I appreciate your question Jon. In Greek mythology as in Buddhism causes are often simplified or we're not told - those threads are so complex and tangled they lie beyond human comprehension. But trauma threads throughout Greek myths and they are teaching stories, maps of well worn paths by which to navigate and heal those earthly wounds.
The Immortal twice-wounded Centaur Chiron (half man/half horse) comes first to mind and a little of his story is worth the telling. Perhaps it is also a story for all Palestinians. In Homer's tale he was emotionally wounded as a baby when he lost his parents and later physically wounded by a poisoned arrow to his leg, a wound that would not heal. He was found and fostered by Apollo, god of light, as a child, who taught him the arts, music, healing arts, prophesy.... Over the years he became the wisest of the Centaurs and learned that by healing others the pain of his own wounding lessened. He is said to have furthered Apollo's arts, founding medicine, pharmacy and surgery. He healed and taught many, including Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus and Asclepius who became the father of medicine.
One day, while tending the wounded in a battle, he was struck by a poisoned arrow in his leg he could not heal. Though living in unbearable pain, he again healed others, during which his own pain would lessen. Eventually the gods took pity on him and offered him human death at the cost of his immortality. But he would only sacrifice himself and accept death in exchange for the freedom of Prometheus, eternally punished for stealing Fire from the gods for mankind. This Zeus did, and Chiron, who in this act died a martyr, was placed forever revolving in the heavens as the constellation Centaurus, shining the two brightest stars in the Southern hemisphere for all to see: Alpha and Beta Centaurus. In the North he is sometimes seen as Sagittarius.
To be traumatized and to become a wounded healer is not something anyone chooses. It is too hard a path. It chooses us. Chiron was wounded both emotionally and physically, but he was rescued, loved, nurtured and taught the healing arts as a means to grow and heal himself and to learn to heal others, shining the healing light of hope and possibility that he reclaims within and devoting and living a life of loving service.
It is so hard to witness the horrific wounds these innocent children of Gaza are experiencing, and which would still be too raw for these stories. But the myth is a source of timeless wisdom and hope that we can hold inside for them. As a mother, I find it almost unbearable to see and hear what is happening to these children (and mothers! and fathers!) day after night after day and to imagine what they have yet to go through. But I must hold the hope that they will find those who will help them to heal. And that perhaps they are the healers of tomorrow our world so desperately needs. Inshallah.
I appreciate your question Jon. In Greek mythology as in Buddhism causes are often simplified or we're not told - those threads are so complex and tangled they lie beyond human comprehension. But trauma threads throughout Greek myths and they are teaching stories, maps of well worn paths by which to navigate and heal those earthly wounds.
The Immortal twice-wounded Centaur Chiron (half man/half horse) comes first to mind and a little of his story is worth the telling. Perhaps it is also a story for all Palestinians. In Homer's tale he was emotionally wounded as a baby when he lost his parents and later physically wounded by a poisoned arrow to his leg, a wound that would not heal. He was found and fostered by Apollo, god of light, as a child, who taught him the arts, music, healing arts, prophesy.... Over the years he became the wisest of the Centaurs and learned that by healing others the pain of his own wounding lessened. He is said to have furthered Apollo's arts, founding medicine, pharmacy and surgery. He healed and taught many, including Achilles, Hercules, Theseus, Perseus and Asclepius who became the father of medicine.
One day, while tending the wounded in a battle, he was struck by a poisoned arrow in his leg he could not heal. Though living in unbearable pain, he again healed others, during which his own pain would lessen. Eventually the gods took pity on him and offered him human death at the cost of his immortality. But he would only sacrifice himself and accept death in exchange for the freedom of Prometheus, eternally punished for stealing Fire from the gods for mankind. This Zeus did, and Chiron, who in this act died a martyr, was placed forever revolving in the heavens as the constellation Centaurus, shining the two brightest stars in the Southern hemisphere for all to see: Alpha and Beta Centaurus. In the North he is sometimes seen as Sagittarius.
To be traumatized and to become a wounded healer is not something anyone chooses. It is too hard a path. It chooses us. Chiron was wounded both emotionally and physically, but he was rescued, loved, nurtured and taught the healing arts as a means to grow and heal himself and to learn to heal others, shining the healing light of hope and possibility that he reclaims within and devoting and living a life of loving service.
It is so hard to witness the horrific wounds these innocent children of Gaza are experiencing, and which would still be too raw for these stories. But the myth is a source of timeless wisdom and hope that we can hold inside for them. As a mother, I find it almost unbearable to see and hear what is happening to these children (and mothers! and fathers!) day after night after day and to imagine what they have yet to go through. But I must hold the hope that they will find those who will help them to heal. And that perhaps they are the healers of tomorrow our world so desperately needs. Inshallah.