The Odyssey: Part 2 - Calypso’s Island

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Welcome to Get Sleepy. When we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas. Thanks so much for joining me. Tonight, I'll be guiding you through the next part of the Odyssey. Last time, we met a Dissus' family who've been waiting for his return. A Dissus' son, Telemicus, set out on a journey searching for news of his father's fate. And now, it's time to meet the hero himself. In tonight's story, we find Odysseus stranded on a faraway island with no means of escape. But thanks to some divine intervention, that's about to change. Thank you again to Alexandra for her wonderful work, writing this series. Did you know that Get Sleepy Premium members get to listen completely out of free, with full access to our entire catalogue of stories and meditations, which is now well over a thousand episodes, including heaps of extended compilation episodes and much more. And perhaps best of all, premium supporters get a brand new bonus episode every Thursday night. So why don't you take advantage of the seven day free trial for all new premium subscribers? And join us tomorrow when I'll be telling the interesting history about dogs and humans, how they evolved from wolves, and how our relationship with them has grown more and more through the ages. To support the show and become a premium member, just head to GetSleepy.com slash support. As I mentioned, you'll have a seven day free trial to start off with, and you can cancel anytime. Let's get Sleepy.com slash support. Thanks so much everyone. So now, close your eyes. And allow all the muscles in your body to settle. Make sure your face is relaxed without a frown. And unclench your jaw if you realize your holding stress and tightness there. Allow your shoulders to softly drop down onto the bed. Letting go of any lingering tension you may be holding from the day. And since how your neck is supported by your pillow, releasing the strain on the muscles there. Feel your chest and upper back relax. Your waist and hips. And feel your legs and arms grow heavy as you sink deeper into the comfort of your bed. You can gently move your fingers and toes if you wish. Before letting them come to rest, wherever is most comfortable. Here in your cozy bedroom, or wherever you're settling in right now, your mind can relax just like your body. Letting go of the thoughts and worries of the day. This is your sanctuary to quietly rest in. So embrace that opportunity and let go of any resistance. And as you rest here, listening to the sound of my voice, you can drift off whenever you're ready. Now in your mind's eye, imagine a bird's eye view of the ocean. Miles and miles of blue waves rolling towards the horizon. This is what the god Hermes sees as he flies towards a distant island. Let's join him as our story begins. Hermes flew above the water, first high, then low, skimming the surface with his heels before soaring up into the air again. On his feet he wore his winged sandals and in his hand he carried his magic wand. Both were made of the brightest gold. To a sailor below, the god would have looked like some exotic golden bird flashing through the sky. But down below, there was no one, nothing but endless sea. Hermes was the messenger god. He was on his way to deliver a message now, on Zeus's orders. As he glided through the air, he kept an eye out for any signs of land, a glimpse of Calypso's island. For a while, Hermes was surrounded by the blue emptiness of the sky and sea. This far from land, there weren't even any birds. But at last, he caught sight of goals in the distance and then a shadowy shape on the horizon, rising out of the water like a mirage. There it was, Calypso's island. Now that his journey was nearly over, Hermes couldn't resist a quick dip in the ocean. He swooped joyfully downwards, plunging into the cool waves before soaring up again. Drops of water clung to his hair and clothes as he flew swiftly on towards the island. At the green heart of the island lived the goddess Calypso. This was where Hermes found her, working at her loom inside her cavern singing a lovely song. Nearby, a fire blazed, warming the clothes that had been hung out to dry. While Hermes was used to the grander abodes of Mount Olympus, even he had to admit the cavern was a charming place. All around was a verdant forest of Cyprus and popular trees. Vines of succulent grapes hung by the cave entrance and there was a headyscent of citrus in the air. Near the cavern, the air itself seemed alive with wings. Birds flew back and forth from their nests in the forest to the sea and then back again. All the sounds mingled together, the flutter of wings, the bird song, the loom armor of a nearby stream, and of course the voice of the goddess herself singing as she worked. Hermes stepped inside the cavern. Although they had never met before, Calypso knew who he was at once. The gods always recognized each other. Calypso welcomed Hermes warmly and invited him to sit and rest. He must be weary after such a long journey. So, Hermes sat at a table by the fire where he was served a meal of Ambrosia and nectar. Once he'd eaten to his heart's content, he informed Calypso of why he had come. Of course, Hermes was not here on a whim. Few were choose to travel across such a vast expanse of sea far from any human habitation. Out here, no one made sacrifices to the gods. And yet, here he was. Hermes had made his ways swiftly to Calypso's island on the orders of Zeus, the king of the gods. According to Zeus, there was a man living on this island, a warrior who had fought at Troy. After a storm, he had ended up shipwrecked on Calypso's island, where he'd remained ever since. Now, said Hermes, it was time for Calypso to release this man and let him return to his family. Zeus's orders were clear, Odysseus must be free to leave. Hearing this, Calypso was quite pertout. How typical it was of the male gods to be so cruel and jealous. Whenever a goddess took a lover, they couldn't help but interfere. Calypso reminded Hermes that she had saved Odysseus from the shipwreck. She had loved and cared for him all these years. Her plan was to make him immortal so they could live together forever. But if Zeus were otherwise so be it. With a heavy sigh, Calypso told Hermes that she would let Odysseus leave. She couldn't provide a ship or an escort for his journey across the sea. But she would share what she could. She loved Odysseus and she wanted him to reach home safely. Before leaving, Hermes gave Calypso one final word of warning. When following Zeus's orders, it was best not to delay. Then, after draining his cup of nectar, the messenger god left the cavern and took to the skies once more. Calypso slowly made her way to the shore. She knew that this was where she would find Odysseus. He spent most of his time here deep in thought as he gazed across the sea. As Calypso emerged from the trees, she caught sight of him. Odysseus sat on the rocks, the wind blowing through his dark hair and beard as he watched the waves. When she came closer, she saw that his eyes were red as though he'd been weeping. Although he tried to hide it from her, Calypso knew that he often whacked thinking of his native land and the family he missed so much. At night in the cavern, Odysseus seemed to belong to her. But seeing him now, Calypso finally accepted that it was time to let him go. As she stood beside Odysseus, the goddess spoke. She could see that he was in one of his melancholy moods, but she had good news for him. She was going to help him leave the island. Once Odysseus had built a raft, Calypso would provide water, food, wine and clothes for the journey. She would even summon a wind to blow him in the right direction. Though of course, said Calypso with a sigh, all of this wasn't exactly her decision. The gods up above were powerful. They always got their way. Odysseus listened in astonishment. After so many years on the island, he never thought he'd hear these words. The prospect of leaving at last should have lifted his spirits. And yet he didn't entirely trust Calypso. Did she really expect him to travel across the Gulf on a little raft? This part of the ocean was treacherous, even for the most solidly built ships guided along by Zeus's winds. Odysseus couldn't help but wonder if Calypso was plotting to harm him, suggesting such a thing. But Calypso smiled and stroked Odysseus's hand. She swore by heaven and earth and by the waters of the river Stix that she meant no harm. Calypso had planned everything carefully as if she herself were the one making the journey. Although she had never managed to fully earn his trust, she cared deeply for Odysseus. Together they left the beach and made their way through the trees to Calypso's cabin. The chair where Hermes had previously sat was now occupied by Odysseus. As a mortal, he dined on human food while Calypso enjoyed nectar and ambrosia, the food of the gods. Once they were full, they continued talking. The prospect of Odysseus' departure had finally sunk in and Calypso was feeling a little sorry for herself. If only Odysseus could stay and he would stay if only he knew what troubles awaited him on his journey home. And said Calypso, even though Odysseus missed his wife, he had to admit that she was far more beautiful. Mortal women could never compare to a goddess. Odysseus knew that he had to be tapped for. He told Calypso that she was right. Penelope's beauty could not rival that of a goddess, immortal and ageless. But beauty wasn't everything, and Odysseus still longed to return home. Even if he was shipwrecked once again, even if he was struck down by the gods, he was willing to risk it all for a chance of seeing Penelope and his beloved homeland. Besides, he had already suffered so much at war and at sea. Whatever came next, he would endure it. As night fell, the island became even more spellbinding. The warm air was filled with bird song and the musical chaps of bats and insects. Night blooming plants released their intoxicating perfumes. And the stars above were so bright, so clear that he might almost reach out and pluck them from the sky. Sometimes when he saw a shining star, he would imagine that it was Penelope, far away, yet still in sight. As Odysseus stood by the cavern entrance, looking up at the starry sky, he wondered if this would truly be one of his last nights on the island, if Calypso would really let him go. Just the idea that he might leave stirred something within him, a fontaness underfection for Calypso that had grown over time. That night Odysseus and the goddess slept in a close embrace, dreaming until dawn awoke them. Once they were dressed, Odysseus in his cloak and tunic and Calypso in a shining robe and veil, they began to make preparations for the journey. Calypso gave Odysseus the first of several gifts, a bronze axe with an olive wood handle and another tool for cutting and shaping wood. Then she took him to the far end of the island, where the tallest trees grew, first that seemed to brush against the clouds. All day Odysseus cut down trees with his axe, before carving the wood into shape and polishing until it gleamed. Calypso brought him everything he needed, extra tools and a large piece of fabric to be used as a sail. Over the next few days, the raft solely took shape. It was carefully constructed, the planks interwoven with strands of willow to keep the water out. As an experienced sailor, Odysseus knew what needed to be done. He didn't want to leave until the raft was completely ready. And so it wasn't until the fifth day that he finally prepared to set sail. Once Odysseus had washed and dressed in fragrant clothes, Calypso helped him to load the supplies onto the raft. Large flasks of wine and water and plenty of food. It was a bright breezy morning. As Odysseus and Calypso stood on the shore, looking out across the water, they agreed that at last the time had come. Calypso would give him one last gift. She promised to send favorable breezes his way for as long as she could. But once Odysseus was far out on the open ocean, he was on his own. He would have to rely on his wits and the benevolence of the gods. After a warm embrace of farewell, Odysseus climbed onto the raft and happily spread the sails. The raft moved quickly, then quicker still as the sails picked up a gust of wind. Calypso's parting gift. Over the days and nights, Odysseus gulfly steered his raft across the ocean. With the winds in his favour, the journey was easier than he expected and the water surprisingly calm. Odysseus slept for just a few hours at a time as he rarely felt tired. He preferred to spend the nights awake, gazing up at the stars. He could see the Plea-dees, boat-eats or the herdsmen and the bear. Unlike the other constellations, which sometimes seemed to disappear into the ocean, the stars of the bear were always visible. Calypso had told Odysseus to pay close attention, making sure the constellation remained on his left as he sailed onwards. Some nights he felt deep gratitude for the goddess as he reflected on their time together and everything she had given him. On other nights, he thought of his family and far away Ethaca. And sometimes, after long hours watching the sky, his mind emptied completely, longed by the waves, Odysseus finally drifted into sleep. After many days at sea, land appeared in the distance. Surrounded by a hazy morning mist, it looked unreal like something from a dream. But as Odysseus sailed closer, the land became clearer. It was a mountainous island that rose up from the waves in the shape of a shield. Although Odysseus didn't yet know where he was, just the sight of land was enough to make him smile. And the winds were still on his side, pushing him closer and closer. From here, he might even be able to swim. But Odysseus wasn't the only traveler in this part of the world. Little did he know that flying high above was the chariot of the sea-god Poseidon. When Poseidon looked down and spotted the raft, he was furious. He had long held a grudge against Odysseus, and he thought that the other gods supported him. And yet it seemed that while Poseidon had been away, something had changed. Clearly, another god had helped Odysseus to leave Calypso's island. Now, he was fast approaching the land of the Faiyations, where he would surely receive further help. It was bad enough that Odysseus had got this far, thought Poseidon. He must be stopped. The sea-god flew higher up to gather the clouds. Then, with his trident, he stirred the sea and air, summoning up great waves and gusts of wind. At once, the sky went dark. For miles around, the sea was covered in a rolling fog. As the waves rose higher and higher, Odysseus began to despair. A sudden storm like this had to be the work of a god. Perhaps Zeus himself was stirring the clouds and whipping up the water. The wind seemed to be blowing in every direction all at once, and the waves were rising like mountains. Then, before Odysseus knew what was happening, a huge wall of water surged towards him, knocking him off the raft, while a gust of wind snapped the mast into the water. The sail was sucked into the water and quickly spiraled away. But even in the darkest moments, Odysseus did not give up. He used all his strength to climb back onto the raft. And then, to his amazement, he realized that he was not alone. A figure was rising out of the water in front of him, like a seabat surging upwards. It was the goddess Eno, a nymph who lived in the ocean. She had once been human, but seeing her now, it seemed to Odysseus that she must have been born out of the water itself. Her hair was like tangles of seaweed and her eyes were glistening pals. In a fluid motion, Eno climbed onto the raft and sat beside Odysseus. Poor thing, she said. What had he done to anger Poseidon? The sea gods seemed to have it out for him. But Eno could see that Odysseus was a clever man. With her help, he would survive this storm. Eno told Odysseus to take off his clothes and abandon the raft. She would give him her very own scarf to tie around his body. This garment would give Odysseus divine protection, no matter how high the waves, or how wild the wind, no harm would come to him. But she wanted the scarf back, of course. Once Odysseus had reached the safety of dry land, he should throw it back into the sea. After placing the silky scarf in Odysseus's hands, Eno plunged into the waves. As the wind continued to howl and the raft rocked from side to side, Odysseus knew he had no time to waste. And yet, for a moment, he hesitated. Was this another one of the gods' tricks? He was reluctant to leave the raft and to swim through stormy waters with nothing but a scarf for protection. In the fog, the land seemed so far away. Odysseus decided that as long as the raft endured, as long as the planks held together, he would hold on. If the raft was destroyed in the storm, then and only then would he swim. Just then, Poseidon summoned up another mighty wave. It crashed over the raft, which splintered into pieces. As Odysseus clung on to one of the planks, he realized he no longer had a choice. Just as Eno had instructed him, he took off his clothes, tied the scarf around his body and dove into the waves. High above, Poseidon watched from his chariot muttering to himself. Despite his best efforts, it seemed that Odysseus was going to survive after all. Still, this certainly wouldn't be the last challenge he faced. Odysseus had a long way to go before he reached home. Knowing this gave Poseidon a sight-satisfaction. He spared his horses and the chariot to race on through the stormy sky. Meanwhile, another one of the immortals was watching the scene unfold. Athena, daughter of Zeus, saw Odysseus struggling in the ocean and came up with a plan. She sent the winds to sleep, all except Boreus, God of the Northwind, who helped to blow Odysseus towards land. At the same time, Athena calmed to the waves and the storm was over at last. Deez and exhausted Odysseus drifted all night, held afloat by Eno's scarf. And when at last dawn arrived, he saw how close he was. Land was right there in front of him. In the pink morning light, the cleftops seemed to glow. The wind had now died down completely, so Odysseus had to swim. The sight of land gave him a surge of energy, and he swam quickly through the calm water. But as he approached the island, he realized that his ordeal was not yet over. There were no open shores, no welcoming harbours, just jagged rocks and cliffs, towering high into the air. He couldn't see a way to swim safely to shore. But the waves were starting to pick up again, and he had no choice but to swim onwards in search of a beach. Odysseus swam all morning until at last he reached the mouth of a river. The water was gentle here, and this side of the island was sheltered from the winds. As Odysseus drifted towards the river's mouth, he silently prayed to the river god. Please, he said in his heart, calm the current so I can reach safety. The river god heard Odysseus's prayer and took pity on him. The water became calm, so Odysseus could swim into the river. And then, with what felt like his last remaining strength, Odysseus pulled himself up onto dry land. For a moment, he could barely move. He simply lay on his back utterly exhausted. But as his senses slowly returned to him, he moved his fingers, relishing the feel of earth and grass. What a relief to be on land at last. When he felt strong enough to get up, Odysseus untied the sodden scarf from around his body. With a quiet prayer of thanks, he let the scarf fall into the river so it could be swept out to sea. Then Odysseus looked around, searching for a sign of civilization. But all he could see was dense woodland. Moving towards the trees, he noticed some thick bushes that had grown together, forming a shelter of sorts. Odysseus crawled into the bushes and made himself a bed of leaves. Here, he would be sheltered from the rain and sun, and he could rest until he regained his strength. As the temperature rose, the cicadas began their wearing song. Odysseus sighed, shifting in the leaves, and finally began to relax. He could fill himself gradually slipping away. The goddess, Athena, watching over Odysseus knew just how tired he was and how much he deserved a good rest. 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