The Myth of Athena: Teacher of Leadership & Will Power
Athena is the goddess of traditional wisdom, the noble expression of a woman's personal (will) power and leadership. Athena's archetype represents the pattern of a logical woman who balances her head and heart harmoniously. She demonstrates feminine qualities of developing strong tactics in the midst of conflict and remaining calm under fire. She forges alliances and turns superiors into mentors. She is pragmatic. Her wisdom is the foundation of a woman's self-empowerment.
The most benevolent of all the goddesses, Athena taught the first rules of organized warfare and instructed military leaders before they went into battle. However, her wisdom extended beyond strategy and leadership to influence civilizations and cities, arts and literature. Artisans and tradesmen celebrated Athena as their patron, and women of ancient Greece revered her as the great teacher of domestic arts such as cooking, weaving and spinning. She gave the world the olive, the potter's wheel and the art of taming wild horses, It is said that Athena invented the plow, the rake, the yoke, the bridle, the chariot, and the ship, as well as the flute and the trumpet.
Athena is the personification of a woman's success in a male environment. She is able to balance emotions and erotic feelings, which gives her the power to work well with male energy and maintain friendships without sexual interference. This characteristic allows women to travel in male circles without fear, guilt, or anxiety and gives them the confidence that they are as capable as any man. The power of Athena is within you. Allow your WisdomDoll™ to bring forth your own individual Athena wisdom.
The Myth of Demeter: Teacher of Heart-Wisdom & Motherly-Love
In Greek, the name Demeter means "mother". Demeter is the legacy of the Great Mother Goddess. She governs fertility and regeneration; life, death and rebirth; planting and harvest; the great cycle of nature and of humankind. She is the true definition of abundance, generosity and compassion. Demeter is the mother, giver of life, caretaker of the young, the sick and the helpless and the bearer of loss. Demeter is the compassionate expression of a woman’s heart wisdom; heart-intelligence.
Demeter was the mother of the first-generation Olympians and the most generous of all goddesses. The Great Demeter was beloved for her service to humankind in giving the gifts of harvest. She was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve and prepare grain. This goddess fulfilled the roles of mother and provider of food. She was the nurturer of humankind.
Whether you choose to mother and nurture children, animals, a project or a business, is not relevant. What matters is your using these much-needed attributes that reside within you, to extend continuance of nurturing and mothering in the world.
The Myth of Persephone: Teacher of Insight & Harmony
Persephone was the beloved daughter of Demeter, the Goddess known for her nurturing and motherhood. Her father was Zeus, the mighty ruler of all Gods and Goddesses. Demeter loved and nurtured Persephone and sheltered her from the outside world. Persephone grew up delighting in each day, playing in the fields, running and chasing butterflies with other maidens. Demeter and Persephone spent much time together. They told stories, went on picnics and enjoyed the flowers and the birds. Life was simple and joyous, free of care. Persephone basked in the lighthearted and playful life that Demeter created for her. They had a special mother-daughter bond.
One day, as Persephone was playing in the fields with her friends, she spotted a beautiful narcissus. As she bent down to pick it, the earth split apart and a huge chariot pulled by two enormous black horses sprang from the earth's depths. Riding in the chariot was the mighty God of the Underworld, Hades. He abducted and took her to the Underworld.
Persephone descended into a long period of grieving and depression. She was in utter despair and dearly missed her mother. She missed the daylight and the lovely flowers. She sat alone in the darkness, grieving her loss, fearful of what lay ahead. Her life of childhood freedom was over.
One day, Hermes, the messenger God, appeared and told Persephone that Zeus had sent him to bring her home. Her mother, Demeter, had brought famine to the world in order to force Zeus to intervene. Hades gave Persephone some pomegranate seeds as she was leaving the underworld and tricked her into eating them. While swallowing the seeds she realized Hermes’ offer tied her to the underworld. She was to live in both places, on the earth’s surface with her mother and in the underworld with Hades.
Demeter greeted Persephone with tears of joy, but as they sat together they both knew life would never be the same between them. Persephone was no longer a maiden. She had become a woman initiated into the deeper mysteries of life.
Each autumn Persephone returned to Hades to spend the dark winter months in the underworld, returning in spring where she lived until the trees began to give up their leaves to the encroaching winter. Eventually, through releasing and letting go, Persephone learned to live in both worlds, balancing the light and darkness. She became the successful Goddess of the Underworld or Goddess of Harmony. Persephone is the powerful expression of a woman inner harmony, balance and insight; transformation.
The Myths of Mary Magdalene: Teacher of Spiritual Wisdom
Who is Mary Magdalene?
For more than 2000 years, Mary Magdalene has fascinated and disturbed the psyche of religious leaders, authors, artists, men and women of all walks of life. And finally "The Magdalene" is beginning to find her rightful place in the world, particularly in Christendom, as a goddess.
Few people agree on exactly who Mary Magdalene was-certainly she stands in the mind as a controversial woman. History reports that Mary Magdalene was an ardent disciple and beloved friend and companion to Jesus. She was wrongly depicted as a prostitute for centuries. Some believe The Magdalene was of royal blood-San Graal-and a high priestess of the Egyptian Isis Goddess cult. Others say she was a master teacher, trained in the mystery schools. During the first century, she was often referred to as a Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom.
What we do know from numerous sacred codices that Mary offered clarification of Jesus teachings to the masses. According to the New Testament, Mary Magdalene was the most significant figure in Christ’s mission, because she was the first person to see the "Risen Lord." Without this testimony there would be no resurrection story or reason for Christianity.
Mary’s evolution over 2000 years has made her more admired than ever. She has become a spiritual hero for millions of women. Her archetypal presence provides a sense of spiritual power, pride and hope of positive change for today’s woman. Mary Magdalene represents the essence of spiritual wisdom and equality of partnership. As a master teacher, Mary’s archetype will guide you to understand how to discern answers for your life through the power of knowing and intuitive intelligence.
