Cosmic Egg

November is always a difficult month.  I teach college English and in November there is a flurry of grading and student meetings; this November has been particularly difficult because of the divisiveness of the election. During busy and difficult times, I have to find stories that will reestablish within me a feeling of unity; otherwise, I can't create.  I can't even THINK about creating.  I can't create out of a divided self.

It's very important for me to read myths.  As J. F. Bierlein says in his book Parallel Myths, which I use in my Imaginative Writing class at the university:  "Myth is a unique use of language that describes the realities beyond our five senses.  It fills the gap between the images of the unconscious and the language of conscious logic."

The following myth is one of my favorites.  I especially enjoy portrayal of the pre-patriarchial goddess-creator.  In this myth, the goddess keeps her power, unlike the Babylonian creation myth wherein Marduk finishes the work of creation by slaying Tiamet, his mother. 

Eurynome And Ophion  

In the beginning was Chaos and darkness.  Chaos was a great vast sea in which all elements were mixed together without form.    Out of this sea rose Eurynome, the Great Goddess of all things. 

She emerged from the waves naked and began to dance on the sea, as there was nothing firm for her to stand on.  Suddenly, the south wind blew and spun her around.  

It is said that the north wind has miraculous fertility powers and, when she spun around, Eurynome grasped at the north wind.  The great serpent of the waters, Ophion, saw Eurynome dancing and was filled with desire.   

He made love to her immediately.  She then assumed the form of a lovely bird and gave birth to the great universal egg.  Ophion coiled his tail around this egg until it cracked, spilling out creatures all over the newly formed earth.  Eurynome loved Ophion for a time and they went to live on Mount Olympus, home of the gods.  

However, Ophion became obnoxious and tiresome, bragging how he had fathered all living things.  Eurynome grew weary of him and bruised his head with her heel.  He was then cast down to the dark regions of the earth.