The Myth of Syringa and Pan
I knew I had to call something “Syringa&Pan”ever since I first read about the myth of Syringa and Pan. At the time, I was amazed as the Peter Pan version of Pan was all I knew, along with his beloved Tinker Bell.
Somehow, I always felt like a trapped Tinker Bell kind of gal, whatever that means, a fairy in a world not quite right for fairies, a world that no longer believes in magic, fairies, nymphs, or Gods of the Forest.
I was a trapped Tinker Bel that liked to solve esoteric mysteries. I also loved nature and somehow felt much more balanced, happy, and grounded near nature, especially the woods and rivers. Perhaps this is why I felt such resonance with the story of Syringa and Pan.
Now, there are many versions of this myth that has captivated poets, musicians, artists, and writers for ages. Some versions are darker and some lighter. Each version teaches me a bit more about sacred mysteries and myself, one door opening and then another. No one version reveals all the secrets. That is just not the way of the mysteries. There is no one right version of a myth.
Here is my version and adaptation of the Syringa and Pan story:
Pan, the God of the Woods, is cheerfully walking around the forests and rivers, feeling happy and balanced.
However, one day Pan was wandering around his beloved forest, and he comes across Syringa, a beautiful virgin wood nymph that worshipped the Greek Goddess Artemis, the Goddess of wisdom, hunting, the wilderness, and chastity. Pan fell in love at first sight, not knowing quite what to do with all this love and passion. Up until now, he was so emotionally stable, grounded, and happy. Then with this new feeling, he went a bit mad as people do when they fall in love. Doesn’t it make everyone feel a bit off center, that feeling you have no control anymore and do not know where you leave off and another begins? Was she my soul mate, he wondered to himself? Pan pursued her with gusto, but she was so overwhelmed. Syringa was also a devoted sister of the Artemis order. She had vows of chastity to her beloved Artemis.
Little Syringa was scared as he relentlessly followed and pursued her. Syringa also needed her space as she was used to doing as she pleased. She was a very independent and strong-willed nymph. She ran away from Pan, thinking that she could easily outrun him, as Pan did not have her speedy nymph running abilities, and Pan could not so easily camouflage himself in nature. However, she ran right into a long river that she could not so quickly cross, so Syringa asked the water and air nature spirits to please help her and together they merged their power to the power of three. Syringa turned into a beautiful lilac shrub, a beautiful magenta color, her personal favorite lilac color, which was so peaceful and grounding for her, but also filled her with so much joy and passion. She was so honored that her sister nature spirits came to her aid so quickly, combining all their magical powers to help Syringa access her shapeshifting abilities.
When Pan finally made it to the river, he could not see his new love anywhere and he was so distraught. Apollo, the sun god, whispered in his ear to take the hollow reeds from the lilac shrub and tie them together to make a Syrinx (Greek word for Lilac). From then on, the Syrinx became the Pan flute. As it turns out Apollo was right to guide him in this direction. Pan played his new horn all through the forest day and night. The sounds were so beautiful. He felt less crazy and more grounded. The sounds soothed his broken heart. He began to feel a new inspiration and passion he had not known before, as prior to now, opening his heart made him feel too soft and he needed his all courage as God of the Woods.
Pan would always miss his beloved Syringa, but he knew in his heart that this love and loss was an important part of his journey. He admitted to himself that he was not accessing all his vital power before, which he clearly needed as God of the Forests. He was not sure why, but his new horn and the beautiful music filled his soul in a way he could not describe. The forests came more alive. The birds sang more. The plants started to sing along. The rivers were full and flowing more vigorously.
Pan once read an obscure poem about a beautiful garden named Lord Maitreya’s Garden, but, at the time, he could not relate to the poem at all. In the poem, a resilient lotus flower experienced overwhelming loss and hardship over a long period of time. Eventually, a beautiful mystical garden appeared out of nowhere. Pan would not wish his heartache on anyone, but he finally understood why it was necessary to open his heart and let his emotions flow.
Pan realized that fear of loss and falling in love are intertwined. He felt he needed to guard his heart to stop himself from experiencing this all-consuming loss. He also had important things to do in his position. However, Pan’s heart was now wide open. His emotions flowed through him more easily similar to the river in his beautiful woods. Suddenly, he could talk to the animals and all the beings in nature. All the animals and nature spirits came to his aid when he had to confront powerful adversaries. His ego was too big before, he realized. He felt like he alone had to do everything which was one reason why he guarded his heart and emotions so intensely. Now, he realized he was not alone and never was. It was like a new portal opened up for him and with it his whole perspective on life changed.
Now there is more to the story, of course. I will share more of my journey with Pan, lilacs, fairies, goddesses, magic, many more myths, even occultism. There is no reason to fear. We all must journey down through our dark nights to find our shapeshifting abilities, flowing rivers, and Pan Flute.
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