A ‘relational’ story

The story brings to mind a mixture of love, fear, ambiguity, conflict, and sorrow in family relationships – the story is essentially relational. It identifies control, leadership skills, superiority and inferiority complex – i.e. who is more beautiful or who has the most power, and how that power and authority is being exercised. It also identifies fear of loss and letting go and how this can impact upon our relationships.

Turning to birds

Ceyx lost his brother, Ceyx, to grief. Apollo punished him, turning him into a hawk. Unsettled by his brother’s transformation, Ceyx went to Apollo for advice, crossing the Aegean Sea and venturing the terrible force of the storms. He perished in the trip, repenting at the end for his willingness to question Apollo’s decision, he suffered the weather and perished on the shipwreck. At the end, Apollo punished them all, Daedalion became a skimming bird, Ceyx became a kingfisher, and she became a seagull. At the end, we are left with three beautiful birds, each one of them with different abilities and gifts: beauty, vision, and strength. That learnt not to question Apollo and to accept their faith.