The Legacy of Internal Demons and Sirens

Lessons from Odyssean Wisdom

When our consciousness was not fully developed, thoughts were not recognized as our own creation and were attributed to external entities. They were perceived as demons or gods commanding actions to a self unaware of selfhood. And now these remnants from our ancient archives continue to haunt us as detractors of our worthiness. Although aware they are no longer coming from external entities, they continue to challenge our individuation and pursuit of joy.

But why? Because we are the only species with the capacity to designate attribution to our internal and external experiences. Consequently, our degree of personal worthiness determines the power we give to our legacy of demons and sirens: Demons, who assault by fueling our fears, and sirens, who entice us to a path of hedonic action. Knowing we are the architects of our reality, we can recontextualize our responses to virtual intruders by slaying our demons and neutralizing our sirens.

Mythology is rich with examples of how our collective psyche can overcome our individual challenges, and when confronting our demons and sirens, Odysseus (Ulysses) can come to the rescue. He bested his demons by cleverly detecting their weaknesses, and faced his sirens with restraints to circumvent their seductions. Then how can these ancient Homerian tales breathe life to modern biocognitive science?

Knowing that demons feed on fear and sirens on hedonic pursuits, we can determine their respective terrains of meaning and draw on Odyssean wisdom. Fear is sustained by self-devaluation leading to unworthiness, whereas hedonism thrives on wavering resolute  leading to victimhood.

Odyssean wisdom liberates by cultivating self-worth and self-discipline. Both antidotes are within us, but remain dormant by the devaluing and weakening scripts learned from our cultural editors. Gradual embodiment of laudable actions and steadfast commitments are effective alternatives to rewards and motivation that are better suited for rat psychology. Humans make existential changes from terrains of meaning rather than working for cheese and avoiding shock.

When confronted by a demon to derail your objectives, identify the fear, confront it with memories of courageous action, take a deep breath, followed by movement toward your goal. When derailment comes from sirens, identify the seduction, confront it with memories of resolute commitments to delay pleasure, take a deep breath, followed by movement toward your goal. The essential ingredients: refusal to capitulate followed by physical movement.

For more information read my new psychological novel The Phoenix Self: In Search of Methuselah