Artemis is one of the Goddesses, or Feminine archetypal energies, that I resonate most with. When I glance back to the early days of my life, as a child wandering and exploring the wild hills, I can see the influence of Artemis.
She is fearless in the wild places, honoring of her Feminine nature, unhesitating to take action (as long as it's intuitively guided), and has some pretty cool, and very handy, gifts.
Let's see if you recognize them in yourself.
Before we get to the gifts, though, let me introduce (or re-introduce) you to Artemis.
You, Meet Artemis. Beloved Artemis, Meet You.
Artemis is the great Goddess of the Hunt, of the Forests, and of the Wilds. She was called Diana by the Romans, and had the great temple at Ephesus -- considered one of the great wonders of the world -- built in her honor. She had devoted followers, and for good reason.
In her earliest incarnations, the Goddess Artemis was a a great, primordial, Lunar-Creatrix Goddess, revealing the Mysteries and our Lunar, or some might say Feminine, gifts of intuition, instinct, clairvoyance and clairsentience, and inner-sight, amongst others.
The Gifts of Artemis
The daughter of the Great God Zeus and the Great Goddess Leto (Latona), and the sister of Apollo, Artemis was asked when just a small girl what gifts she'd like to receive from her father, Zeus.
Though very young, Artemis replied with clarity: She wanted a fine bow and arrow made of silver, to be given the 'office of Light', and to always be sovereign. She also asked for a cool saffron-colored tunic to wear, and lots of names like her brother Apollo (she didn't want to be pigeon-holed, this one!). Zeus, being a generous father, gave her a few extra gifts as well.
What I love about the story of Artemis is what She may tell us about the 'Artemis Gifts' that live within us. Let's take a look -- see how you resonate with each of these:
• Artemis' fine silver bow and arrow:
Silver is the color associated with the Feminine and the Moon, or Lunar Nature. The bow is a symbol for the crescent moon -- the Maiden, or Creative Goddess. The arrows are the projectiles of focused intention, the equivalent of 'vision seeds' that are an important part of our creative-manifestation process.
Because these are so clearly associated with the Feminine, these 'arrows of desire and intention' are intuitively guided, sourced from the deep pool of our own inner, Feminine and Lunar nature.
• Artemis' 'Office of Light':
Given that she is Goddess of the Hunt, of the Forests, of the Wilds, and her close and deep connection with the Moonlight, Artemis is able to use her gifts of intuition and instinct, her ability to navigate her way through the forests and the wild places, her capacity for 'clear seeing' and pattern-tracking, in service to others who are traveling the sacred path of their authentic nature.
* Artemis' Gift of Sovereignty:
Sovereignty was ultimately translated to mean 'virginity', which in antiquity and before meant 'whole unto herself', not necessarily one who was uninitiated into the Mysteries of sex.
Artemis' gift of sovereignty means that she is always true to authentic nature and has a deep respect for (and insistance on) respectful, mutual relationship. She sees that quality of relating as a thing of deep beauty. And she is loyal to her own Wild Heart, and the Wild Heart in all.
When she compromises herself, whether in work or love or play, she feels drained of power, off-center, and doesn't function as herself. Only when she's true to herself and requires (and gives) that respect and mutuality in relationship does she feel herself and have access to her full Artemis Mojo.
The Awakening-Power of Stories
The stories of Artemis help to awaken us to her gifts that we may be inspired to embody and express them as they come in and through us. And they remind us of the great gifts that reside within us, within our own Feminine or Lunar nature that can 'see in the dark' and navigate the forests and wilds by way of intuition, instinct, and inner-sight.
If you want to explore these or other gifts and 'Mojos' of the Feminine, and dive more deeply into Artemis and other great ones, join me in co-creative adventure in The Academy of the Divine Feminine. We're exploring and strengthening our Divinely Feminine Superpowers -- Artemis would approve!
If you want to read a bit more about Artemis, here's another blog post I wrote with her inspiration.
And if you want to explore your Artemis gifts in my new 'Gifts of Artemis' private mentor-coaching series, send along an email.
Feminine Mojo Blessings!
Image Credit: Artemis, attributed to Pan Painter, State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, gratis Theoi.com. Artemis with bow and arrow is from an ancient collection, unattributed.
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