Artemis

Goddess Of the hunt, wildlife and independence

Artemis - possesses an introverted and independent temperament (polar opposite to

Athena)--represents the goddess of Nature--concerned with matters of the outdoors,
animals, environmental protection, women’s communities--she is practical, adventurous,
athletic and preferring solitude. She symbolizes regenerative earth power over all living
things. Both Artemis and Athena bore arms as protectress goddesses.

The myth:
Artemis was born quickly by her mother, Leto. However, due to a curse from Hera, Artemis was the one
who, immediately following her own birth, assisted her mother’s delivery of her brother in a long and
difficult labor. She became known as the patroness of childbirth.

Armed with bow and arrow, possesses the power to inflict plagues and death or to heal. She is known as the
protectress of little children, baby animals and, yet, she also loves the hunt.

Artemis is one of the ‘virgin’ androgynous goddesses. Due to her well-integrated masculine energy and
independence, Artemis does not possess much need for a man to complete her. Her awareness is focused. A
predominately Artemis type woman may enjoy a companion who will work along side her sharing her
practical pursuits--parallel relatedness in shared activities, yet, each one retaining their strong and distinct
identities in their fairly separate lives. They may come together enjoying a deep, intuitive connection with
minimal ‘chatter’. Artemis, the goddess, was known to shun men.

Artemis - represents the feminine archetype of Nature & the Wilds

Virgin, pure, primitive-- of wild places--Mother of Creatures. The function of virgins was to dispense the
Mother’s grace to heal, to prophesy, to perform sacred dances, to wail for the dead.
Artemis' image at Ephesus depicts a torso covered with breasts conveying her as the fertile nurturer of all
living things. She was also the Huntress, killer/destroyer of the very creatures she brought forth--
demonstrating the light and dark side of the goddess.

Psychologically, Artemis belongs to the category of ‘virgin’ goddess--self-directed, autonomous, focused

consciousness.
• To the Romans, Artemis was known as Diana.
• Her ‘masculine’ energy can be deeply transformed or sublimated in highly creative ways.
• Androgynous nature--containing both feminine and masculine energies--complete, whole in and of
herself - her true relationship is with herself, an intense love of freedom.
• Androgynous energy contained within converts to visions, mystical experiences, and a deep,
enduring compassion for all of Nature.
• Lover of animals and the serenity found in Nature, on the one hand
• And, destroyer, Artemis-goddess leads the nocturnal hunt deep in the forest.
• Solitary nature teaching her self-sufficiency & independence
--prophesy, poetry, music, magic and healing

Known as the Bear-Mother, Artemis has a fierce exterior, but, like a mother bear, also displays a softer side
of herself. Some young girls in ancient Greece spent years in service to Artemis before going off to marry
and have children. They wore bear fur and masks, dancing in wild celebration of their own uninhibited
youth, and called themselves arktoi (female bears).

Today we can honor that tradition by seeking circles of women where wise-woman mentors and free young
girls can come together in play and share wisdom about what it means to be a woman in our world.
Women’s circles offer empowering connection, community, and a refuge of trust and love.
Artemis women:
• Allow Nature to frequently replace human relations--requiring solitary retreat whereby the ego is free
from external stimulation.
• Artemis women find that the non-stop presence of others hinders her presence to herself, therefore,
requiring retreat into the solitude of natural world and offering reconnection to her inner self.
• Many Artemis women, who would prefer living closer to Nature, are displaced in cities
• Disinclined by their true nature toward role of wife/motherhood or for the values of conventional society -
Artemis types may prefer companionship of women who share her sense of presence of self and self-
sufficiency

Challenges facing Artemis

◦ She tends to avoid her vulnerability in relation to others--hiding her emotional needs, even to herself.
◦ Artemis tends toward emotional distancing--difficulty trusting relationship.
◦ Growth for Artemis type woman is in developing her less conscious, human relationship side of
herself.
◦ Artemis type needs rewarding and challenging goals toward which to strive, if Artemis is unable to
find fulfilling self-expression in her life she will feel increasingly frustrated and depressed.

• Artemis’ gifts:
Ability to focus, set goals and reach them; autonomy/independence, ability to develop meaningful
connection with other women, passionate with herself, first, then she may hold compassion towards
others.

• Artemis’ personality

◦ As a child & adolescent:

▪ Strong, tom-boyish body, keenly instinctual connection with her body.
▪ She rejects the culturally prescribed behavior & interests of little girls as charming
and compliant pleasers - may be criticized for appearing unfeminine.
▪ Athletic, competitive, persevering
▪ She is an animal lover, determined to become a veterinarian.
▪ She is an adventurer, loves the woods, streams, wild creatures.

◦ As an adult woman:
▪ Non-traditional in her interests and approach to life
▪ Usually chooses her field of work as a result of her passion--sportswoman, biologist,
veterinarian, geologist, environmental advocate, healer, herbalogist, shaman or other
solitary professions
▪ Holds feminist views and sisterly affiliations with other women
▪ Sexual expression leans more toward recreational sport or excitement of a new
experience more so than for emotional intimacy - In later life sexuality shifts to
following her interests which possess personal meaning to her
▪ A woman in whom Artemis archetype predominates will require a good degree of
freedom and independence. Like her Athenian sister, she needs to direct her own life
in a way that gives her personal fulfillment/accomplishment rather than by meeting
the expectations of others.
▪ She needs Nature; if she does not adequately feed herself good doses of the ‘natural’
world, she will find herself feeling out-of-sorts, irritable or depressed.
▪ As a mother, if she chooses this path, she is most likely fiercely protective of her
children’s well-being while giving them plenty of freedom to experience

Modern day Artemis types:

Jane Goodall, animal researcher/scientist studying chimpanzees in Tanzania for over 30 years. She combines
international animal advocacy and environment; Georgia O’Keefe--modern artist embracing nature and
combining feminine sexuality in her artwork.
 A literary reflection:

When Artemis was 3 years old, Leto took her to Mount Olympus to meet his father Zeus, who was
totally enchanted with his daughter. Putting her in his lap, he asked her what presents she would like.
She responded:
Pray give me eternal virginity; as many names as my brother Apollo; a bow and arrows like his;
the office of bringing light; a saffron hunting tunic with a red hem reaching to my knees; sixty
young ocean nymphs from Amnisus in Crete, to take care of my buskins and feed my hounds
when I am not out shooting; all the mountains in the world; and, lastly, any city you care to
choose for me, but one will be enough, because I intend to live on mountains most of the time.

Courage Lina Szczepanowska :

“Courage is the price
that Life exacts for
granting peace,
The soul that knows it
not, knows no release,
From little things;
Knows not the livid
loneliness of fear
Nor mountain heights
where bitter joy can hear
The sound of wings.”
― Amelia Earhart
I am an honest woman: I earn my living. I am a free woman: I live in
my own house. I am a woman of the world: I have thousands of
friends: every night crowds of people applaud me, delight in me, buy
my picture, pay hard-earned money to see me.
I am strong: I am skillful: I am brave: I am independent: I am
unbought: I am all that a woman ought to be; and in my family there
has not been a single drunkard for four generations.
And this Englishman! this linen draper! he dares to ask me to come
and live with him in this rabbit hutch, and take my bread from his
hand, and ask him for pocket money, and wear soft clothes, and be
his woman! his wife! Sooner than that, I would stoop to the lowest
depths of my profession. I would stuff lions with food and pretend to
tame them. I would deceive honest people's eyes with conjuring
tricks instead of real feats of strength and skill. I would be a clown
and set bad examples of conduct to little children. I would sink yet
lower and be an actress or an opera singer, imperiling my soul by the
wicked lie of pretending to be somebody else.
All this I would do sooner than take my bread from the hand of a
man and make him the master of my body and soul. And so you may
tell your Johnny to buy an Englishwoman: he shall not buy Lina
Szczepanowska; and I will not stay in the house where such dishonor
is offered me.
Adieu.

Lina Szczepanowska in George Bernard; Shaw's misalliance

A musical reflection:

"What I Know”
By Trevor Hall
Album: "The Fruitful Darkness" (2018)

♬
Spillin' out like water
Like the mountain gave a daughter
Surrender never felt so good
I grew it strong like a sacred wood
And now the roots are running deeper
All illusion getting weaker
You see, the wisdom it don't come from reading
It comes from believing

What I know, is that I don't know

And now I dance and I sing and I live full
I give it all to the call of the unknown
Aho
What I say is that I don't say
And now I rest no stress in the Holy Name
All fears and my tears give it all away
I play, like a child of the earth

Steady in the vision

Oh child now we living
I lay it down with a joy unbounded
I let my maker string and sound it
And all the colors well they enter
There's no need for defender
You see the answer I am no more seeking
Only love I'm keeping

What I know, is that I don't know

And now I dance and I sing and I live full
I give it all to the call of the unknown
Aho
What I say, is that I don't say
And now I rest no stress in the Holy Name
All fears and my tears give it all away
I play, like a child of the earth

I give it all to my love, my love, my love,

my love, my love, my love
♬
A Chakra reflection: Vishuddha chakra

Vishuddha chakra comes from two Sanskrit words, visha which means "impurity" or "poison"
and shuddhi which means "purification." Therefore, vishuddha chakra has been translated as "the
purification center" because of its quality of purifying and harmonizing the opposites.

The Throat Chakra in Sanskrit is the Vissudha Chakra. It is located at the base of your throat and is
where your truth, authenticity, and self-expression reside. Vishuddha chakra is the center of purity,
harmony, peace, superior ideals, refinement and elevation.

When your Throat Chakra is balanced you can openly express yourself. You can communicate
clearly and honestly to others and you can share your uniqueness without fear or shame. You are
willing to listen to others and listen to yourself too. When there is an imbalance you can become
shy and feel a lack of expression or communication. You can even become egotistical and not be
willing to share or be open with others. Listening to yourself and others becomes increasingly
difficult also. Ear infections, sore throats and common colds could arise as well.

Vishuddha chakra gives the ability to interpret scriptures, to see the essence behind different
spiritual doctrines, to understand the non-verbal messages.

we call it the purification center because at this level whatever we encounter in life whether is
positive things or negative things, there is a truth that is happening, that is like a divine recognition
with all the phenomenon that we are encountering in life.

when there is negative energies, everything is instantly alchemised as a divine expression, so there
is a divine recognition there in every moment and everything will lead us to this deeper truth that
we are all one, so this sense of individuality is disappearing and everything is perceived in its
universality, therefore at this level of consciousness there is no fears more because the deeper reality
is perceived and we feel at peace and we feel free.

Affirmations are a great way to help re-establish positive thought and behavior patterns in your
everyday life. Throat Chakra imbalances stem from fear of self-expression, insecurities, closed-
mindedness and the inability to listen others and yourself. Writing these daily and saying these
affirmations out loud, while truly believing you can make positive change in your life can make
such a difference!

“I trust my voice.”

“I speak my truth.”

“I release gossip and negativity in my life.”

“I lend a compassionate ear to others and myself.”

“I am open to others’ opinions and beliefs.”

“I allow my uniqueness and self-expression to blossom.”

I have a right to express what is true for me.

I am a beloved child of the Goddess Artemis,

and I have a right to express my truth.

I have a right to clearly state my thoughts, opinions, preferences, and feelings.
I allow myself to find and activate my true and resonant voice.
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How to get in touch with Artemis

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Set your external and internal boundaries:

Learn to establish your physical boundaries. Practice the art of graciously saying “no” without feeling guilt
Choose to spend time with positive people who increase your energy, rather than people who deplete it.
In all your activities, be clear about your purpose and do not be swayed by others´opinions.
Acknowledge to yourself the things you do well
Leave the city behind, letting nature infuse your spirit. Take walks in the park or hike in the woods.

A writing reflection:

Always remember that you are no less important than everyone else, and you voice and your
opinion matter! Speak your truth and you can live from a truly authentic place! 

• Meditate on what your truth is, whom you may need to speak your truth to.
What are your boundaries with others that may not be healthy?
Where is your voice stifled and you feel you can’t express yourself freely?
Where do you need healing from past trauma or situations?

• Write letters of your truth.

You many choose to write 3 letters: one to yourself from the past, one to yourself in the present, and
one to your future self. You may choose to write a letter to someone who is deceased you never got
to be honest with, or someone alive who won’t hear your truth.

You do not need to give these letters to anyone, this is to get your truth out of yourself.
Once you are done with your letters you can keep them or burn them (you choose!)