Hermes

~ Hermes, "the luck-bringing son of Zeus" ~

We're learning about the archetype of the trickster this week and today's reading is all about the wily Greek god Hermes. Whoa! Dude is a devious little fellow.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Muse, sing of Hermes... the luck-bringing messenger of the immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed nymph, when she was joined in love with Zeus... she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods."

"As swift thought darts through the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him, or as bright glances flash from the eye, so glorious Hermes planned both thought and deed at once."

And my personal favorite:

"[He] sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to a watch place, pondering sheet trickery in his heart -- deeds such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time."

Just to give a little context here, the Homeric Hymn which we read details the first day of Hermes's life. He's a brand new baby who goes forth and causes as much mischief as possible within hours of being born. And, yep, there Hermes is, one day old, already "pondering sheet trickery". Sweet kid, huh? ;)