Goddess Archetype: Artemis

I’ve always had a connection with images of Artemis and the idea of bows and arrows – I’ve just never really been interested in doing any research on the matter. After completing this quiz in my 4SJ coursework I found that Artemis was one of the Goddess’ I relate to the most – coincidence? I did a quick look around on Artemis and what she stands for.
I mostly used this link as my reference.

Image by ArtemisiaSynchroma on Deviant Art (Click Image)

Basics

• Goddess of Nature and the Moon.
• Concerned with matters of the outdoors, animals, environmental protection, women’s communities.
• Practical, adventurous, athletic and preferring solitude.
• Childbirth.

Myths and Stories

• Artemis may have, early on, prior to later Greek patriarchal manipulation, been the Great Mother, triple in her power as Maiden, Mother and Crone. Artemis may likely be one of the oldest of all the Greek goddesses–belonging to the most ancient layer of human memory.
• Artemis’ mother was Leto, a nature deity who bore Artemis without pain. Artemis’ father was Zeus.
• Artemis, directly following her own birth–a newborn, herself, Artemis assisted as midwife to her mother, Leto, throughout a very difficult birth to her twin brother, Apollo. Artemis was subsequently considered a goddess of childbirth.
• Classic Greek historians, on the other hand, depict her as a virgin who never mothers a child of her own, shunning men and living in the forest on the fringe of the inhabited world.
• Mother of Birth and of Death/Huntress and taker of life – representing both the Light and the Dark side of the goddess’ nature.
• Makes sacred; solitude, natural and primitive living.
• Not flattered by or interested in male suitors. She turned one spying man into a deer and his hunting dogs, no longer recognizing him, tore him apart.

Weaknesses

• 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 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.

Strengths

• Self-directed, autonomous, focused consciousness.
• Her ‘masculine’ energy can be deeply transformed or sublimated in highly creative ways.
• Androgynous energy contained within converts to visions, mystical experiences, and a deep, enduring compassion for all of Nature.
• Solitary nature teaching her self-sufficiency & independence–prophesy, poetry, music, magic and healing.

Thoughts

I definitely relate to Artemis and what she represents. It should be very interesting to find out what she has to teach me over the course of the 4SJ.

Pagan Blog Project #4 – ‘D’ is for Doula

What is a Doula?

To me a doula is the wholistic version of a midwife. They offer non-medical support and information to parents in pregnancy, childbirth and the post natal period (the differences between Midwives and Doula’s is outlined here). The Australian Doula College says that a Doula “…believes it is a woman’s rite of passage to birth her baby where, with whom, and how she wishes. The Doula is knowledgeable in comfort measures such as relaxation breathing, massage and positioning, managing labour sensations using water, hot packs and aromas. Doula’s specialise in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or foetal heart rate monitoring. Doula’s do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. A Doula is skilled in supporting the birthing woman and her partner to meet the challenge of labour one contraction at a time.”

How is this Relevant to my Spirituality and Practice?

Well, everything I do in life somehow relates back to my spirituality but in particular, Doula-ing (I don’t think that’s an actual word but we’ll run with it) is something I see as a very spiritual act for me and the parents I’ll be caring for. I will be facilitating their rite of passage into parenthood, especially the mother who is giving birth. As well as becoming a Doula I will also be trained by the School of Shamanic Midwifery – which I believe will focus more on the spiritual side of pregnancy and childbirth as opposed to the emotional side (but both are important!).

“Midwifery is the practice, art and science of being a midwife. Midwife means ‘with woman’ and the classic role for a midwife is to be ‘with woman’ during and around her childbearing. To midwife is to facilitate, to assist someone’s learning [by guiding] the person to discover their own inner knowing through asking questions and ‘holding the space’ for them to travel within to do this.” – School of Shamanic Midwifery

In this respect along with my duties of midwifing the arrival of new life onto Earth I’ll also be trained in midwifing death and change within others eg. young girls beginning menarche, menopausal women and even those who are close to the void. I believe these skills and duties come hand in hand.

The Important of Women’s Spirituality

Under all this is the realisation that in our modern age we have neglected and to some extent tormented, the feminine in nearly all ways. Traits such as creativity, intuition, empathy, compassion, etc are seen as feminine qualities (but are not secluded to just women – remember ‘feminine’ =/= female) and are mocked as ‘weak’ ‘unnecessary’ or ‘illogical’ and therefore useless. If I may be so bold – I believe that this could be a lot of the reason why we have so many problems in our world. The domination of masculine energy within our species is, basically, initiating our ultimate downfall (extinction?). Masculine qualities such as competitiveness, independence, more logically focused and rebellious behaviours have, up until this point, been very successful methods for the survival of the species. At this juncture in our evolution however I believe that the feminine qualities need to be respected and nurtured to a point where they are valued just as much as what the masculine qualities are in our modern society.

I believe that in becoming a Doula and Shamanic Midwife, I’ll be able to help facilitate the integration of the Women’s Mysteries into our culture – creating a safe space for the feminine to emerge. In particular I hope to encourage women and girls to feel safe and important. To acknowledge the power of emotions and intuition more will, I believe, facilitate a new consciousness for humankind. One that is sustainable and fulfilling.