Why We Love Her ~ Artemis, Goddess of the Wild
Like a summer wind that hits the forest and dances with the aromatic pine needles of the evergreen; Artemis is free. Goddess of the Wild, and of the hunt she is the free spirit that flutters beneath your skin like thousands of butterflies in search of the truth within your heart. Artemis is a virgin Goddess and no not Virgin in the same context as we use today, for Artemis did take lovers but she choose not to marry or to have children.
Instead she spent her time with the candid woodland nymphs and protected all animals, including human women while pregnant and during labor. Her symbols are the crescent moon which represents her bow and arrows, as she was not only an avid huntress but a warrior goddess as well. She believed in herself first and foremost and with the fierceness of a mother bear she refused to back down from what she believed.
Why do we love her? There are lots of reasons why this kick ass Goddess was worshiped by some of the first feminists on the planet! But let’s highlight just a few.
1. This Greek Goddess has the power to both protect and nurture all life but also has the power to take life away while on the hunt; showing us that woman can be both soft and hard, brave and gentle. The key here is to remember that life is about opposites and its okay to embrace both the dark and light aspects of ourselves.
2. Artemis doesn’t take crap from anybody! She is strong willed and fights for what she believes in. Ancient woman recognized the importance of this trait and honored the Goddess with feasts and ritual allowing only woman to learn her secret mysteries. For it was said that any man who laid his eyes on the lovely forest Goddess without her permission would surly find the wrath of her arrows. She shows us that it is not okay to let anyone take advantage of us. To stand up for ourselves and fight for what we believe in.
3. By choosing not to have a husband or bare children, Artemis shows us that we do have a choice. It doesn’t matter what path you choose to walk down, it matters that you chose what is best for you based on your own free will. The best lesson we can learn from her is that we should always follow the truth within our hearts. That if we listen carefully our inner voice will tell us exactly what it is we need and what anybody else thinks….. doesn’t matter!
For more information on Artemis: Check out Melissa Potter’s Class Reclaiming Artemis: Calling Passion, Power, and Wildness Back into Your Life available from the Wise Woman University.
Stephanie Cavoli has been interested in writing and studying Woman’s Mysteries her whole life. Fascinated with the beauty, power, and prestige ancient myths have give Goddesses around the world, she has found that to empower women, is to honor and celebrate their individual uniqueness.
The Many facets of the Goddess is an amazing demonstration of just that. Stephanie owns and operates Potions Soapworks, plans to graduate from the Center of Natural Wellness, School of Massage Therapy in Albany NY this fall, and is excited to be able to incorporate her love for these Goddesses in her practice as well as her business. Stephanie may be contacted at [email protected] or visit her website at www.Potionssoapworks.com
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