I am a big fan of the myth of Orestes. There are many versions of it since it has been translated and retold many times.
The baisc jist of it is this: Orestes' blood line has been cursed for many generations. Orestes' mother and uncle murder his father. Appollo shows up, all golden and glowy and pissed, and tells Orestes he has to avenge his father and make things right. Orestes is tormented by this, but he does it.
You'd think he's free now, but ohhhhh no. The Furies show up and torment him for what he has done and don't exactly accept his explanation. There is a trial and the jury is split right down the middle. Athena shows up and casts the deciding vote, showing mercy and setting Orestes free.
I love the basic idea here, that we have the power to end our curses, but don't think for a minute it's going to be easy. Orestes' "hero's journey" is not simply revenge, but ending the madness and illness that has plagued his family for generations, and in so doing, he frees himself to write the story of his own life.
But I think, as of now, I don't need this myth any more. If you'd like it, you can have it.
I'd like a new myth.
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