Thus, she “acted out” her ambivalence—although she wanted the
role and consciously threw her efforts into it. Artemis gave her am-
bition, and Aphrodite helped her express her talent. But she was
unconsciously afraid to get the role and test the relationship: Hera
put the relationship first, and Demeter protected the man from
feeling threatened or inadequate. Her decision not to try out for the
role was made outside of consciousness.
Psychosomatic symptoms may be expressions of censored god-
desses. For example, the independent woman with Athena qualities,
who never asks for help and never seems to need anyone, may de-
velop asthma attacks, or ulcers. Perhaps this is the only way her ego
can allow dependent Persephone to get some maternal nurturing.
Or the giving, Earth Mother type may turn out to have labile hyper-
tension. Her blood pressure skyrockets from normal to high, often
when she seems especially selfless. Although she may not have
enough Artemis to stay focused on her own priorities, she feels
tension and resentment when she so readily puts the needs of others
first.
Moods can also reflect censored goddesses. That far-off, distant
mood that a happily married woman gets into when she hears about
friends who took different paths may represent the stirrings of virgin
goddesses. That vague dissatisfaction felt by the career woman when
she gets her period could be an unsatisfied Demeter.
SHIFTING GEARS: WHEN SEVERAL
GODDESSES “TAKE TURNS”
Women often describe themselves as being “more than one per-
son,” when several goddesses take turns being the dominant influ-
ence. For example, Carolyn sells over a million dollars of insurance
a year; she stays on top of a myriad of details and aggressively goes
after clients. At work, she’s an effective mixture of Athena and
Artemis. At home, the business tiger turns into a solitary pussycat,
who pads contentedly around her house and garden, as an introver-
ted Hestia taking pleasure in solitude.
Leslie is the idea person in her advertising agency. Her presenta-
tions sparkle. Her creativity and her ability to be per-
Goddesses in Everywoman