Man's Odyssey Ends Right Where it Began, at Home

By Jonathan Farrell

The Webster Dictionary describes the word "odyssey" as a long wandering marked by many changes of fortune.

Odyssey is the perfect word to describe the journey of Sunset District native Steve Georgiou. What he had planned is not what came to be. Yet, what came to be helped him achieve his goals.

Usually such adventures happen in the realm of the unexpected and it was through the unexpected that he redirected his life for the better.

"It was the summer of 1993 and I had just lost a coveted teaching job and had broken a long-term relationship with my girlfriend," Georgiou explained.

Eager to get away, he took a trip to Greece. Being raised in the Greek-Orthodox tradition, he made plans for a retreat at a monastery on the Aegean island of Patmos.

Yet his plan changed upon arrival. The monk he knew was not there, so Georgiou had to find another place to stay.

"I was walking along the shore, wondering what to do, and I met a friendly local, who struck up a conversation," explained Georgiou.

This stranger encouraged him to meet a hermit called "Pax," who lived in a tiny blue and white house atop a mountain. Following the man's instructions, Georgiou went looking for the hermit's residence.

"I didn't know anyone and was knocking on doors asking for Pax," Georgiou said.

Finally, at the right door, a strong but gentle voice answered, "My name is Lax, not Pax." Georgiou eventually discovered that the hermit he was directed to was an American "minimalist" poet named Robert Lax.

Lax had been a mentor to many writers and artists over the years, including Jack Kerouac. "I did not know who Robert was and I had never heard of his works," Georgiou said.

Lax, as it turned out, was a contemporary of the Beat Generation writers, such as Allen Ginsburg.

Lax converted to Catholicism and formed a close friendship with the famous Trappist monk and author, Thomas Merton. Merton said of Lax, "He had an inborn direction to the living God."

Unexpectedly, Georgiou found a source of wisdom and creativity.

"I realized this 80-year-old man was powerful. He had a very warm and inviting way about him," Georgiou said.

The meeting with the hermit-poet turned out to provide the direction and help he was seeking. Georgiou returned to the island for many visits.

Over the next seven years, their friendship became the subject for a book which has just been published by Novalis, in Toronto.

"The Way of the Dreamcatcher: Spirit Lessons with Robert Lax, Poet-Peacemaker-Sage," has hit the bookstores and Georgiou is busy promoting his new book. He is the author of two prior spiritual works.

In addition, he is an artist, iconographer and an instructor at San Francisco State University. Georgiou is completing his Ph.D. in Art and Religion at Berkeley this year, largely because of the inspiration of Lax.

Lax encouraged Georgiou to find his gifts and work them, especially in a place where "grace could flow." For Georgiou, a place where grace flowed was to be found, ironically enough, not that far from home, a place where he has lived all his life - San Francisco.

"It is no surprise that nearly everyone who comes here does not want to leave," he said.

"It has everything," Georgiou said, in regard to the Sunset District. He said Ocean Beach, in particular, is special.

"The entire coast is a gem, an inspiring locale and a place of rejuvenation. The sea is a life-giver, as Robert Lax said."

For more information about "The Way of the Dreamcatcher," contact 23rd Publications at ttpubs@aol.com or call (800) 321-0411, ext. 142.