I like Greek Mythology. I think there are many hidden lessons and metaphors in them. They greatly contribute to the understanding of our life. They are old and they seem to answer the same questions or we are still troubled by the same riddles.
We are happy, sad, we have good days and bad days. We are who we are. I think what makes us troubled animals is that we are the only species that has the awareness and the ability to compare our status quo with an ideal that we could strive towards. It is about betterment.
In other words we look at our circumstances and we do not instantly accept them. We think “What if I could do this better, what if this and this was not in my life”. We build a beautiful “if castle” in the sky.
This awareness can become a big predisposition for unhappiness or can be used for our improvement.
In Greek mythology there is a story about Tristan and Isolde. They are in love and decide to get married. During the ceremony Isolde steps on a snake and gets bitten. She passes on. Her soul goes to the underwolrd.
Tristan is shattered and wonders the world. He sings his prayers, misfortunes and the gods can hear him. They feel pity. They decide to give him permission to fetch Isolde out of the underworld.
Tristan crosses the river of the dead (the Styx) and enters the underworld as the only living soul. He finds Isolde and they are told that if they go towards the exit of the underworld they must not turn around, they must not look back.
Tristan holds Isoldes hand and as they walk they hear a terrible scream behind them. Isolde turns her head. Her soul is sucked into the underworld again. She has to stay with the dead now. There is no third chance.
At times one should stop analysing the past or ones soul get’s pulled into the underworld. Do not look back. Your past shaped you, it made you who you are and that is all that you take with you. That is all that you can carry.
Just keep walking.
On this note I want to say that I am thrilled to take my next step and start the LION and Fox blog.