The Twelve Labors

The twelve virtually impossible tasks were the meansarrows earlier dipped into the Hydra’s poisonous
of penance the Oracle of Delphi revealed to Herculesblood (thinking ahead and learning from events in
to regain peace of mind and to free himself from theone’s life).
guilt and remorse for having killed his wife and kids.To capture the Cretan Bull with bare hands by tiring
The rampage was caused by a fit of madnessthe bull to the point of exhaustion (patience).
induced by Hera. The labors were conceived by KingTo steal the mad Mares of Diomedes. Hercules
Eurystheus, Hercules’ cousin and enemy, aemployed some youths to learn his skills and better
Hera’s protégé.themselves (help and been helped).
Hercules felt powerless just like we do at times whenTo obtain the Girdle of the Amazon Queen, Hippolita
the odds are overpowering. Some unfortunatewho fell in love with Hercules’ looks and candor
individuals, when  facing a crisis, are so overwhelmedand gladly gave her girdle (charm and politeness).
that turn to substance abuse and or promiscuity andTo obtain the Cattle of the Monster Geryon who had
adultery. The lucky ones have family and friendsone head, but six legs and six arms.  Geryon shot
capable to provide psychological support. Thesearrows at Hercules but Hercules’ arrows were
fortunate people will never know what it means to bedeadly being earlier dipped into the Hydra’s blood
powerless on a virtual suicidal path. The(self-defense).
“sinners”, sometimes victims of unfairTo steal the Golden Apples of Hesperides by Hercules
circumstances,  have no other alternative but toholding the heavens for Atlas while Atlas got the
follow twelve steps, difficult but necessary if survival isapples (cooperation).
the goal.To capture the three-headed monster dog Cerberus
One can easily see why Hercules’ twelve laborsprotecting the entrance to the underworld and then
were the AA twelve steps of ancient Greece.return the animal back as Hercules had promised 
Hercules had to look inward to find the skills needed,Hades (upholding promises).
and get help from others to achieve his goal.The twelve labors required:
To slay the Nemean Lion with his bare hands becauseTo accept the problem
the lion couldn’t be killed by any weapons (mentalTo realize a power bigger than oneself, God, can
and physical strength).restore mental wellness
To slay the nine headed swamp monster,  Hydra. IfTo choose to turn one’s life around
one head was cut off, two would grow in its place: theTo analyze the situation to understand the cause/s
viciousness of substance abuse. Hercules used aTo create a successful plan of action
torch to burn the neck to prevent head reproduction.To humbly carry out the plan
He dipped his arrows into the Hydra’s poisonousTo discover the hero within through prayer and
blood for later use (ingenuity and smarts).introspection
To capture the Golden Hind of Artemis, which ran asTo make a list of amends
fast as an arrow. It took Hercules a full year to thinkTo carry out the amends
like a stag to understand and find the way to catch itTo take a personal inventory toward self-improvement
(patience and perseverance).To find inner peace
To capture the giant and dangerous Erymanthian BoarTo help others who are facing similar problems
by pushing the animal into deep snow as advised by aHercules was not just antiquity’s role model and
wise centaur. (wisdom and listening skills)hero, but today’s. He, legend or legendary, still
To clean, in a single day, the Aegean stables filled withencourage the modern men and women to
filth accumulated over the years. Hercules divertedunderstand, to accept, to strive toward good, and to
two rivers whose waters went through the stableshelp others. The times have changed but the twelve
and washed them clean (humility, planning andlabors are still here with us to restore to happiness and
executing).self-control what was once lost to weakness and
To slay the man-eating Stymphalian Birds shooting thepleasure.