Heroes Not Zombies

Here’s Hermes in Copenhagen. He gets around. I wonder if he is one of the most commonly represented gods from Greek mythology? Probably you’re more likely to encounter him in Europe! Hermes, the Greek god, was known as Mercury to the Romans, who also associated him with the Germanic god, Odin. He’s a complex god with layers and layers of meanings which human beings have attributed to him through their stories and myths.

He’s maybe best known as the Messenger God – able to cross boundaries and connect the conscious to the unconsciousness worlds, the living world and the underworld of the dead, the physical world to the spirit world.

But he’s also known as a God of Fertility, a Protector of shepherds, thieves and tricksters. A great orator or communicator, who helps to persuade people. But also a healing god.

The symbol of healing – the staff with the entwined snake, is doubled in Hermes hand, to have two snakes entwined with each other, but people often mix those two symbols up and use the “hermetic” one, the caduceus, when they mean the symbol of healing, “the rod of Asclepius“, which only had one snake, and no wings! But I think this just shows how fluid and changeable symbols can be.

I wonder what people intend when they place a statue of Hermes in the middle of a city like this? Is there a hope that the inhabitants will see it and think of communication, connections and healing? Is he there as a reminder that there is more to life than the physical, conscious world reveals?

Does he do anything for you? Would you like to have his image somewhere in your personal environment to help you make sense of the world?

I’ve just picked Hermes here as an example. If you look around I’m pretty sure you’ll come across other characters from stories in your environment and in your daily life……maybe characters from myths, religious texts, folklore….or maybe more modern characters from literature and art. Here’s my challenge – see how many you can spot in your own life this week. Note them down, find out about them, and see what comes up for you.