Cyclops.
The Cyclops embodies the forces of nature unrestrained, uncultivated, unfettered. He is natural, raw power..., which Carl Jung called the libido…. Libido is psychic energy, the natural urge of life, the creative force that interacts with the world. Not enough libido, and you do not have enough thrust to make your mark…. Too much libido means excessive craving for sensate worldly experience, the deadly sin called lust.
~ Michael Goldberg, Travels With Odysseus*
lent, week 1
Last week I got to enjoy an adventure with Boone friends Glenn and Kevin. We drove to Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky to spend a couple days crawling around in tunnels, hundreds of feet beneath the ground, in some magnificent formations created by the erosion of their abundant limestone. Sometimes we could walk upright through tall caverns, and at others we could only crawl on our bellies through very narrow apertures. It was a guided trip, so there was no danger, but it takes a little chutzpah to get down and dirty in tight spaces. In short, it takes a dose of Enneagram Eight energy.
It seems appropriate to open with that anecdote as we look at Odysseus’ second major stop on his journey: a lush island inhabited by brash giants with a single eye in the center of their foreheads. The Cyclopes. Odysseus and his men unwittingly take shelter in a cave owned by one particularly nasty Cyclops named Polyphemus. Once the beast closes his door with a massive slab of rock, he notices his intruders and promptly eats two of them whole. It’s a grim beginning.
Realizing they cannot kill the giant, which would only serve to entomb them in the cave forever (because they could never budge the door), Odysseus finally gets crafty and comes up with a plan. They use a large wooden stake to blind Polyphemus while he sleeps (who has already doffed four more of his men). Eventually, the wounded giant opens his door to let his sheep out to graze, while the soldiers attach themselves to the sheep bellies to sneak out of their prison and escape the island’s threats. So how does Cyclopsland mirror the energy of the Eight, and how can we make use of that energy in our own journeys Home?
As theologian Ronald Rolheiser observes, “Spirituality is about what we do about the fire inside of us, about how we channel our eros.” Eight energy at its best taps into the fire in our bellies and animates our God-given gifts and callings; without it, we fall asleep to ourselves and sleepwalk through our lives, adrift. The wisdom of the Eight is to awaken to our True Selves, reclaim our confidence, and break through obstacles. Brent Curtis said it this way: “Let the world feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it.” This is not egomania or brutishness; it is the willingness to access our legitimate power and direct it in holy action. Need a dose of that these days?
Finally, let’s apply this to our more immediate journey through the season of Lent, which opens this Wednesday. Just as Jesus persevered through human anxieties, crippling accusations, and grievous sufferings to reach his journey’s end at the resurrection, so must we. Maybe you feel prompted to initiate an intentional discomfort through some form of fasting for these 40 days, or perhaps life has initiated some discomfort of its own right now that you can consciously receive as an invitation to boldly hold your course and press ahead. Let’s do that together, in solidarity with Christ and one another.
growing your soul
Name the greatest, most intimidating obstacle you are facing today. Now gather your courage, poke that giant in its one ugly eye, and take up the wisdom to surmount it.
serving our world
While you’re at it, who else might you know who is stuck in a cave and can’t seem to find the will to break free? How can you help?
takeaway
Own your power.
*Michael Goldberg, Travels With Odysseus. I’m taking much of my inspiration in this series from his book. I recommend it!