Odyssey - Greek mythology - Interpretation

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THE RETURN OF ODYSSEUS (ULYSSES) : THE ODYSSEY

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The manuscripts of the Odyssey date from the Middle Ages and we know little about the
transmission of texts since Homeric times, except that there was most likely a very long
period of oral transmission.

However, to the extent that these texts reflect experiences of spiritual progression on which
all great mystics agree, regardless of their religious or cultural affiliation, we may consider
them valid from the point we are interested in as long as the experiences overlap. Studies on
the origin of the text and controversies about the author (or authors) are therefore foreign to
us. Similarly, we will leave aside discussions about the last chapter of the Odyssey, “the
Second Nekuia”, which some linguists believe has been added to the original text.

(The interpretation of the Odyssey has been done with French translations of the Greek text
and the present document is only its translation from French into English. The following
paragraph therefore only applies to the original French interpretation.

As for the Iliad, multiple translations were used, mainly the one of Médéric Dufour and
Jeanne Raison (Garnier-Flammarion) as well as that of Victor Bérard (Les Belles Lettres),
selecting in each of them what seemed to be the more accurate to us. On rare occasions, we
used our own translation when the ones we had did not correspond in any way to the
spiritual experience evoked.)

We will approach the study according to the progression on the spiritual path and not
according to the structure of the text which follows rules of dramaturgy. However, whenever
this is not incompatible, we will keep the division into Books, as we did for the Iliad.

Although the Odyssey describes a very advanced phase of yoga, this poem can probably be
just as useful to everyone, no matter how far s/he is on the path. We have said that many
myths should be seen as processes and not as steps to be taken once and for all, even if
they relate to the final phase of a particular process.

For example, this is the case with the myth of Perseus, which symbolizes victory over fear
and which, according to the ancients, was taking place before the labours of Heracles. Of
course, fear cannot be overcome at once. The seeker has to overcome it first in the mind,
then in the vital and finally in the depth of his body. It is this final step that is described when

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the seeker has to learn from the daughters of Phorcys, the three Graeae, symbols of first
elements of memories and consciousness at the origin of life. But the tools given by the
Nymphs and Hermes, that is, withdrawal or non-identification, quiet mind, change of habits,
etc. can be useful to all.

This is also the case with illusion and the many obstacles that stand in the way, both
guardians and helpers of evolution.

Crossing the boundaries of each of the planes leads the seeker to obstacles of a similar
nature in their form and yet very different in their intensity, hence an apparent identity of
processes and experiences. This is why reading the Mother’s Agenda seems both
understandable to the seeker who has already had similar experiences in the mind, and
totally incomprehensible because Mother lives and describes them at the level of the body.

Similarly, the Odyssey can be seen as a spiralling process that the seeker will undergo on
many levels. Thus, the mental trials will be met later at the vital level and finally in the body.

This is why Apollonius of Rhodes has taken up, as we have seen, many of the episodes of
the Odyssey, reducing their intensity, because the quest for the Golden Fleece is at the
beginning of the path. Thus, Jason only passed by at a reasonable distance from Charybdis
and Scylla while Odysseus (Ulysses) almost lost his life there.

Finally, we must not forget that if life and its difficulties are the best possible masters, many
trials must be overcome internally without the need for external confrontation. Diving into the
depths means being able to face the “shadow” without any need for externalization.

Next : Reminder of the Lineages of Odysseus (Ulysses) and Penelope >>

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