Often an intensely introverted man, the Hephaestus type is ill at
ease in social situations, with no talent for small talk. Hence others
don’t linger in his company. The Aphrodite woman may be the ex-
ception. With her talent of focusing her total attention on the person
she is meeting, she may draw him out and find him fascinating.
Feeling attractive and attracted to her, the Hephaestus man re-
sponds with his characteristic intensity, and a passionate connection
is likely to flare up between them. She is attracted by the intensity
of his feelings and responds in kind to his emotional fire, which may
repel other women. She embraces his deeply felt erotic nature, which
may lie dormant for periods of time—sublimated into his work along
with his anger. When she evokes his passion, both lovers may be
awed by the upsurge of his feeling. If he is a craftsman or an artist,
she may also be drawn to the beautiful things he makes, and in doing
so she may inspire his creativity.
The problems of loving a Hephaestus man are many, depending
on the kind of feelings he keeps under wraps and on his psycholo-
gical health. At one extreme, he may be a pent-up volcano, poten-
tially paranoid—a loner whose work may not gain recognition be-
cause he is so solitary and hostile. In addition, feelings of anger, in-
feriority, and fear of loss are likely to be triggered in him by an
Aphrodite woman’s attractiveness or her attraction to others. If he
is truly like Hephaestus, he may be able to keep his jealousy under
control. Being around a Hephaestus man under these circumstances,
however, feels like living on the side of an active volcano, wondering
when an eruption might blow things sky high.
Some Hephaestus-Aphrodite combinations do work out very well.
The Hephaestus man in this case is an introverted, creative man who
feels a range of emotions (rather than mainly anger) in his character-
istically intense and contained way. He expresses these emotions
through his work and through a few important relationships. He
loves her deeply and passionately, yet is not possessive. His intensity
holds her emotionally, and his commitment to her provides a stability
she needs.
Another man commonly attracted to an Aphrodite woman is
volatile, like Ares (God of War, son of Hera and Zeus). The real-life
history of this type of man may bear a close re-
Goddesses in Everywoman