Storytelling Week 5: Calm down, Set.

Kor- The therapist

Set- brother of Osiris

Kor: Ok, Set, why don't you come in and sit down?

Set: Don't tell me what to do. I am the next ruler of the great land of Egypt.

Kor: Ok, we can talk about that, but not until you sit down. 

*Set sits down in a huff. Crosses his arms and leans back in the chair.*

How Set might look pouting about the therapy session
Photo by: Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)

Set: Ok, fine. Are you happy now?

Kor: Yes, now lets get started. I'm sensing a lot of anger. Do you want to talk about it?

Set: Um, yea I'm angry. Of course I am. I was supposed to be the next ruler of Egypt and my brother stole it out from under me. Now he rules and everyone worships him because he's sooo nice and such a good leader. He's not nice! He's just weak. 

Kor: That's interesting you say that. What do you think about the fact that he's led Egypt so well? Think about everything he's done. He's led Egypt in the right direction by directing them to be holy and righteous people. There are so many beautiful temples everywhere and the country has been without war for many years since he is so focused on peaceful negotiations. 

Set: Yes, but the country could be so much larger. So much stronger! I know that my way is the right way and he refuses to see it. 

Kor: Maybe you could try to bring it up to him? Have you calmly and clearly asked him if he would ever consider your ways and possibly handle a conflict according to the way you would? 

Set: NO! I'm not going to sit down with him! I can barely stand in the same room as him. I can't stand him!

Kor: Ok, you seem to be getting angry again. Let's try some deep breathing exercises.

*Set breathes in and out. The tone of his voice does relax some, but he continues.

Kor: Ok, would you like to continue? The first step to dealing with this conflict is for you to get it all off your chest. Then, I can help you try to move on.

Set: I doubt I'll ever just move on but we'll give it a try. I feel like you'll never let me go if I don't and I just want this to be over.

Kor: That is probably true. The officials are very nervous about your high level of anger. They don't want you to make any rash decisions. 

An illustration of Set
Created by Jeff Dahl

*Set rolls his eyes*

Set: Ok, well next I want to talk about his wife. She is stronger than me. That is weird.

Kor: Why do you think that bothers you?

Set: Because! She's a woman! She shouldn't be stronger than me. She's also way too smart. She must have spies everywhere or magical powers where she can see my every move. Every plan I have to try and usurp Osiris, she intercepts! I have strong number of followers, you know, and I could totally do it. But they're losing faith in me because none of my plans go through. Its just so annoying.

Kor: Yes, I could understand how that would be frustrating. I think a lot of time, men do have problems with women being stronger and outsmarting them. It threatens their sense of manliness. However, if you can overcome this, you will start to feel secure in yourself and will have more faith in yourself. This will help you lead your followers in a confident manner and not seem like you are flailing around for ideas. However, I must warn you that I cannot support you trying to recruit a rebellious army to overthrow Osiris. 

Set: Aren't you supposed to just listen to my problems? I don't care to hear your advice.

Kor: That may be the case and it's time for this session to be over anyways. For now, my advice to you would be to let go of your jealousy. I hope you can realize that its actually holding you back. You could be a great official, the right hand to your brother if you wanted, but you are so jealous that you are only focused on overthrowing him. Now, you're scrambling to lead a rebellious army when you could lead so much more. For now though, I think this is great progress. Same time next week?

Kor: I don't think I have a choice. 

Author's Note:

This week, I decided to write my story using the "therapy session" storytelling style. I chose this style because I thought it would be a good way to talk about the jealousy and anger that Set holds against his brother, Osiris. I wrote this story based off of Osiris in the Ancient Egypt unit. The story is focused on Osiris and how he led Egypt during the time he was the ruler. He ruled after Ra, and was known for leading Egypt using a very peaceful and calm style. He encouraged the people to be very faithful to the gods, build temples, and to deal very calmly with other nations. He was known of as "Osiris the Good." Isis, his wife, stood by him and was his faithful companion. While Osiris, was traveling, he trusted his wife to rule the empire in his place. His brother, however, was extremely jealous of him and angry that Osiris was the one to rule Egypt. He believed in war and his heart was full of evil. Later in the unit, it tells the story of how Osiris is killed and Set takes over his position to be the tyrannous ruler of Egypt. 

Bibliography: 

Osiris from Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).