Hermes enters the room
Jan. 10th, 2013 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kestrellI'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
[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
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Date: 2013-01-10 11:06 pm (UTC)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?