When I fall asleep I often imagine myself in the arms of Morpheus, the god of sleep; and then I am joined by Orpheus, the god of dreams. In this sense the Greek gods are personifications of aspects of one’s psyche. Here it is important to remember the role of the god Hermes, who stands at the crossroads and is the messenger of the Gods. When we make the sign of the cross, therefore, we are invoking Hermes to bring us such a message.
Month: January 2024
Crossing
Whenever I sit to meditate I make the sign of the cross, not in the name of the Trinity, but as a symbol of the integration of the opposites within myself. At the end of the meditation I make the sign of the cross: on my forehead that my thoughts may be true; on my lips that my words may be true; on my heart that the flame within may burn steadily; and finally on the area of my sexuality. This last is important and is so often left out of the spiritual journey, yet it is a very powerful energy and needs harnessing. Even when, with advanced years, there is no sexual activity or desire, nonetheless it remains psychologically an essential part of one’s being.