tremely helpful is undeveloped or apparently “missing” in them-
selves. It is possible to “invoke” that goddess, by consciously making
an effort to see, feel, or sense her presence—to bring her into focus
through the imagination—and then ask for her particular strength.
The following invocations are examples.
- Athena, help me to think clearly in this situation.
- Persephone, help me to stay open and receptive.
- Hera, help me to make a commitment and be faithful.
- Demeter, teach me to be patient and generous, help me to be a
good mother. - Artemis, keep me focused on that goal in the distance.
- Aphrodite, help me to love and enjoy my body.
- Hestia, honor me with your presence, bring me peace and
serenity.
GODDESSES AND THE STAGES OF LIFE
An individual woman may go through many phases in life. Each
stage of her life may have its own most influential goddess or god-
desses. Or she may live out one goddess pattern that takes her
through successive stages. When women look back on their lives,
they often can recognize when one goddess or several goddesses
were more important or influential than others.
As a young adult, she may have been focused on her education,
as I was in going through medical school. The Artemis archetype
kept me focused on the goal. Meanwhile, I called on Athena abilities
to learn procedures and facts, which would lead to making diagnoses
based on clinical and laboratory findings. In contrast, my college
classmates who married shortly after graduation and had children
were calling on Hera and Demeter.
Midlife is a time of transition, which often ushers in a changing
of the goddesses. Somewhere in the mid-thirties to mid-forties, the
prevailing strongest archetype in the previous years now often fades
in intensity, allowing other goddesses to emerge. The results of effort
put into whatever occupied a woman’s early adult years—marriage
and children, career,
Activating the Goddesses