I’ve enjoyed working on THE LOST GEM and look forward to entering that magical world on screen, hopefully soon.
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Stressed out? Who isn't....
To find reliable relief from the stress, anxiety, and overwhelm that seem to be plaguing us all these days, check out Aurora J. Miller's neurophysiology hacks at Instagram.com/aurorajmiller and on her website https://aurorajmiller.com/
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Past MYTHWORKS newsletters available here –
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MUSIC – Royalty Free
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HUMANITY REALLY NEEDS TO EVOLVE
Dr. Linda Seger’s new book is a practical and inspiring guide for how to adapt and thrive via inter-connectivity.
BEYOND LINEAR THINKING makes clear the disadvantages of limited thinking and the benefits of Web Thinking. Connection, collaboration, and cooperation can create win-win situations for all.
In these times of divisiveness and danger, Seger’s book offers solutions that will not only help us personally to thrive but also to benefit the people around us and the entire planet. A big goal? Yes, but BEYOND LINEAR THINKING clearly shows ways to accomplish more than we ever could on our own.
With a sense of compassion, the wisdom of experience, and a sense of humor, this book offers a clear-eyed look at what does and does not work in our personal, professional, and wider lives based on how we think.
Informative, practical, and inspiring, BEYOND LINEAR THINKING is a guide book for our evolution into better, more connected, and happier people.
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ART FOR ALL
MUSIC – Royalty Free
IMAGES from Paris museums -- 100,000 images online for unrestricted public use!!!
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A treasure trove of books, movies, songs, and cartoons.
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Our Mythic Challenges consultations offer Mythic Themes, Archetypes, and Symbols to help you 'Create Stories that Change the World'.
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Email to schedule a FREE 20 minute discussion on how we can assist your message goals.
Story services include Brain Storming, Consultations, Coaching, Book Planning, Editing, and Writer-for-Hire.
Mythic Tools work for any style, any genre, and any platform, from printed book to Virtual Reality.
!!! MAKE GREAT MYTHS !!!
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The KURULTAI Series
Pamela Jaye Smith
"We are all just dreamers, looking
for the right place to wake up."
History repeats itself so that everyone has the chance to be and do everything.
A group of souls intertwine lives through time and space in varying roles and relationships. Lovers now, warriors another time, parents now, siblings then, who kills whom, where is betrayal, where loyalty?
And always the battle between the Darkness and the Light. How can you tell who's on which side when the players in the KURULTAI keep changing between lifetimes?
As these individuals reincarnate together again and again in diverse times and places, sometimes they can access their other past or future lives, but sometimes not. The mission of the KURULTAI is to help humanity evolve and save the world.
But first they must wake up and realize that. Then they must find the means to overcome the Darkness...and those among them who serve it.
Coming soon from Pallas Press.
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The first story in the KURULTAI series --
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Katy is a glamorous gangster moll in 1950s America, helping her mob boss lover by using strategy and tactics from her remembered lifetime as a warrior back during the Peloponnesian Wars in ancient Greece.
A gun-runner comes to town to make a deal, pitting the two mobs against each other.
Now if Katy could only retrieve her memory of who the rest of the players really are before the tensions boil over again in deadly far-reaching violence.
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Speaking of designer plagues and botched delivery systems..
THE OOPSIE MEMOS
Kaye G. Gregory
** Read for FREE! **
War-mongering, tribalism, profits over people, sexual oppression and rape culture, extraction capitalism, authoritarianism, ecological devastation….
Sometimes it seems like some people on this planet are of a totally different and thoroughly more dangerous species from the rest.
How did it come to this? Theories abound.
The Oopsie Memos explain how it really happened.
One is a high-ranking diplomat, the other a much-decorated military commander. These two old girlfriends, both proud and headstrong, formerly very close but now estranged by time, distance and differences of opinion are forced together to resolve an extremely dangerous situation -- the wrong men in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It all started with a bureaucratic error….
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Pay the Piper, Dancer, and Other Stories |
by - Pamela Jaye Smith, Geffrey von Gerlach, and Kaye G. Gregory
Two of the pieces placed in the semi- and quarter-finals of the ScreenCraft Short Story contest.
Hope you enjoy them!
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Coming Events
To book Pamela Jaye for events or workshops, contact us.
Keynote, Seminars & Workshops, Festivals
Online Classes, Coaching, Retreats
Private Courses available with extensive feedback and one-on-one conversations via email, Zoom or phone.
Regular asynchronous group classes include feedback on exercises.
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STORYBOARD DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Ongoing monthly meetings.
February's script for discussion is THE FABELMANS. Melody Jackson will be leading the discussion. She is always informative and inspiring.
After many decades, this is still my favorite writers group – always smart, always informative, always fun!
You can join them here.
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CSU MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL
This summer I was again a jurist for the California State University Media Arts Festival. It’s always interesting and encouraging to read and to view the wide range of creative projects from the talented young filmmakers.
A public screening of the winners was held here in Los Angeles in the Fall. You can watch the Award-winning pieces here.
https://www.calstate.edu/SummerArts/media-arts-festival/Pages/awards.aspx
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My blogs for Savvy Authors --
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It’s Back!!!
LA Web Fest
November 4-6, 2022
Los Angeles, CA
Founded by the amazing Michael Ajakwe, the LA Web Fest was the original and inspired dozens more WebFests over the years around the world.
Photo - PJS, Michael Ajakwe, Young Man Kang
With Michael’s passing the Fest was down, but is now back, headed by Young Man Kang.
If you’ve a web series to enter for the 2023 Festival – please do.
If you enjoy web series – please do come watch them with us later this year. Plus panels and presentations.
It’s always a fabulous and impressive collection of creativity from around the world in many different styles and genres. Always enjoyable, always fun.
Hope to see you at the next one!
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JAIPUR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The prestigious Jaipur Int. Film Festival draws entrants from around the world. For ten years I’ve been honoured to be one of the judges for the screenplays and films and they continue to attract quality creative works. I look forward to seeing the films from this year’s group of scripts.
Do consider entering your script and/or film for next year's Festival.
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Even if your story takes place in a remote village or on another planet or dimension, you can touch upon global issues and universal archetypes that readers in many other places can relate to - while still keeping your story unique to you.
So get your Story a Passport and give it wings to travel round the world! Our Brainstorming Sessions can help you do just that.
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PITCHING YOUR PROJECTS
There are lots of on-line PitchFests going on all the time, plus many listing services like Virtual Pitch Fest, InkTip, ISA, Stage32, Greenlight My Movie, and more.
We can help you get your story ready to pitch, be it a Story Consultation, writing the Pitch Materials for you depending on your project -- [Logline, Pitch, Synopsis, Market Appeal, Series Bible, Pitch Deck], selecting the target companies most appropriate for your project, or Pitch Coaching by Zoom or in person.
Email us for more details.
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ONGOING
Story consultations and coaching for all media and genres - from initial brain-storming to private classes to detailed feedback and suggestions.
Personal Myth Consultations -- Who are you? Who and what do you want to be? What's your ArchePath? What myth are you currently living? Understand your Personal Myth and empower your life.
Email for a Free 20 minute consultation on how we might work together to enhance your creativity and accomplishments.
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Give us a call and use the Free 20 Minute Consultation to discuss how we might help you craft your own creative projects using Mythic Themes, Archetypes, and Symbols.
Mythic Tools work in any genre, any style, and any platform from novels to features to web series or XR, from fiction to non-fiction to message media.
Pamela Jaye & the MYTHWORKS Team
323-874-6447
email
MYTHWORKS
Mythic Challenges
Alpha Babe Academy
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