Hermes enters the room

[kestrell]

I'm currently reading _Hermes and His Children_ (2003) by Rafael Lopez-Pedraza, which is an exploration of Hermes as a Jungian archetype, and ran across this phrase, which I love.

[Walter] Otto describes another way in which Hermes makes his epiphany:
But the marvelous and mysterious which is peculiar to night may also appear by day as a sudden darkening or an enigmatic-smile. This mystery of night seen by day, this magic darkness in the bright sunlight, is the realm of Hermes, whom, in later ages, magic with good reason revered as its master. In popular feeling this makes itself felt in the remarkable silence that may intervene in the midst of the liveliest conversations; it was said, at such times, that Hermes had entered the room... The strange moment might signify bad luck or a friendly offer, some wonderful and happy coincidence.'
p. 27

Comments

[capri0mni]

I used to be a polytheist; I am now atheist (Long story is long, but anyway--). Back when I accepted the existence of the Gods as real Beings, I always thought of Hermes as my particular patron.

But this particular passage brings to mind my paternal grandmother, Josie. Her response to that sudden silence in the midst of dinner conversation was to say: "Angels are flying overhead."

[kestrell]

Hermes has always been my favorite classical god, too. I dressed up as him at a Wiscon "Come as your favorite god" party, and a friend made me two snakes to twine around my white cane. Also, I got to wear a silver lame toga.

In my social circle, the saying to describe those silences is "Mammoth check," which may originally come from some specific book, I don't remember.

[capri0mni]

Hee. That costume sounds fun (Then again, all costumes sound fun, to me).

I think Hermes has always been important to me because from my earliest memory, I've relied on fluency with language and communication to make up for my physical mobility impairments.

Getting back to that quote and the moment that "Hermes walks into the room," I think maybe whether that moment is an omen of good or bad fortune depends on whether it is a happy or awkward silence. Yes? No?