Re: The Odyssey - question for all!
My thoughts on
Book I:
but do what he might he could not save his men, for they perished through their own sheer folly in eating the cattle of the Sun-god Hyperion
He could not save his men, as in: could not violate their free will. Their own 'foolishness' caused their death, their own 'choices' so to speak.
So now all who escaped death in battle or by shipwreck had got safely
home except Ulysses, and he, though he was longing to return to his
wife and country, was detained by the goddess Calypso, who had got
him into a large cave and wanted to marry him. But as years went by,
there came a time when the gods settled that he should go back to
Ithaca;
''There came a time'' Would this indicate a cycle? After struggling and being stuck for a long time, an opportunity once more arises to escape? A certain Law playing a role here?
Minerva said:
This daughter of Atlas has got hold of poor unhappy Ulysses,
and keeps trying by every kind of blandishment to make him forget
his home, so that he is tired of life, and thinks of nothing but how
he may once more see the smoke of his own chimneys. You, sir, take
no heed of this, and yet when Ulysses was before Troy did he not propitiate
you with many a burnt sacrifice? Why then should you keep on being
so angry with him?"
Sacrifices don't need to be seen literal here. What could the symbolic meaning of sacrifice be here? Perhaps in the Gurdjieffian sense, the sacrifice of oneself (one's programs/ego f.e.) for the betterment of others and himself. This could be seen as an act of respect to the Universe, and all that exists. And as a result, the Universe could show respect back: opportunities arising when the 'time' is right or other ways. And these opportunitistic situations could be seen as horrific situations where great struggle and discipline is needed and is asked for. But also there could be opportunities of ways and signs to escape out of a horrific situation. Basically the Universe helping on whatever path a person finds himself in.
The imprisonment by Atlas could be seen as a situation with a Petty Tyrant who keeps one imprisoned from the main aim and purpose in Life. Which for him, probably was to go home. And perhaps our goal is the same? To go home? To connect to our 'roots' once more? Perhaps, we first would need to struggle towards going home (i.e. cleaning ourselves), and perhaps, with the help of the Universe and the colinear network, this Aim becomes more possible.
Both the Universe and this colinear network can be seen as the 'Gods/Godesses' helping every individual that they (the 'God/Godesses') seem to 'like' or see 'as worthy' (which can mean: helping those who are willing to give something back also).
It's like the C's saying that help is on the way, meaning that it is us. The Universe working also through us, to help us.
However, some, even with such Aim and opportunities offered by the Universe, show no enough interest, nor Will, and become entrapped 'eternally' by Petty Tyrants or by other means. To which a 'God(ess)' could reply: "See now, how men lay blame upon us gods for what is after all nothing but their own folly." Own folly, or own choices. Folly, probably because it is based on subjectivity.
Jove said:
Neptune will then be pacified,
for if we are all of a mind he can hardly stand out against us.
For if we are all of a mind. I.e. all on one certain frequency, on one level, perhaps knowledge-wise? And since knowledge protects, strength-wise? Every God/Goddess having a certain strength, and
combined together, it's hard for Neptune to stand against them. He'd stand no chance. Perhaps an indication of the strength of a colinear network?
I also find it interesting how Minerva (goddess) showed on earth, looking like a
man/chose to look like a man. Wonder what that means? That she contains both of the masculine and the feminine 'energies'?
Telemachus said:
Singing comes cheap to those who do not pay for it,
and all this is done at the cost of one whose bones lie rotting in
some wilderness or grinding to powder in the surf. If these men were
to see my father come back to Ithaca they would pray for longer legs
rather than a longer purse, for money would not serve them;
This means that they've had their opportunities to 'pay up', and after a certain time, their opportunities might have run out, and much damage has been done to such an extent that no more 'paying up' could serve them. And perhaps that there would be nothing in them or very little in them that would be willing to 'pay' in a sincere, humane way, perhaps because they have probably lost their humanity among the process?
Minerva said:
but it seems
the gods are still keeping him back, for he is not dead yet not on
the mainland. It is more likely he is on some sea-girt island in mid
ocean, or a prisoner among savages who are detaining him against his
will I am no prophet, and know very little about omens, but I speak
as it is borne in upon me from heaven, and assure you that he will
not be away much longer; for he is a man of such resource that even
though he were in chains of iron he would find some means of getting
home again.
That sounds to me as an indirect ''sign'' towards Telemachus, that this is a heaven-sent message. That she may be a goddess. Kinda like we get ''signs'' in our lives that indicate ''heaven-sent'' messages for us to pay attention, in some way?
Telemachus said:
so long as my father
was here it was well with us and with the house, but the gods in their
displeasure have willed it otherwise,
Perhaps another indication of the cycle and the laws that play a role. After good times, coming bad times.
Telemachus said:
Nor does the matter end simply with grief for the loss
of my father; heaven has laid sorrows upon me of yet another kind;
It seems that his situation has changed from 'happy' to 'sad' as well, but in his own way, different from his father's situation, which might indicate the different lessons each of them 'have' to go through.
Minerva said:
Then, having done all this, think it well over in your mind
how, by fair means or foul, you may kill these suitors in your own
house.
Thinking it over means to me, to not act with haste. Thinking of the most effective way. Also interesting how he says, ''suiters
in your own house''. Perhaps the many little I's, as one also wrote here. It also makes me think of Gurdjieff's analogy of the house and the many people in it, with no one in charge. Minerva says: "show your mettle, then, and make yourself a name in story" Could this mean: Take up the courage and get in charge? Make yourself a name in story... Making yourself an identity? A ''One'' person rather than many-I's in one? Also, Telemachus said when speaking to the suitors:
"for speech is man's matter, and mine above all others- for it is I who am master here."
Minerva said:
"Do not try to keep me, for I would be on my way
at once. As for any present you may be disposed to make me, keep it
till I come again, and I will take it home with me. You shall give
me a very good one, and I will give you one of no less value in return."
This could be an indication of balance between giving and taking, between the goddess and Telemachus. Perhaps no giving, or no act of respect, could have made her or the other gods/godesses angry. And this could have caused Telemachus to get stuck in his situation with no help from outside. Same as how C's would talk about getting stuck when there has been little giving or true commitment, or even 'faith' perhaps. So it seems that balance keeps things going. But as always, has to be sincere.
With these words she flew away like a bird into the air, but she had
given Telemachus courage, and had made him think more than ever about
his father. He felt the change, wondered at it, and knew that the
stranger had been a god, so he went straight to where the suitors
were sitting.
The way she gave him courage was by way of speaking to him. This could indicate that we, could perhaps develop our ''Higher Self'' and that Higher Self could help us in the same sort of way to encourage us to do the right thing.
Then Telemachus spoke, "Shameless," he cried, "and insolent suitors,
let us feast at our pleasure now, and let there be no brawling, for
it is a rare thing to hear a man with such a divine voice as Phemius
has; but in the morning meet me in full assembly that I may give you
formal notice to depart, and feast at one another's houses, turn and
turn about, at your own cost. If on the other hand you choose to persist
in spunging upon one man, heaven help me, but Jove shall reckon with
you in full, and when you fall in my father's house there shall be
no man to avenge you."
This has been the opportunity for the suitors to leave. If not taken, Telemachus has the faith in the Universe that it knows what it's doing.
