What are Merlin’s passions? What were his greatest heartaches? And how did he discover that nature was the true source of all magic? In this episode, T. A. Barron describes why Merlin has become for him both a mentor and a friend. We explore how T. A. first discovered Merlin and what sparked him to begin writing his best-selling series The Merlin Saga.  We dive into the challenges he faced while adding to the tapestry of myth around this beloved character. A tapestry that began with oral traditions of the Druids and Celts and was first written down by Welsh monks 1000 years ago.  We discover three reasons why Merlin is still around today, and why we need him now more than ever.  Tune in to learn all this, plus what T. A. calls “the metaphor of Merlin.” Check out all 13 books in The Merlin Saga.  Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of more than 30 books. Carolyn Hunter is co-host. Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson.