But ancient excellence yields strength in alternate generations of men; the dark fields do not give fruit continuously, [40] nor are trees accustomed to bear an equal wealth of fragrant flowers in every circling year, but in alternation. And thus the race of mortal men is led by Fate. But no clear sign comes to mortals from Zeus. Nevertheless we embark on bold endeavors, [45] longing for many deeds, for our limbs are bound by shameless hope, while the streams of foresight lie far away. But we must hunt for due measure in our love of gain. The madness of unattainable desires is too sharp. - Pindar, Nemean Ode 11

In Plato's Ion (/ˈaɪɒn/; Greek: Ἴων) Socrates discusses with the titular character, a professional rhapsode who also lectures on Homer, the question of whether the rhapsode, a performer of poetry, gives his performance on account of his skill and knowledge or by virtue of divine possession.

Socrates deduces from this observation that Ion has no real skill, but is like a soothsayer or prophet in being divinely possessed:

"For not by art do they utter these things, but by divine influence; since, if they had fully learned by art to speak on one kind of theme, they would know how to speak on all. And for this reason God takes away the mind of these men and uses them as his ministers, just as he does soothsayers and godly seers, in order that we who hear them may know that it is not they who utter these words of great price, when they are out of their wits, but that it is God himself who speaks and addresses us through them." (534b–d)

Socrates offers the metaphor of a magnet to explain how the rhapsode transmits the poet's original inspiration from the muse to the audience. He says that the god speaks first to the poet, then gives the rhapsode his skill, and thus, gods communicate to the people. Socrates posits that Ion must be out of his mind when he acts, because he can weep even though he has lost nothing, and recoil in fear when in front of an admiring audience.

- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_(dialogue)

“Indeed, the truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers the most: and his suffering comes to him from things so little and so trivial that one can say that it is no longer objective at all. It is his own existence, his own being, that is at once the subject and the source of his pain, and his very existence and consciousness is his greatest torture.”

~Thomas Merton

When the esoteric wisdom of the ages seems so distant and unintelligible, even when one knows of its purpose of reforming the soul and the potency which it carries, the ability to self-actualize and live virtuously can appear just as distant and unattainable. One must realize the wisdom of the ancient traditions is of the same Tradition whose torch we still carry today. It is alive and waiting for us in our families and friends, churches and schools, and works of genuine art. Our lives are already steeped in its divine Light. There is no secret wisdom that we haven't heard yet which we require to recognize true Beauty, Truth, or Goodness in the world. There is no grand ritual required to initiate us into a virtuous life.

The path begins, and continues forever, with simple changes habits with one's bodily temple and exercises of awareness in one's conscious mind. Too often bad habits disrespecting the body will eventually corrupt the mind, and vice versa. When both are infected with evil the soul suffers and is brought down into despair. The man who eats poorly, stays inside all day, complains about circumstances, and eschews responsibilities will accumulate nutritional deficiencies and weaknesses until his soul is overburdened. Whether this sickly lifestyle began with one poor dietary habit or one bad thought pattern is irrelevant because one will eventually bring about the other. Likewise the adoption of a single good habit, whether it is physically or mentally healthy, will begin to change the whole. Good habits become good routines, and good routines become good Life.

When you are then oriented on the right path, the truths of the ancient wisdom inevitably reveal themselves. You have planted the seed of your own salvation so you may later reap that what you have sown. You are born anew to live out your own myth as the salt of the Earth. You are the mystic, the warrior, the alchemist, the hero...