Mix-tape to Poseidon

Today, I'm posting a mix-tape for Poseidon. This idea is not mine; it's a combination of a wonderful idea by Sannion and Hellenion's monthly libation schedule. Hellenion is a Hellenistic organization from America and I've been using their wonderful calender and the great store of information they have gathered to start my own practice. Every month, Hellenion members pour a libation to a different Greek God or Goddess. This month, it's Poseidon's. To make the day more special, I have created a mix-tape of songs which either describe or would speak to Him.

Poseidon is the God of the Mediterranean seas, who can strike down his trident and create fresh water springs, or disastrous earthquakes. He is also the Lord of horses, presumably because of the foamy waves rising up like a herd of horses before crashing on the shore. He has made his home underwater, with his wife Amphitrite and other water creatures, many of which immortal. He's a powerful God, one of three brothers who rule the sky, the sea and the underworld.

My relationship with Poseidon is neutral, at best. I worship Him as a powerful God, but I'm not exactly a water rat, and I don't like swimming in the sea. I did enjoy the seas of Greece when I was there, but that was mostly because they were marginally cooler than the surrounding area. These mix-tapes force me to delve into the God or Goddess at hand, and hopefully get me little closer to Them. I feel like I have succeeded at this with Poseidon, but we're still at a bit of odd footing.

Live - Run to the Water

The first song I thought of when I started brainstorming for this mix-tape was Live's run to the water. They have a lot of water-y songs. 'Dolphin's Cry', for one, and 'Overcome', the chilling 9/11 tribute. Run to the water is one of my favorites by them, and just for the clip alone, would serve its purpose well in a mix-tape to Poseidon. The lyrics, however, are quite fitting as well.

"Yeah, I can see it now lord / Out beyond all the breakin' of waves / And the tribulation / It's a place and the home of ascended souls / Who swam out there in love"

Another line which speaks to Poseidon is this one:

"In a moment we lost our minds here / And lay our spirit down / Today we lived a thousand years / All we have is now"

Poseidon is not merely the Lord of the Seas, he was also a shaker of the earth... and the mind. Certain conditions, which were accounted to madness back in the day, were attributed to Poseidon. Epilepsy is one of them, for instance. And anyone who has ever dived down into the sea and stayed down as long as they could, know that time loses all meaning beneath the waves. It's an entirely different world, one where the rules of land life fade--including time.

Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - Air of December

Poseidon has had many lovers beyond his wife Amphitrite. Most of them were mortal. Amymone, for example, as well as Cleito, Kaineus, and Tyro. All of these couplings were extraordinary in some way; Cleito, for example, was the mother of the founders of Atlantis, Kaineus was transformed--by request--into a man after her raped her, so she would never be raped again. It was a request Poseidon granted. We all know what happened to Médousa.

A coupling with the powerful Poseidon means a life forever changed. I can imagine some of his lovers to look back favorably upon their time with Him, and long for his return. Edie captures this longing perfectly in her song.

"You stood by the lake/ I wanted to take you for granted / The grass was thin and high / The water mirrored tiny sparkles to the sky / I remember you put a chill across my face / like the air of december / I swear I remember it that way"

 
The Organ - Brother

I imagine the confusion after having grown up in your father's belly and then being spit out into the world to be a daunting affair indeed. Imagine this song, as the situation comes to Poseidon, and decisions must be made now the world is about to go to hell, fast, as a war with the Titans seems unavoidable. Also, Poseidon never seems to me the most... joyous of the brothers.

"Here we go again / Oh midnight knocks! / Oh explosions! / Maybe it's all made up in our heads / This happens to me when I'm bored / Or depressed"


Dar Williams - The Light and the Sea

I've used a song from the album 'In the Time of the Gods' before, for Hermes' mix tape, before. This one was written with Poseidon in mind and it's too beautiful to leave out of this list.

Florence & The Machine - Shake it Out

Something about this song just reminds me of Poseidon's dark but comforting prescence. It could be the mention of shaking--as Poseidon is also know as the Earth Shaker--or horses--as He is also the Tamer of Horses--that reminds me of it. Also, the line 'it's always darkest before the dawn' reminds me of watching the sun rising while looking out over the sea. The quiet, the true shaking of emotions as you realize a new day is forthcoming. Whatever the case, this mix-tape needed to end with this song. I could listen to this song forever.