Oh Hephaestus, what has she done?
Your bride lies trapped in the arms of the only man who has ever charmed the heart sought by all.
Tortured Hephaestus, your children are his. Your wife Aphrodite has sprouted seeds planted, not by you, but by her lover Ares.
Poor Hephaestus, you've woven your net and captured their betrayal for all to ridicule.
But who has been shamed?
Sickened Hephaestus, our hearts bleed for you.
Release them Hephaestus. Look to the stars. I beg you. The time is now. Wash the scarlet letter from her brow. Release them, sad Hephaestus and release yourself.
Have compassion for the Goddess forced to wed without love. Is her pain not a mirror for yours? Release her shame, Hephaestus and release your own. The cripple who mother would not nurture. Forget not that you, stable Hephaestus, are a God.
Remember the Centaur, Hephaestus. Remember wise Chiron who sacrificed himself for the one most tortured. He learned to suffer and gave his life for the release of the fire bringer.
Add water to your fires, strong blacksmith. This is a time of highest alchemy. Embrace your poison now. Stir your cauldron with the light of an awakened heart. Forge your medicine and release yourself as you release her.
Hephaestus, sweet Hephaestus, you shall be freed. Forgive and embrace this great teacher called pain. The Shaman Centaur has come to breath new life into lungs too long filled with fury.
Beautiful Hephaestus, look to the sky and find Father Zeus focusing his ever-watchful stormy red eye through the lunar lens and smiling upon the hearts that have burned.
Saved Hephaestus, look to the sky and see your ringed grandfather Chronos scything systems that once stayed the Scorpion.
Brave Hephaestus, look to the sky and drink of rains to rinse your pain and quench your thirst.
Sweet rains of Heaven, wash us all. Scrub us with love, dry us with light, and allow us to be vulnerable once again.
The Goddess scorned no longer.
The Phoenix rises reborn.