Wayward Wanderer

The Torture of Prometheus  by Jean-Louis Cesar Lair, 1781-1828

EAGLE TORMENT

The eagle symbolized strength, courage, farsightedness and immortality. It is considered to be the king of the air and the messenger of the highest Gods. Mythologically, it is connected by the Greeks with the God Zeus, by the Romans with Jupiter, by the Germanic tribes with Odin, and by the Judeo-Christian scriptures with God.  (Wikipedia)

However, the message is not always something I relish. Prometheus (because he stole fire from heaven) ended up chained for thirty years to an icy crag of the Caucasus, exposed by scorching sun and freezing winds, while daily tormented by the talons of an Eagle which was the messenger of Zeus. Finally, Hercules rescued him. Zeus, the father of Hercules, was very proud of his son for his bold action. (Treasury of Classical Mythology by AR Hope Moncridff)

These torturous situations make me sick to think about. Being in love with someone that does not return your favor is the worst torture of all, but the list of torments perched on man is endless. Usually, I just have to wait for a Hercules to free me; i.e., some good fortune that makes life seem worthwhile again. As a youth, I did not know how to cope with my expectations being dashed to pieces; I would go searching for a Hercules to release me from my torment;  Bad Idea.

With age, I learned to shield myself from the claws and appreciate the blessings of an Eagle by learning from it: Eagles are the only birds that love the storm. When all other birds try to flee from the storm and hide themselves from the fierceness of it, eagles fly into it and will use the wind of the storm to rise higher in a fraction of seconds. It uses the pressure of the storm to glide higher without using its own energy. After I start to use all the maneuvers in the midst of storms, I will surely say, “Bring it on, I am a lone wanderer free to fly.”   (DRIFTERDAX)