Several years ago, I began looking for a myth that I could focus on as part of my Trance work for the Initiate Program and Clergy Training Program requirements.  I read and explored many different myths along the way, but when I re-read the Odyssey I knew it was the journey that I wanted to undertake. 

This journey was created to be done once per week (or less often if breaks are needed) and last at least six months.  It was a journey of self exploration, honesty, self-awareness, and healing.  The Odyssey gave me the opportunity to get to know myself on a deeper level, and to work through some internal struggles that I had. 

I finished working through this myth last summer, but I have been hesitant to share what I have created until now, almost nine months later.  This path was incredibly personal for me, and sharing it with the world gives people the opportunity to critique and challenge it in a way that could be hurtful.  However,  I have gained so much from the work that I did with this myth that I thought maybe it could be useful for others who are looking for a way to learn more about themselves, and improve who they are. 

If you are someone who chooses to try to undertake this journey, I highly recommend you re-read the Odyssey before beginning.  While I give highlights of the tale in each entry to tie the work into the myth, I don't go into extreme detail and I feel those details may be important both for visualization and to help you connect more deeply with the work you are doing.

For me, this was not easy work to do.  In fact, I started and restarted this journey more than once before I was able to face my internal "unwanted guests" and have a positive outcome.  It was at times painful and challenging, but it was also deeply healing and empowering.  If you choose to follow this path, hope you enjoy the progress as much as I have.  I'd love to hear your experiences. 

If you have questions about this working, please don't hesitate to ask.  I'm happy to help in any way I can.  Thank you all.

Blessings,

Rev. Amber

The Odyssey begins with the story of Athena asking for and gaining permission to journey from Olympus to the mortal realm in order to meet with the young Telemachus, first born son of Odysseus. Odysseus had been missing for many years and his family was eager to have him home. Suitors were pressuring his mother to choose a new husband, and Telemachus knew he needed to find his father in order to expel the unwanted suitors from their home.

Working Method: Guided Meditations

Athena traveled from Olympus to meet with Telemachus, first born son of Odysseus, to encourage his journey to find his father and expel the unwanted suitors from his home.  Today, we’ll travel outside the fire to meet with her ourselves to begin this journey.

Take a seat in front of your flame, and relax your body.  Gaze into the fire. See the flames dance and move. Watch the light dance on your skin.  Now close your eyes. Breath in...and out. Smell the smoke in the air, dancing around you.  Breathe in...and out. Feel the heat on your skin, warming and comforting. Breathe in...and out.  Hear the crackle and snap as the flame grows. Breathe in...and out. See the flames, brilliant and exciting.  

Looking around, you see the large fire in front of you, surrounded by shadows. In the darkness outside the fire light, the figure of a woman approaches the fire, quiet and graceful. From the shadows, you see glints of light, like golden armor reflecting the flames.  She grows nearer and you can make out a powerful bronze spear in her hand. As she grows closer, her shape begins to shift and swirl. As she steps into the light of the fire, you see before you a robed figure, still holding the bronze spear, the hint of a smile on her face.  Approach the figure and listen to the words she has to share with you.

<Pause>

As your conversation ends, the space around the fire begins to brighten.  You see many different paths leading away from the fire in many different directions.  See these paths and know you have many choices to make as we move forward. Breathe in...and out.  Feel your body resettle into this space. Breath in...and out. Move and stretch, feeling your body firmly connected to the ground below you.  Breathe in...and out. And now, open your eyes.

Telemachus knew he had to meet with the city council before he could leave Ithaca and begin his journey to try to find his father. He knew he had the guidance and support of Athena on his journey as he approached the council for approval.

Working Method:  Guided Meditation

Lay back and take several deep breaths.  Breath in...and out. And again breath in...and out.  Dawn comes, showing rosy fingers through the mist. You find yourself awake and sitting in front of a new path, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin.  Feel it energize you and shine light into the darkest corners of your being. Follow this path into a distant town. As you enter the sleepy village, you’ll see a circle of people sitting at the center.  Approach this Council, and take a seat amongst the people there.

Listen to their voices for there has been no council held for many years, but now, at your request, the Council has once again been summoned.  As the voices begin to quiet, take a deep breath, and introduce yourself to the council. Explain to them your plight, the journey that lead you hear, and the journey you wish to take.  

<Pause>

With the blessing of this council, we now call upon Athena, and pray for her to aid us on this journey.  Mighty Athena, glorious goddess of heroes, you who are blessed with wisdom and strategy, I ask that you aid us in this journey.  Keep us safe and grant me the ability to learn what I need to know to make this voyage and return home.

You see Athena as she approaches the council, and takes you by the hand, guiding you to select a path to move forward.

<Pause>

Walking with Athena, you walk again along the trail away from the Council, this time headed toward the sea. Feel the cool breeze on your skin and the salty mist of the water.   In the water you see a huge ship. Climb aboard this ship, and take a seat next to Athena, who has already boarded and is waiting. You feel a deep push from the shore, and the ship is cast off.  With full sails, the ship sails west into the dark sea as the sailors around you drink and toast to the gods.

<Pause>

Again we’re reminded that this is only the beginning of this journey upon which there is so much to learn.  But for now, we will leave this experience and return to the mundane. Breath in...and out. Feel your body resettle into this space.  Breath in...and out. Move and stretch, feeling your body firmly connected to the ground below you. Breathe in...and out. And now, open your eyes

After traveling across the sea, Telemachus landed on the shores of Pylos.  It was there that the search for Odysseus began. As he left the ship, Telemachus found the villagers standing on the shore, burning the thigh bones of large black bulls as gifts to Poseidon, the “blue crested god who shakes Earth.” As they made these sacrifices, they danced and sang, feasting next to the crashing waves.  There were nine guilds with five hundred men standing upon the shore, and nine bulls were offered for each guild.

Working Method: Focused Offerings

Needed offerings:

Water

Barley

Fish

Salt

Mint

Incense

Horse Cookie

Bull Cookie

Personal offering

For this working, we’ll make nine offerings of our own to Poseidon and ask for his guidance on this journey. Use your preferred method to enter light trance before beginning this work. You can perform this as the working section of a Core Order of Ritual, or on its own.

Begin by saying ‘Poseidon, I chose these gifts for you, good gifts from my heart, for any gift your heart bids to offer, will lead to good in return.’

‘I give to you this water, which brings the gift of life to the land, plants, and animals.’

Offer water

‘I give to you this barley, purifying grain of Kykeon, filled with growth and sustenance.’

Offer barley

‘I offer you this fish, creature of your realm, which bring us nourishment and joy.’

Offer fish

‘I give you this salt, coarse ground mineral from the earth, and coursing through your waters.’

Offer salt

‘I offer you mint, cool green leaves that refresh like the waters of your realm”

Offer mint leaves

‘A gift of incense for you, burning high. Although your realms are in the waters, we honor the chair you hold on Olympus as well.

Offer incense

‘I offer you this gift of a horse, gift you gave to man, now returned to you.”

Offer horse cookie

‘And finally, as they offered to you in Pylos, so do I offer to you today this bull of highest quality. May its shape please and sustain you.’

Offer bull cookie

Here you will make one final, personal offering of your choice.

Once all offerings have been made, speak or write out the journey that has brought you here, and the path you hope to take in the future.  

Take several more deep breaths and allow your trance to deepen.   Listen for the guidance of Poseidon.

Deep in the valley of Lace, Telemachos found himself at the gate of King Menelaos during a marriage celebration.  The entire city was celebrating, and music filled the air. As Telemachos entered the city, he could feel the drums beating in his core.  

Working Method:  Overnight Vigil

This is a very straight forward trance work. Just as Telemachos could hear and feel the drums beating in the celebration around him, we will also be focusing our work on drumming. Simply pick up your drum, or turn on your preferred drumming track, and see where the music takes you.

Calypso was a goddess nymph who lived on the mythical island of Ogygia. Odysseus found himself trapped upon her island, and Hermes was sent to convince her to let Odysseus go free.

Working Method:  Guided Meditation

Calypso was a goddess nymph who lived on the mythical island of Ogygia.  She was a daughter of the Titan Atlas and is known as a concealer, seductress, and rescuer combined.  She invited men and Gods alike to join her at her hearth. Odysseus found himself upon the island of Calypso, and was trapped there.  

Athena, ever present friend to heroes, called to Zeus to ask him of Odysseus’s captivity.  Athena, Zeus’s favorite daughter, convinced him to send Hermes to talk to Calypso and set Odysseus free.

Pull on your shoes, as Hermes did before he took flight from Olympus.

Hermes, swift as the breath of the winds travels to the Island of Calypso, he passes through towering aspens and alders, and sweet smelling Cyprus to finds her in a cave with a fire blazing in the hearth.  

Calypso asks Hermes, what brings him there, and invites him to sit by her fire.  

Take a seat in front of your flame, and relax your body.  Gaze into the fire. See the flames dance and move. Watch the light dance on your skin.  Now close your eyes. Breath in...and out. Smell the smoke in the air, dancing around you.  Breathe in...and out. Feel the heat on your skin, warming and comforting. Breathe in...and out.  Hear the crackle and snap as the flame grows. Breathe in...and out. See the flames, brilliant and exciting.  Listen to the voice in front of you as Calypso speaks to you of your journey.

After meeting with Hermes, Calypso knew she had to talk with Odysseus.  She goes to him and finds him sitting upon the shore, crying. She calls to him, “Odysseus, man of my heart, whom I love so, while I long to keep you here, I will set you free.  Together we will build a raft. I will give you food and drink, and you can venture home.” Odysseus tells her he won’t embark without an oath that she won’t work mischief against him. Calypso swears on the river Styx that she will care for Odysseus and not challenge him through further mischief.  However. She also asks him why he wants to leave. Odysseus responds, “I long for the day of my homecoming, and if some gods wreck me again I will endure it for I have a patient mind. I have suffered many troubles and hardships.” With that, Odysseus begins the work of building a raft.

Working Method:  Crafting

Enter a trance state in your preferred method. Then, take the time to build yourself a miniature version of Odysseus's raft. This can be crafted out of clay, or sticks, or whatever medium you prefer. As you lay each "log" explain what that log represents. What is it that helps keep you afloat when life gets hard? What brings you joy and helps you sail through life? Those are the items that should be represented in your raft.

Odysseus and Calypso spent four days building a raft for him to leave her island. When it was time to go, Calypso gave Odysseus rations for his journey, then stood on the shore and watched as he sailed out to sea.

Working Method:  Guided Meditation

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax. You find yourself standing on the shore of a beautiful
island.  The sands are warm under your feet, and you can hear the waves of the sea lapping at the shore.
You’ve spent four days working to build a raft, side by side with the goddess Calypso, but now it is time
to set sail.  In the water in front of you, you see a sturdy raft. Logs of aspen and alder are lashed together,
a large sail stands in the center, and rations fill an end of the small boat. Take a step forward and feel the
wood under your feet.  Feel the raft rock under you, and step again fully onto the raft. Turn back to the
shore, and listen to Calypso as she sends you off, lovingly and tearfully. Understand, that you are loved.

Your raft drifts away from the island, and the sail catches the breeze, and pulls you deeper to sea.  Sit back
into the raft, and look up into the sky. Watch it turn from blue, to orange and red, purple, and finally
black and filled with stars.  Amongst the stars you see the Pleiades, Ursa Major, and Orion twinkling
brightly. Several days pass uneventfully, giving you time to think about the world, and reflect upon
yourself.  As you once again approach land, you notice clouds beginning to fill the sky. In the distance
you see a storm rolling your direction, and feel the winds pick up, pushing you again away from the shore.
As you begin to feel despair, a gust of wind knocks you into the water. At first you’re overwhelmed by
waves as they continue to crash into you, again and again.

However, you don’t give up hope, and you continue to fight.  You thrust your arm above the surf and feel
your raft. Grasp the corner of a ship and pull yourself up onto the raft again.  Seated upon your raft, Ino,
ancient sea goddess sees you and takes pity upon you. She appears to you and shares her message with
you.

Ino tells you to release the raft and swim, and she will wrap you in a veil to keep you safe.  While you
contemplate holding your ground, Poseidon shatters the raft and you are again dropped into the sea. But
Ino keeps her promise and wraps you tightly, keeping you safe until you reach the shore, safe and sound.

After Telemachus was brought ashore by Ino, he was left alone in a thicket, dirty and cold.

Working Method:  Guided Meditation

Items needed:

Bowl of dirt/mud

Bowl of water for purifying

 Take your bowl of dirt, and bury your hands in it. Feel the dirt between your fingers, and know how he felt laying on the shore.  Breathe deep and smell the soil as you continue to dig, feeling the rich earth in your hands. Close your eyes and listen to your surroundings.

In the distance there is a group of women laughing and splashing in the nearby water.  Their sounds are happy and bring joy to your heart. Move your hands from the soil and listen as the women talk amongst themselves.  One of the women turns and approaches you with a bowl filled with clear, cool water from the river. Wash the dirt from your hands, feeling the purifying freshness of the river.  Feel her gentle presence as she comforts and soothes you.

Nausicca points down the road through the woods, showing you the way toward her village.  She can not take you herself, but guides you to visit the shrine to Athena in the center of her father’s park before you enter the city.  Take your time, and find the shrine when you are ready.

When Odysseus approached the gate Nausicca’s village, he found Athena, again disguised as Mentor waiting to guide him to the palace of Nausicca’s parents. She lead him quickly through the streets, winding and wandering until they reached gate.  The walls were bronze with gold doors and silver doorposts. Gold and silver dogs stood on either side of the door, seeming to watch all who approached. Athena told Odysseus that he had to continue the journey from there on his own. He stepped through the gates, through a hallway, and into a courtyard. Walking through the space he saw 50 women grinding grain, weaving, twisting yarn, and doing other work. As he approached the house, he could see a beautiful woman seated upon a thrown.  He approached her and knelt at her feet, to tell her of his journey.

Working Method:  Free Writing

Today, you will share your message with her.  Take the sheet of paper and write whatever you feel inspired to say.  Don’t filter, don’t hesitate, simply write.

When your tale has been told, approach the fire and burn your paper.  Watch as the page darkens and burns, turning to ash. It is these ashes that the King lifted Odysseus from, showing him compassion and love.  Feel that warmth glow and brighten in you.

Odysseus woke the next morning at dawn, and was addressed by parliament.  He was told he would receive the help of the King to return home. The entire village celebrated.  There was feasting and music, and games played through the town. Odysseus even participated, singing songs of the love of Aphrodite and Ares, and throwing stones in a competition.  

Working Method:  Focused Energy

Required Items:  Stone for empowering

Take a stone from your altar, and focus on the joy of that day. Consider the idea that you are not alone in the world, and that this stone is the reminder that you will receive aid. Feel the gratitude and love pour into this stone.  Feel the warmth and the light of dawn deep within it. Focus your intentions on this, and feel the energy build. You can breathe into the stone, or anoint the stone with oil. Build the energy and relationship with this stone and know the grounding, joyous energy that it can hold.  This stone can be used to remind you on darker days that life does get better, and sometimes people are willing to give you a lifeboat and help you find your way. This stone can either be left on the altar, or carried with you. It is yours to use for empowerment and joy.

Odysseus joined the crowd outside the palace in their celebration.  Among the voices, he told his tale to the celebrating crowd. As the voices yelled and cheered, he told of his capture by Calypso and Circe, and how the wind carried him to Smaros where he destroyed a city.  As the people laughed and gasped, he told how Zeus sent strong winds to send him off course and punish him for his actions. As the celebration continued, he told of his meeting with the lotus-eaters, and his battle with Polyphemus, the Cyclops.   While the city celebrated around him, he told all that would listen his tale, the good and the bad, his actions, and their consequences. He told all around him that there is nothing sweeter than home and Kindred.

Working Method:  Auditory Confusion

Today’s working requires only listening.  Using auditory confusion, try to find the story that you are intended to hear.  

When Odysseus left is island of Nausicca, he soon found himself meeting with Circe.  Circe is the goddess of magic and transformation. Working with her can bring forth major changes, so be sure to work with caution.

Working Method:  Crafting

 She can give you direction for how to move forward.

Odysseus met her by the sea, strong winds blowing the salty sea air around him. Let the winds push you away.  Feel your body lift, over the land, and out to sea. Let the winds push you further out and further away from home.   Find yourself at the shores of Circe’s island, sand under your feet, trees in the distance. Using clay, create a white stag.   When finished, anoint yourself with oils, feel the breeze on your skin, and give your offering to her.

Circe gave Odysseus instructions on what he needed to do to make it home. He was instructed to continue to the land of Hades to meet with the ancestors.  

Working Method:  Focused offerings

Items needed:

Flower pot or bowl filled with soil.  

Milk

Honey

Red Wine

Water

Meat

Light your ritual fire and use either deep breathing or fire focus to enter a trance space using your
preferred method of trance induction.

Circe has given you instructions for how to move forward, and now you must continue on to the
land of Hades to meet with the ancestors.  Feel the mists surrounding you, filling every corner and
approaching you. Enter the mists, to the land where Helios never shines and night is forever spread.
 In the dirt, dig a hole. Pour your offerings for the ancestors into the soil, first the honey & milk.
Call out to the ancestors and ask for their aid in your continued path.  Feel the ancestors approaching.
Call out to the souls of your ancestors of heart and listen to their words.

Once their message is complete, offer the water. Call out to the souls of your ancestors of blood.  
Listen to their words.

Once their message is complete, offer meat to the fire and call out to Hades & Persephone.  
Listen to their guidance.

Offer red wine to Teiresias, the blind prophet of Apollo.  Allow the soil to completely absorb the
liquid before speaking “I’m seeking my way home, even though I know the voyage may be hard.”
 Pull your omen.

In this space, notice a crowd of women approaching your offerings.  They have questions to ask you.

After they have finished, a crowd of men approach and do the same.

The crowds walk away and fade back into the mists.  The mists then begin to fade again, leaving you
back in your original space.

After Odysseus and his crew left the realm of the undead, their ship left the mist and returned to the sea.  They briefly visited Circe and feasted with her, while she warned them of the Sirens ahead on their journey. When the sun rises, the ship once again returns to the sea.  As they sailed toward the sirens, all of the men except Odysseus put wax into their ears to block out the sounds of their call.

Working Method:  Sensory Deprivation 

Today, you are not Odysseus, but a member of his crew.  Block out all sounds using noise cancelling headphones, ear plugs, or some other method of auditory deprivation. If you have the opportunity to visit a sensory deprivation tank, that would be a perfect experience.

After leaving the Sirens, Odysseus and his crew spent much time sailing.  They went through a strait with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other, and 6 men were snatched by the monster Scylla.  They sailed away from there to the island of Helios where they angered Helios and were struck by lightning, destroying their ship.  Odysseus drifted for 9 days before washing ashore on the island of Ogygia, where he was rescued by Calypso. She kept him prisoner for seven years.   Odysseus’s story ends here, as he tells it to Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians. The king was moved by Odysseus’s tale and perseverance, and promises to help him return to Ithaca.  He loads a ship with gifts and the ship sets sail to return Odysseus home. He falls asleep during travel and when they reach the shores of Ithaca the Phaeacians, anxious to continue their journey, carry him ashore and leave him there.  Poseidon sees Odysseus has returned to his lands, and decides to punish the Phaeacians for helping. He turns their ship to stone and it sinks to the bottom of the sea. Odysseus wakes on the shores of Ithaca to see the land shrouded in mists.  Athena approaches him, disguised as a shepherd and welcomes him to Ithaca. She tells him to hide in the hut of a swineherd to stay safe. She tells him that Telemachus went searching for him, and encourages him to disguise himself so no one recognizes him.

Working Method:  Crafting

We’ve reached the point in our story where life is complicated for Odysseus. He’s home, but not yet ready for anyone to know.  Enter a light trance using deep breathing. Then, using whatever medium you prefer, create your own mask to help keep yourself hidden for now. You make a highly detailed mask out of clay, or a simple mask out of paper and string. The medium is completely up to you. It's the energy put into the working that is most important.

When Odysseus approaches the swineherd’s home as Athena suggested, he finds Eumaeus outside his hut, and is invited to a feast.  Eumaeus tells Odysseus of his missing master and how he feels lost and fears he will never see him again. Odysseus comforts him and assures him that his master will return.

Working Method:  Feasting

You will join Eumaeus for his feast.  Prepare a meal for yourself, and after entering a light trance state share your meal with the swineherd.

After guiding Odysseus home, Athena travels to Sparta to tell Telemachus it’s time to return home.  She warns him of the ambush that awaits him, and tells him to first go see the swineherd before going to his home.  Telemachus leaves Sparta in a chariot, eagle and goose flying overhead. He meets his ship at Pylos and sets sail toward Ithaca.  When he lands, he sees a hawk with a dove in its talons.

Working Method:  Augury

Ancient cultures often used augury to take omens from the world around them.  Telemachus saw two different sets of birds on his journey to return home. Take the time to visit a space where you can watch the birds yourself and find the messages they may have for you.

When Telemachus returned to Ithaca, he went directly to the home of the swineherd as Athena had told him to do.  When he arrived, he found Eumaeus telling stories to a stranger. Eumaeus was ecstatic to see Telemachus, so he rushed away to tell Penelope of his return, leaving Telemachus alone with the stranger.  Athena appeared and called the stranger outside to speak with him. When the stranger re-enters the hut, his disguise is gone and Telemachus is overjoyed to see his father once again. Odysseus tells of his journey, and tells Telemachus that he will overthrow the suitors in their home.

Working Method:  Masked Trance 

With this working, you’ll begin the working wearing the mask you made in a previous session.  

Relax, and enter your trance space however you prefer. Once you’re ready, hear the approach of

Telemachus and Athena.  Athena will lead you away for a brief time, sharing words for your ears only.

Listen to her, and learn what you need to know.  When she has finished sharing her knowledge with you,

you will remove the mask and once again return to meet with Telemachus. Share with him your journey,

for he has not heard your tale.  Listen to any messages he has in store for you as well.

After hearing the tale of Odysseus, Telemachus left him at Eumaeus’s hut and headed to home, promising to say nothing to the suitors or Penelope about the return of Odysseus.

Meanwhile, Odysseus once again disguises himself, and together with Eumaeus, the swineherd, he returns to town and into the palace.  Odysseus finds the many suitors there, being rambunctious and rude. He is given food, but only after insults are thrown his direction.  It is at this point that Odysseus begins his to fight back, returning the insults upon the suitors before Penelope calls him to her to speak.  

Working Method:  Masked Trance 

Sometimes, inner workings are hard, and I believe this may be one of those.  We have all had times in
our lives where we have been insulted and had to sit silently and endure those moments.  Thinking of
those moments, today you will get the opportunity to fight back. Once again, place your mask upon your
face to hide who you are, and enter your trance space.  When you are ready, take the time to think of the
insults you have received in your life. You can write them down if you’d like, or say them aloud, or just
think about them, whatever works best for you.  Now, as hurtful as those memories may be, think about
where you are now, and how you would respond to those hurtful words if you could confront them today.
Odysseus threw insults back at his taunters, but you don’t have to take that route if there is something else
you’d rather say!  Odysseus was also forced to fight a beggar, and was given the strength of Athena to
succeed. Fight your battle. The inner battle starts now. It will be hard, but by the end it will be good.