Eros and Anteros: A Psychological Tale of Mutual Connection and the Art of Love
Greek mythology- a timeless guide
Greek mythology: a lasting legacy
Though there weren't many children's books in our house when I was growing up, I listened to our storyteller's vinyl records for hours on end.
I was transported by those stories and was able to see life beyond what I experienced.
I've come to think of stories as invaluable guides as they provide insight into various lives and a wealth of knowledge.
The only book about the warrior Hiawatha that I still remember reading as a child is "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which combine spirituality, mythology, and folklore from the Native American people.
I was always curious about death and this book gave me a unique perspective on it by illustrating it as a transcendental spiritual stage with its amazing animations and words that I still find myself thinking about.
It was wonderful to me, as so many books were and still are; all of them fed my curiosity and changed the way I viewed life.
Greek mythology is a timeless guide, not just a collection of archaic tales, if you look carefully they continue to make sense of life today.
These myths were used by the ancient Greeks to gain insight into topics such as love, ambition, and the conflict between chaos and order in human nature.
The tale of Icarus, who flew too near to the sun, serves as an example of caution about pursuing goals too rapidly.
Hercules shows us the importance of resilience in the face of difficulty.
Stories about Love and Life, such as that of Eros and Anteros, teach us the importance of maintaining a delicate balance and symmetry in relationships.
Eros and Anteros/Desire and Reciprocal Love are the two sides of love.
Everyone on Olympus welcomed the happy newborn, Eros.
He acted slightly difficult sometimes, like all babies do, but that was acceptable because he was still a baby.
But as time passed, Aphrodite, his mother, began to worry. Eros was causing chaos and heartbreak with his arrows, and he was not maturing.
His father, the war god Ares, was a little of a supporter; he took great pride in Eros' appearance as a healthy, cute baby.
Aphrodite, frustrated by Eros's lack of growth progress, turned to Themis, one of the twelve wise Titans, Themis offered a solutions: Eros required a younger brother to teach him accountability.
As a result, Anteros was born after Aphrodite begged Ares for another son.
Eros grew up with the help of his younger brother, as Themis had predicted. With increasing skill, he shot two people who were supposed to be lovers.
Unlike his older brother, Anteros seemed calm and sensible. He became the god of reciprocated love, possessing a bow and arrow and wings resembling butterflies.
Anteros was more concerned with ensuring that love was returned than Eros was with passionate love.
He even imposing out punishment to people who didn't value love.
The wisdom here is that Eros and Anteros are complementary to one another's traits and serve as an illustration of how symmetry is manifested in the universe.
This story provides the ideal psychological comparison between the love needed to achieve closeness and long-lasting relationships that require reciprocated love in order to grow.
From a sexual perspective, this short story teaches us that safety and mutual recognition are vital components of expressing ourselves freely.
We cannot grow in a relationship if we are not equally desired, seen, and loved in return. We need relationships to be mutual, balanced in both similarities and differences, complementarity, and partnership.
While it is possible to be happy on your own, much like Eros and Anteros, we grow together more effectively and fulfill our potential more easily when we're surrounded by the right friends and partners. We can’t heal in isolation.
The tale of these Greek gods teaches us an important lesson: relationships that are intentional and grow over time require a balance, a symmetry, between mutual love and passionate love.
While Anteros emphasizes the value of reciprocated love, Eros is the embodiment of intense passion.
With any luck, this short story will ignite a small spark that guides you to observe patterns of mutuality and symmetry, contrast and complementarity.
I'll sum up by saying that it's unrealistic to expect someone else to be happy with you if you're not happy with yourself. As a result, the way to happiness with other people is a reflection of the happiness you find within.
You always have a choice; you can always seek guidance, and you can always change your life.
Resources:
Robert J Sternberg: Triangular theory of love
This Jungian Life Podcast: Unrequited love: Can Eros be revived?