Assignment - Dharma

A Guiding Force: Dharma in Stories and Life

Through the eyes of a westerner, Hinduism, or Sanatana dharma, is a difficult concept to grasp. It is a diverse religion and way of life that focuses upon 'Truth; in order to reach a state of oneness with the entire cosmos, known as liberation or moksha. Humans are capable of reaching this end of samsara, the cycle of reincarnation, because at a basic level, all humans are composed of Brahman, Every object within existence is Brahman. Brahman has existed since the beginning of time. Brahman created the cosmos. Brahman is the cosmos. Brahman is all of the Hindu Gods. Brahman is powerful. We are Brahman. However, we do not fully understand atman, our true self composed of Brahman, while we are blinded by maya, the illusion of our current lives. We are too attached to material objects and relationships in this lifetime. For this reason, a human must attempt to atone for bad karma of past lives and earn good karma during the present in order to be reborn into a state closer to liberation. It is especially important for a woman to earn good karma because she must be reborn as a man before she can reach liberation. Men must be reborn into the Brahmin caste, the highest of the four varnas, or social classes. People are ranked by occupation, not wealth. With the need to reach liberation central to Hinduism, a person will choose to live in a certain, expected way. He or she follows the way of dharma, a path of life that defines many responsibilities. It plays an important role in achieving positive karma and will eventually lead a person closer to moksha.

http://www.kheper.net/integral/ontodynamics.html

Dharma has many definitions. It may be used to refer to Hinduism as a religion or it may be applied to the idea of a universal law of Hinduism. It may focus upon a person's way of life and what is expected of him or her. This last definition is the one we shall focus our attention on since it greatly affects the everyday life of Indian people who practice Hinduism. The purity-pollution principle plays a role in dharma. It is believed that actions in everyday life may pollute an individual. In order to cleanse oneself, one must bathe n the Ganges or undergo some other sort of ritual to become pure. Dharma may dictate what a person may eat or what a person may do for a living. For example, a priest must not eat meat because it is polluted, but a farmer, someone from a lower social class, may consume animal products. The idea of reincarnation is the reason why eating meat is seen as polluting. The animal is a lower life form and may hold the soul of a person atoning for bad karma. This is why the Brahmins are forbidden from eating animals.

An old structural hierarchy separates Indian people into a social structure based upon family history and occupation. Ranked highest to lowest, these four varna are the Brahmins, the priestly class; the ksatriyas, the government of India and warriors; the Vaisyas, the farmers merchants and businesspeople; and the Sundras, those who act as servants or laborers. Beneath these four groups is another group that must not be touched. They are known as the Untouchables and are so polluted that they cannot reach liberation. They are not to be bothered. A human's dharma is affected by which varna he or she falls into. It is a Brahmin's duty to be a vegetarian and to study the vedas, the ancient texts of Hinduism. Ksatriyas must remain noble to India and fight in wars for justice. Royalty is included in this level and members are expected to rule nobly or fight if needed. Vaisyas, specifically farmers, need to take care of and harvest crops. Killing anything, even plants, is polluting so farmers are especially important. They may harvest these crops and give them to the pure Brahmin to eat. The lowest varna, the Sudras, are expected to labor without complaint. A person is expected to do the job assigned to him or her. It is believed that is is far better to do poorly at a job assigned than to excel at one never given to the individual in question.

http://kish.in/agriculture_of_india/

In this sense, dharma still may seem like a complex concept since in the west, social classes tend to focus heavily upon wealth. Even in the west, there are specific tasks given to citizens. This can be considered dharma. For instance, as a citizen of the United States, I am expected to seek out an education for myself. As a child, I was placed in school. In order to please my parents and show that they raised me correctly, I fought hard with my material and attempted to learn everything a teacher presented to the class. It was easier as a child since the material was not quite that difficult to understand so I was placed in accelerated classes. At that time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and never received a poor grade. Then, we moved.

I did not fulfill my dharma when I entered high school. At this point in time, I experienced some personality types that I never witnessed before and had trouble interacting with strangers. One of my friend passed away at the end of my freshman year from bone cancer and this broke me. Suddenly, grades ceased to matter. This trend carried on into college. No longer did I care about looking good or living up to expectations. I pulled away from the world and focused primarily on my own grief. Though, on some instinctual level, I suppose that I understood that I was not living up to my dharma. I felt ashamed of myself and wanted nothing more than to leave school, leave the town that upset me, and cut myself off from civilization. This was an act of cowardice and selfishness. Finally, one year ago, I snapped myself out of my backwards cycle. In order to atone for my failure to complete my dharma, I chose to fight as hard and I could possibly imagine. I wanted to fulfill my dharma. I wanted to make my family proud. But most importantly, I wanted to work hard to show myself that, yes, I am truly capable of great things if I truly try. I can fulfill my dharma for my own self, my family and the friend that never had the opportunity to attend a college, let alone his final three years of high school.

http://www.mdc.edu/main/news/articles/2010/05/mdcstudents_win_ptk_awards_named_cocacol.asp

There are other instances in society where one must follow dharma. At eighteen years of age, a person is expected to vote in presidential elections. When one reaches the age of sixteen, in some households, it is dharma to seek out a job. Pet owners are expected to treat animals kindly. In some families, a child may be expected to take over a family business when he comes of age. In Judaism, a boy or girl may be expected to have a bar/bat mitzvah. Other religions have similar expectations. The list is long. Generally, we do not call expectations and ways of life dharma, but the principle is similar.

Dharma is a central component in The Ramayana, a famous myth from India, and affects the way in which characters act. Near the beginning of the story, Kaikeyi, blinded by artha (or, maya, the term I previously used), listened to her bitter maid and cashed in the boons offered to her for saving Dasaratha's life. The maid did not follow dharma because she chose to persuade Kaikeyi into demanding that Kaikeyi acted upon her boons. However, since Kaikeyi did fall for the poisonous words, she, too, is guilty of not following dharma. She demanded that her son, Bharata, should become the heir-apparent, not Rama, and in addition to this, she also told the king to banish Rama for fourteen years. Following dharma, the king, though heart-broken, agreed to her demands. Rama, believing in his father's choices and justice, another instance of dharma, leaves willingly. However, Bharata does not agree to becoming heir-apparent. He sees the error of his mother's way and, in order to protect his family dharma, he refuses to be crowned king. He is not the eldest son so to take that role would mean breaking tradition, dharma. 

Later, after Sita is kidnapped, Rama is the one who must save her. It may seem peculiar since Sita was discovered by Hanuman, who could fly, but the actions are all made according to dharma. Someone stealing Rama's wife was hurtful to his pride and he was dishonored. For another individual to save the stolen wife would dishonor him even further. In order to preserve dharma and regain honor, it is Rama who needed to rescue Sita. It took much more effort since the monkey people needed to build a bridge across the water, but as a result of their effort, all was well in the end and dharma was preserved.

http://vimaliswamy.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/leadership-the-ramayana-way/

Once Sita is rescued and everyone returns to the city, Rama shuns Sita and says that he cannot have her by his side. Sita followed her dharma by remaining loyal to him throughout her capture and imprisonment, but he does not know that and feels that he must shun her in order to preserve his own dharma. In Indian culture, taking a woman that had been defiled or dishonest was a dishonorable action. He needed to play his role in society and follow his role. In order to prove her innocence, Sita underwent a fire challenge. If she was innocent, the fire would not harm her. If not, she would be burned to a crisp. In the end, she survived the fire because she was carried out of the flames by the god of fire himself without a single burn upon her skin. She proved that she stayed true to her dharma. In the end, depending upon the tale, Rama accepted her.

Dharma shows itself in other tales as well. In Vampire Academy, Rose Hathaway bases her actions upon what she believes is best for her best friend, Lissa, a Moroi. She shows her dharma through her loyalty and need for her friend's safety. It is this dharma that compelled her to leave St. Vladimir's Academy, a sort of boarding school for Moroi and Dhampirs. Feeling that there is danger within the academy walls, Rose acts upon dharma and does the one thing that she was always taught to do in her classes--protect Moroi. In this society, it is a dhampir's dharma to protect the Moroi from the evil Strigoi. During this time, the Moroi have magic, but dharma tells them not to fight. They must depend on the Dhampirs to protect them from harm. Dhampirs need the Moroi in order to increase their numbers since Dhampirs cannot breed with one another. In this sense, the hierarchy in Vampire Academy also represents a sort of caste system similar to the one discussed in Hinduism. One level cannot exist without the other. Later, alchemists are thrown into the mixture and they also have a special place within this system.

http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Academy-Graphic-Leigh-Dragoon/dp/1595144293

Dharma is all around us. It appears in our books, our film, and our daily life. Some people choose to live by dharma while others choose to live life to the fullest while pushing limits. It is a fascinating concept.

Assignment - A Hero's Journey

Harry Dresden

Chicago's Wizard

"Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.

Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.

No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or

Other Entertainment."

http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/2011/07/nina-talks-dresden.html

If one were to search through the Chicago phonebook and slowly flip through the businesses beginning with 'W,' he or she would discover an advertisement for the service of the only operating wizard detective in the city. At least, that would be true in the fictional world within The Dresden Files, a series created by Jim Butcher. This small quote marks the back of the first book, Storm Front, and offers readers a taste of the sense of humor that is found within the story. Harry Dresden, Wizard P.I., is quite a character from page one of the book. He shows weakness, intelligence, talent, and has a knack for always offering some sarcastic remark to his enemies. Now, his derision is not likely to lead him to forming many lasting friendships, but even so, he shows the characteristics of a hero according to Joseph Campbell's idea of the monomyth.

The series begins with Harry lamenting the fact that business has not brought in much money lately--really, not many people believe in wizards in this day and age and many are wary to offer this seemingly insane man any business--but he seems content enough with his position as a private investigator. A majority of his income comes from a special branch of the Chicago Police Department, the Special Investigations (S.I.), because law enforcement would rather have all crimes tidied up and explained through mundane reasoning. It is special investigations' job to take on the more difficult and bizarre cases in order to come to reasonable conclusions. Karrin Murphy, the head of S.I., has known Harry for years and has come face to face with the supernatural, magical world so she is more open minded than the rest. For this reason, more often than not, she will hire Harry whenever a crime seems to have an unexplainable, paranormal origin.

http://www.comicvine.com/karrin-murphy/29-59478/

This is where the tale truly begins and it also marks step one in the first stage of a protagonist's journey--Departure. Karrin Murphy contacts Harry Dresden about a double murder. It is a grisly scene in a bedroom. A couple, still intwined in an act of love making, are dead. Blood is splattered upon the walls and the floor, but it is no mystery where the crimson liquid came from, for the man and woman both share one very gruesome feature--their chests have a gaping hole in the center where once, surely, a heart beat with life. Harry feels nauseated, but does not pass up the chance to make a joke about sex, much to Murphy's dismay ("Well? Are we dealing with magic here, or aren't we?" "Either that or it was really incredible sex), and leaves the room. He understands that the only way for someone to do this much damage to a person in this particular way, some very dark magic had to have been involved. It disgusts him because magic represents life, not death. To use it to kill another person is a perversion of the art. It is also illegal in the magical community and breaks the first Law of Magic. He refuses to help Murphy further, in turn, refusing a call to adventure.

After leaving the scene, he meets another individual, Johnny Marcone. Marcone is the most well known criminal in the city, but his mafia-esque crimes, ironically, help protect the city by lowering the crime rate of other individuals. The man who was murdered was one of Marcone's so he wants to discover the murderer and wishes to join forces with Dresden. Dresden, however, just wants to make it home before everything begins to spin out of control. Again, he refuses to do much.

http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=23469

Head reeling, he begins to investigate one of his own missing person cases. He visits a cabin where a woman's husband owns and uses pizza and a pizza to call up a fairy named Toot. This action is frowned upon because using a creature's true name and capturing it, even if it is a fairy, is considered darker magic depending on the severity of it. Once the fairy leaves, he is soon visited by a character named Morgan, a powerful figure on the White Council of Wizards. 

"Have you ever been approached by a grim-looking man, carrying a naked sword with a blade about ten miles long in his hand, in the middle of the night, beneath the stars on the shores of Lake Michigan? If you have, seek professional help. If you have not, then believe me, it can scare the bajeezes out of you." This marks the entrance of Morgan and it is not until this moment that he agrees to finally become involved in the mystery of the murder Karrin Murphy showed him. He really has no choice in the matter because Morgan holds a grudge against him for the one time that he broke the first law when he was a child. He killed another in self-defense, but Morgan does not completely believe him and tries to blame him for the recent murders. Grudgingly, Harry chooses to investigate the murders and the dark magic 

At home, he converses with a spirit named Bob who lives within a skull on a shelf in the basement lab of Harry's apartment. He explains what recently happened. During the course of the story, Harry returns to Bob a few times for advice and knowledge and Bob is more than willing to help him… for a price. It seems that the knowledgable spirit is a perverted entity and wishes to be paid with either permission to leave the skull (most likely so he could spy on women) or romance novels. 

Since he investigates on his own, Murphy begins to act like a cop and places Harry on her list of suspects. He refuses to involve her in his investigation because he knows that it is dangerous. This makes him alienated. No one is left to believe him or help. He is an outcast and the White Council fears that he may go rogue. Karrin thinks that he is a criminal. His cat, Mister, could not care less. Only Susan, a woman he knows, seems to show some interest in him, but she is a hungry journalist looking for a story.

These many events follow the guidelines of a character's journey. Harry Dresden is called to his adventure by Murphy, Marcone, and even Morgan. He refuses the call because he is afraid that dark magic will turn the White Council's attention toward him. He receives supernatural aid from Bob. Rather than relaxing in his home or his office, he is forced to cross the threshold and now investigate for the police, his client, and himself. Due to his actions, it may be said that he finds himself in the "belly of the whale" because he is truly alone on his journey.

http://www.stellarfour.com/2011/07/urban-fantasy-nerd-crush-harry-dresden.html

The second stage of a hero's journey is "Initiation." Fearful of spoiling too much of the plot, I shall summarize some of these points by offering main ideas without going as far in depth as I previously had when explaining the departure stage. During his journey, Harry Dresden must face many challenges. He is attacked by demons, arrested by the police, and must face off giant scorpions. During this time, he is also pursued by Morgan, who is still determined to frame him for these murders so that he may execute him for his crimes.

Near the beginning of his journey, Harry meets with a vampiress, a beautiful, but twisted woman with an ugly secret. She may wear the guise of a goddess, but beneath her human resides her true self--a flabby, leathery, bat-like creature. He visits her for information since she has many girls who act as prostitutes (it would seem that the woman who was murdered was not the murdered man's innocent lover). The meeting ends badly and he must eventually flee. 

Another woman remains in Harry's life, acting as a temptation. Susan Rodriguez is a beautiful, witty woman. She flirts with him in order to get information. It seems that at this point in time, there may be some sparks of romance between both characters, but it is difficult to tell from the few interactions that they have with one another. It seems as if Susan constantly fishes for a story about magic to publish. Not even a demon attack can stop her curiosity.

Morgan constantly pursues Harry, but he does have a gentler side. He acts based upon his moral code. Murder is wrong, murder by magic is worse, and to allow a wizard who broke the First Law of Magic to live is unforgivable. There are instances when he seems to be a father figure. He is not evil, but he is an obstacle. In the end, he shows his true colors. Whether he is good or bad, I shall not say.

http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/the-singing-mercenaries/adventure-log

As expected, Harry solves the mystery and is able to clear his name, at least this time. I feel that this is not much of a spoiler since it is planned for this series to have twenty-three books, thirteen of which are currently released. 

In the end of his first journey, simply called the "Return," Harry, battered and bruised, returns to his life. He is more than happy to have cleared his name and wishes to return to business (if only it were more booming…). Before he is able to reach this state, he experiences many dangers. If not for an unexpected character, he may not have survived. There is one fear within him, the fear of dark magic. He states that he can feel its tug and knows that he has the potential for it, seeing as how he killed one person in the past. The adventure has affected him and this sensation will carry Harry through the next several books.

I believe that I listed the events that happened in the book in chronological order, but if I accidentally switched two events around, I apologize. I read the first twelve books in less than a month around half a year ago so many of the plot lines run together in my head. Storm Front has its moments, but the series truly begins to pick up its pace in book three, Grave Peril, and then after book nine, the plot grows even more amazing. Jim Butcher grows as a writer through his series and Harry has many adventures. Now that I think about it, all of the books have the traits that Joseph Campbell talks about in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Some elements grow more obvious, such as a goddess character (Mab, the fairy queen, is not introduced until book four). The last book, Ghost Story, left off on a cliffhanger so I eagerly await the release of the next book, Cold Days. Sadly, however, at this time the release date is unknown. Harry's next adventure may be on hold for another year yet.

http://geekgirlsmash.tumblr.com/post/6154707180/thegeek531-oneeyedjuliet-my-summer-readings

For more information on The Dresden Files: Jim Butcher's Website

Assignment - A Tale from Aphrodite's Point of View

Hephaestus, Ares, and Aphrodite

Aphrodite Speaks

https://www.art-prints-on-demand.com/a/balen-hendrik-van-the-eld/hephaestus-and-aphrodite.html

Oh, how handsome he looks, cheeks flushed with desire, breath passing through reddened lips. His eyes portray his lust, sparkling in the warm light. The whisper of his breath caresses my cheek as he murmurs gentle words. Tonight, he wishes to woo me. I watch him for a moment, words dancing upon the tip of my tongue, but I remain silent. Compared to Hephaestus, well, it would be a lie to allude at any existing comparisons between the two. Where my husband is lame and repulsive, Ares is young, beautiful, and romantic. His hands are soft, yet tough, unlike Hephaestus' fingers that are only horribly calloused from his labors.

The words that soon reach my ears pull me away from my thoughts and my lips quirk as I breathe in Ares' scent. "Sweetheart, off we go to snuggle down in the blankets," he murmurs, "Your husband? By now, he must be in Lemnos, amusing himself with the Sintian women, with voices like crows." I laugh and shake my head as my fingers brush against his offered hand. The women in Lemnos will find not one redeeming quality in my husband and even if one lady somehow finds him attractive, not much will happen. It is a shame Hephaestus is so enthralled with me. He does not understand love as I do.

http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/wiggintonaphrodite/aphrodite.html

Ares leads me to my bed, his fingers clenching my palm in possession. He need not worry, for tonight, I am his until my husband returns from his travels. I dearly hope that the man will find belonging in Lemnos and refuse to return for many more nights, but I know of his dedication to me. If only Ares were as passionate and found me before I was betrothed to the lame god. I would not mind being committed to him. He is a fierce warrior and a worthy lover. Yes, if only Hephaestus found a woman in Lemnos to take his hand…

Ares releases me, climbs into bed, lays on his back, and holds an arm out to beckon me forward. A romp with him would be amusing if the look on his face is any indication. Smiling, I take his hand and drift forward, bringing my body close to his. He relinquishes my hand to rake his fingers through my long, golden hair. Already, his fingers are affecting me in a way any part of Hephaestus' body never could. I close my eyes and snuggle with him, one of my legs draping over his groin. My lips find his chest and press a kiss upon his hard muscles. All is perfect until I hear a sound.

I try to throw my head back, but cannot move. Frantically, I glance around the room, trying to comprehend my immobility. It takes a moment, but during one optical sweep of the room, I see threads as fine as a spider's web ensnaring my lover and myself, but I cannot be positive. No, I must not have imagined it. A trap! Who would dare to take me prisoner within my own bed? Ares stiffens so I attempt to look into his eyes, but cannot move my head enough to see his face. He is angry. Or upset. Curse this wretched net! This is Hephaestus' handiwork!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vulcan_Coustou_Louvre_MR1814.jpg

As if summoned by my thought alone, I hear the voice of the person I least wish to see and clench my teeth behind my closed lips. He planned this. He knew. He knew! If he questioned my motives, he should have held voiced his thoughts to me alone. It would not have done him any good, but speaking is more acceptable than this insult. And he wonders why I have chosen Ares over him. The God of war and battle would never do something so underhanded and infuriating. Hephaestus is lame and will never be anything ore than an embarrassment with a funny gait.

Murmurs fill the room. Of course. Hephaestus would not shout of his victory if he were alone (though, he is rather peculiar). My cheeks grow heated with embarrassment and anger. What is it that this insolent man seeks? Approval? Retribution? Time in bed with me? I will not grant him anything of the sort.

http://thanasis.com/mfeb99.htm

I can decipher some of the voices. Only the masculine gods are present. It makes sense. Gawking at a nude woman in the midst of a romantic interlude would be below the women. So this is what Hephaestus yearns for--pity or other nonsense. I wrinkle my nose and listen, wary of the outcome. Both Hermes and Apollo seem to approve of my affair and speak of Ares' position in jest. Hermes seems to wish that he were as lucky as Ares is and I cannot help but feel a swell of pride at the words. Given the way my lover still has not yet unclenched his muscles of yet spoken, it is evident he does not feel the same. My initial flash of pride is chased away by a flare of anger. How dare he? How dare Hephaestus interfere?

My emotions race, anger, embarrassment, and sorrow each competing for dominance. Finally, we are released from the trap after interference from Poseidon. Ares diverts his gaze and pushed me away as I sit. Neither of us speak as we move in silence. He leaves after that, fleeing from this scene, I would assume. I stand up straight, hold my head high, and exit the room. My shrine in Cyprian Paphos beckons me. There, I may relax and cleanse myself with ambrosial oil while I attempt to forget that unworthy husband of mine.

Who Am I?

Who Am I? 

From the point of view of a Goddess

Ah, look at them down there, pining over one another. Neither one is strong enough to admit what ails them so. With just one push, the relationship would form. Just one. It is tempting, so tempting, but they are wrong for one another. That maiden over there would be better. Yes, those two will do. Now, I must--Ah.

There he is, the king who once stole my heart, now forever lame from a lightning bold. Even in his state, he is still more worthy than that petulant fool of a husband. He knew how to treat a woman. I wish I could release myself from this bind, but the other gods will hear nothing of it. Even after that humiliating experience where I was ensnared in a trap within my own bed. He was angry that I brought another companion to bed? What did he expect? This male was far better company and love should be allowed to flow freely. It should not be held hostage by some… fool.

Enough of that. There are mortals to tend to. Hmm. It might be fun to see what that woman will do if she falls for that man. Oh, what will her sister think? There is but one way to find out. Tonight will not be an empty one.

Assignment 1 - Narcissus and Echo

Narcissus and Echo

Love is an emotion most people experience at least once in a lifetime. Some, those who are still blissful and in the throes of romance, will claim that it is a magical sensation. Others, having experienced the sharp stab of heartbreak will claim that directing intense feelings toward another individual is a curse, something the wise would happily avoid. The object of lust makes all the difference when a person finds him or herself yearning for a connection with another individual. For, is it not true that happiness is often found when feelings are requited? Rejection brings devastation and mental trauma as powerful as physical pain. Even the Greeks touched upon the consequences of love in mythology. One well known tale that comes to mind is that of Narcissus and Echo.

When she first appeared in myth, Echo had a gift for words and used her voice as if it were a weapon to save her fellow nymphs from Hera's wrath. Echo deliberately kept the goddess away from the nymphs who frolicked with her husband, Zeus, by providing a distraction in the form of an entertaining story, for she loved the sound of her own voice and reveled in the attention she received. If not for her intervention, the goddess would have punished the guilty women who dared lay with her husband. Irritated and still fuming with jealousy, Hera punished Echo by affecting her speech. No longer would a torrent of words flow freely from the girl's mouth. She was condemned to a life of vocal repetition and only allowed to speak if she wished to echo the words of another.

http://www.myemospace.com/Broken-heart-16.html

Narcissus, birthed by the forced union between Cephisus and Liriope, was blessed with good looks from the moment he took his first breath. His mother contacted a seer and inquired about his life, wondering if he would grow quite old in his lifetime. She received the obscure answer, "Narcissus will live to a ripe, old age, provided he never knows himself." Ignoring the warning, he lived life normally enough, ensnaring the hearts of men, women, and nymphs with his appearance and charm, only to carelessly crush the spirits of anyone who dared to pursue him. He had great pride in his appearance and over the years of constant love and attention, he grew haughty.

Echo, only able to repeat words she first heard by this point, caught a glimpse of Narcissus and immediately felt her heart flutter for him. Unable to say the first word, she crept closer, waiting for an opportunity to converse with the beautiful male. Narcissus, feeling alone after leaving his companions, offered a question to the air, "Is anyone here?" Echo felt a jolt of excitement rush through her body and repeated the last word. The conversation continued for a few sentences, Narcissus beckoning for the woman to come nearer as she repeated words. She took his words as an invitation to join him, but before she reached him, he cruelly turned away and fled. Heartbroken, Echo hid herself away in a cave. Eventually, her body drifted away, leaving just the echo of her voice.

Eventually, Narcissus experienced a punishment for his cruel deeds, but not until he broke one heart too many. Ameinius, unable to bear his heartache, killed himself after he received a sword from the cruel Narcissus and pleaded to the gods to punish the man who hurt him so badly. Artemis, hearing the plea, made sure to answer the prayer by giving Narcissus a curse. Instead of breaking hearts, Narcissus would grow to learn exactly how his poor suitors felt.

http://thanasis.com/echo.htm

One day, Narcissus felt exhausted after traveling and rested next to a spring. His tired eyes turned toward the water and there, floating upon the surface, was the most handsome sight he ever saw. His heart palpitated in his chest, beating in exuberance. It was that moment that he fell in love with his own reflection. He yearned to touch those exquisite features gazing back at him, but each time the pads of his fingers brushed against the water's surface, the image flickered and grew distorted. He would cry out and wait for the water to settle before again locking eyes with himself. After days of torment, he began to grow weak. Unable to tear himself away from the sight of his own face, he failed to feed himself. Soon, he fell victim to madness. In the end, he died before his reflection. Depending on the version of the story, he either drowned himself or sent a blade through his own chest. Dying was more appealing than a love that could never be requited. Echo, mourning her loss, though she still had not forgiven him, cried out the last words he ever spoke, "Alas, alas." A flower sharing the name of the dead man grew in the space he once occupied.

http://livingwithplants.blogspot.com/2009/02/narcissus.html

The cautionary tale of Narcissus and Echo helps explain the origination of echoes in the world, but also serves as a teaching device. Narcissus, a man guilty of hubris in terms of his good looks, is punished for his heartless actions toward others. He was handsome, yes, but his life revolved around his appearance and the way he could affect everyone around him by simply staying within their presence. The story reaffirms the old saying that "beauty is only skin deep." Narcissus may have been a beautiful being, but beneath his skin, his heart and soul were dark and twisted. He happily hurt others in order to make himself feel even better.

Narcissus' story is well known and in the psychological community, doctors have used his name to describe a sort of personality disorder that revolves around and obsession with one's own appearance. A person diagnosed with the disorder will often believe that he or she is better than everyone else. Such people are often arrogant, opinionated, and impulsive, but will often first appear as charming individuals. More often than not, these people attract positive attention from peers, but will often find friends and admirers leaving once the personality beneath the exterior beauty is revealed. To a narcissist, other people are exploitable and exist only to aid him or her with his or her needs. Signs of narcissism are often apparent at a young age, once again relating to Narcissus, who was loved from the moment he was born.

However, unlike Narcissus, most people diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder normally did not grow up in environments filled with love. A child living in a family with little affection will turn his or her attention inwards as a coping mechanism. Eventually, after the child erects a barrier to keep the remainder of the world away, he or she begins to associate warm feelings with vulnerability. It is better to believe that he or she is the best person around than to fall victim to the pain often connected toward caring about another person.

I decided to share and review the myth of Narcissus and Echo because narcissism is one of my favorite personality disorders, though I suppose that there is a better way to phrase my interest in the subject. Disorders may be serious, but psychology is an interesting subject, especially since humans do not yet have all the answers about the brain. As I writer, I want to create believable characters even in my genre of fantasy/science fiction, and to help me with this goal, I purchased a book called The Writer's Guide to Psychology. I do take the time to research any disorder or personality trend further once I decide on what I wish to work with, but this book is helpful with providing basic information on many psychological terms. 

Sam, one of the characters I created four years ago, is a narcissist down to his core. He is arrogant, self-centered, and impulsive. Sometimes, when talking to friends, I need to explain exactly how idiotic this boy can be since he cares little about the world around him. If asked what twelve squared is, he will yell that it is a stupid question and he cannot fully show the answer without a pen and paper so that he may write twelve with a square drawn after it. Sam plays guitar in a band so he is often admired by those who observe his actions, but he refuses to allow anyone close enough, for he fears making himself vulnerable to feeling. His personality pulls some components from the narcissistic personality disorder and mixes it with other points from Narcissus' story.

Sam Morel drawn by a friend

The myth of Narcissus and Echo also teaches a reader or listener to be wary of concealing the truth and spinning dishonest tales. If Echo did not attempt to take advantage of Hera's interest, she would never would have lost her freedom of speech. During the time that the myth was created, women did not have as many rights as men did and were not seen as citizens where their voices may have mattered. The tale seems to have a hidden meaning, one that attempts to show that a woman should not speak when it is unwarranted.

Many lessons may be found within Greek myths and today, we may still learn from them. Narcissus and Echo is a personal favorite of mine and I love how I can use concepts from the tale in my own writing. 

Before using the drawing that my friend did for me, I told her that I would link to a site where she posts her art so here it is: Her DeviantArt Page

Assignment - An Answered Question

The First Assignment

The Question: What is your favorite area of mythology? For example, do you like Roman gods or Norse Valkyries? And why?

With the abundance of legends and stories available from different cultures around the world, it may be difficult to choose a favorite branch of mythology. Before this class, I never took the time to research many tales on my own, but English classes in high school often provided units that focused upon some Greek myths. At an early age, I found myself falling for the transcendent tales of lore and wished to someday incorporate stories such as these into my own writing. Since I never learned about Norse Valkyries or myths from many other cultures, it seems that I must give this question a biased answer. For that reason, I will state that I prefer Greek gods and stories over any other deities or myths.

Deciding on a particular favorite myth is not an easy task, but after pondering for a while, I have settled upon the conclusion that I prefer tales that are easily linked to psychology. The tale of Narcissus is a story that I often find myself referring to, for one of the usual characters in one of my stories suffers from an insatiable desire to peer at his image in any reflective surface he comes across. By studying both psychology and the Greek myth of Narcissus, I feel that I can successfully interpret the narcissistic personality disorder. There is much more to my character's personality, but I will not bore anyone with the details here. Other complexes in psychology have been named after characters in Greek myths. The son of Aphrodite, Phobos, lent his name to the term 'phobia,' which is defined as an irrational or severe fear of something. Even poor Oedipus, who unwittingly wed his mother, offers his name to a complex well known in the psychological community--the Oedipus complex.

Since I am unsure of even the most basic of Norse mythology, I cannot say that I do not like it more than Greek mythology, but with Greek mythology's connections to present-day psychology, I can honestly say that I do, indeed, love myths from the Greeks. If I believed that I could comprehend and stomach the classes needed in order to become a psychologist, I would have chosen psychology as a major instead of English. Even then, it would be likely that I would take a class on mythology and fairy tales in order to better understand the human condition. For now, I hope to learn more about mythology and the origination of certain terms in psychology. As our mythology textbook has already mentioned, there is truth within these myths about civilizations and beliefs. Greek mythology may be my favorite, but I have much more to learn. I know that the journey will be an exciting one.

The Beginning

It is my opinion that it is easier for one to express him or herself through writing than through oral speech. Through the use of text, we may share past experiences, knowledge, and thought processes. There is a simplicity in typing, though the material shared may be complex in nature. Originally, the assignment given in class was to create a blog and post answers to a question provided within the syllabus. However, that was merely the seed planted, a necessary beginning for blossoming creativity.

I hope that my thoughts provided within this blog are both entertaining and informative. If I come across anything interesting that I deem fascinating, I will post a new entry about the topic. Keep in mind, if you have somehow stumbled upon this blog through a web search (or, if you are one of my nosy friends, heh), that these entries will coincide with a class on mythology and fairy tales offered at the community college that I attend. 

There really isn't a creative reason behind the name of this blog. Since this is a class about mythology, I wanted to incorporate the term "mythical" in some way. By itself, the word lacked something so I tacked on "musings" since this is a place for my thoughts. Some of the posts here may not exactly be 'deep thoughts,' but I thought that the blog's name was suitable enough. The first entry on here will be my assignment for class. Thank you for stopping by!