stream cascades from a spring at the summit of the highest cliff to
the lowest depth of the underworld, before being drawn up through
the earth to emerge once more from the spring. Metaphorically, this
stream represents the circular flow of life, into which Psyche must
dip to fill her flask.
As she gazes at the icy stream, which is etched deeply into a jagged
cliff and guarded by dragons, the task of filling her flask seems im-
possible. This time, an eagle comes to her aid. The eagle symbolizes
the ability to see the landscape from a distant perspective and swoop
down to grasp what is needed. This is not the usual perceptive mode
for a woman, such as Psyche, who is so personally involved that she
“cannot see the forest for the trees.”
It is especially important for Aphrodite women to get some emo-
tional distance on her relationships, in order to see overall patterns
and pick out important details that will enable her to grasp what is
significant. Then she can assimilate experience and shape the form
her life can take.
Task 4: Learning to Say No. For her fourth and final task, Aphrodite
orders Psyche to descend into the underworld with a small box for
Persephone to fill with beauty ointment. Psyche equates the task
with death. Now it is a far-seeing tower’s turn to give advice to her.
This task is more than the traditional hero’s test of courage and
determination, for Aphrodite has made it particularly difficult.
Psyche is told that she will encounter pathetic people who will ask
her for help, and three times she will have to “harden her heart to
compassion,” ignore their pleas, and continue on. If she does not,
she will stay forever in the underworld.
To set a goal and keep to it in the face of requests for help is espe-
cially difficult for all except virgin goddess women. Maternal De-
meter women and obliging Persephone women are the most respons-
ive to the needs of others, while Hera and Aphrodite women are
somewhere in between.
The task Psyche accomplishes when she says no, three times, is
to exercise choice. Many women allow themselves to be imposed
on and diverted from doing something for themselves. They cannot
accomplish whatever they set out to do, or
Aphrodite: Goddess of Love and Beauty, Creative Woman and Lover