I've been diving deeply into the myths and archetypes of the Feminine -- the stories that are embedded in Western and Judeo-Christian culture, and thus embedded within each of us who've been raised in or influenced by the culture.
As we know, those are the myths and stories that 'live us' until we recognize, reclaim, and revise them. Then we begin to live fresh stories.
My recent 'dive back into the myths' is related to a renewed focus for my own work, and as always, related to my own practices and life. It's also related to a project I'm co-creating with my friend Kim Gould -- a series on some of the most powerful Feminine archetypes and myths (stay posted - it's coming soon!).
All in all, after ten days of looking with fresh eyes at some of the most familiar stories -- Eve of the 'original sin'; Mary Magdalene 'the reformed prostitute'; Athena, the 'goddess in a business suit' (or military uniform); Circe 'the temptress and sorceress'; Hera the 'jilted and jealous wife'; Venus-Aphrodite, the vain beauty and seductress; and Artemis (who the heck is she?) -- well, let's just say I have a whole new respect for the power of these stories, and the need to reclaim and renew them.
This work isn't new for me -- I've been diving into the recovery of the Feminine for the last 10 years, personally, and over the last 5 years that experience has made its way into my writing and work. Yet I saw and felt how powerful these stories are, how fragmented for both women and men, in a whole new way.
My Own Heroine's Journey -- Changing Archetypes
For example, I lived as an Athena Woman from my mid-teens into my late-thirties -- the self-sufficient, warrior-woman who focuses on and achieves in the realm of business. Athena, to the classical Greeks from whom we inherit so much, was her Father's daughter, born from his head, wearing full armor, motherless, and not into relationship per se.
Oh, I was in a long-term relationship during my Athena years, but wearing that Athena-armor. Like the Grecian Athena, I'd set aside the more intuitive, sensitive, empathic, and unconditionally loving aspects of my Feminine nature in favor of the more masculine aspects symbolized by Athena and recognized by the culture. This is not an uncommon story for many women.
Demeter & Persephone Come Calling
This Athena archetype was living me, until in my late-thirties Demeter came blasting into my life, ironically in Athens, Greece -- Athena's home town. Though I didn't have the context for it then, as I do now, my Athena crumbled and Demeter rose within me.
The headline for that collision might have read: "Workaholic Athena Train Hits Wall of Demeter, Slides into Underworld - Dazed Athena Heard to Say 'WTF?'"
Since Athena in Greek mythology is the motherless daughter of the Patriarch, the Demeter -- Great Mother -- archetype was wholly unfamiliar to me.
It was like being picked up by a tornado and placed in a completely different land. And not just Demeter came calling, so did her daughter, Persephone, the maiden kidnapped to the Underworld.
Suddenly I found myself living Demeter, literally mourning for my lost child and all focus on 'surface things' withdrawn. Then kidnapped, like Persephone, to the Underworld initiation, to resurrect those key parts of myself -- my essential Artemis, Aphrodite, Circe, Hestia -- that got set aside during Athena's reign. Afterwards, these other Goddesses arose and instructed me...reminded me...and guided me towards greater wholeness and authenticity.
My real-world mythical journey -- a heroine's journey -- is more clear in hindsight, with this renewed understanding of the myths that operate within us, often unconsciously. And my journey is ongoing, as I integrate and get to know these other Goddesses that dwell within me, and learn how to recognize, work with, and express the gifts they bring.
Meeting a New Athena
As a 'recovering Athena', at least as she's been defined since classical Greece, when I came to the Athena myth recently in my research for my Reclaiming Your Feminine Mojo projects, I felt a disconnect. My energy waned. I thought, 'been there, done that, not interested, thank you." I thought I knew all there was to know about Athena.
As I dove in, and swam past the overlay of classical, Patriarchal Greece, which focused in on the masculine, intellectual-warrior aspects and revised the myth to have Athena born of her father alone, severed from her Mother and Feminine Wisdom, I met wholly new aspects of Athena that had been set aside (the clues can be found in the items Athena is often portrayed with - Medusa on her shield and the owl of Wisdom). The same is true for the other myths we've inherited.
And I was surprised to find that what had been set aside in Athena so she could flourish in that Patriarchal culture and be her Father's Daughter are the same aspects that had been set aside in me (and ultimately by me).
The Power of Our Stories
Cultures are made, reinforced, and changed through the stories -- or myths -- they live by. The same is true for us, individually and collectively. We're in a time of changing stories, and the stories themselves can guide is in and through the transformation; guide us back towards wholeness and Divine potential.
Taking a fresh look at the old yet powerful stories, resurrecting the missing pieces, and refreshing and revisioning them ... pretty exciting work. As always, I'm passionate about sharing the treasures gleaned from my journey. Look for more posts and the upcoming eBook/tele-class series soon (and you can explore and update your 'stories' in consultations, too).
Blessings on the Way,
Jamie
* Images of Athena and Demeter from Wikipedia Commons.
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