worker, who noticed that with meditation she became calmer, less
harried, and more compassionate.
In contrast to the gradual effects of meditation, a woman who
takes psychedelic drugs may precipitously alter her perception. Al-
though the effect is usually transient, long-term personality changes
can result. For example, if a woman who is dominated by
Athena—the logic-minded, pragmatic goddess—takes a psychedelic
drug, she may find herself enjoying her senses, for a change. What
she sees is more intense and beautiful, she becomes completely ab-
sorbed in music, feels sensual, sensing she is much more than her
mind. She may thus become acquainted with Aphrodite, enjoying
intense experiences in the immediate present. Or she may look at
the stars and feel one with nature and, for once, be Artemis, Goddess
of the Moon, the huntress whose realm was the wilderness. Or the
drug experience may take her into “the underworld,” where she
experiences the intangible and irrational contents of the unconscious.
She may become depressed, have hallucinations, or be terrified if
her experience parallels Persephone’s abduction into the underworld.
A woman who chooses to continue her education beyond high
school favors the further development of Athena qualities. Studying,
organizing information, taking examinations, and writing papers
all require the logic-mindedness of Athena. A woman who chooses
to have a baby invites maternal Demeter to be a stronger presence.
And signing up for a backpacking trip into the wilderness offers
Artemis more expression.
INVOKING THE GODDESSES
Many of the Homeric hymns are invocations to the Greek deities.
For example, a Homeric hymn may create an image of a goddess in
the mind of the listener by describing her appearance, attributes,
and feats. Then she is invited to be present, to enter a home, or
provide a blessing. The ancient Greeks knew something we can
learn: goddesses can be imagined and then invoked.
In the individual goddess chapters, readers may discover that
they are not well acquainted with a particular goddess. They may
find that an archetype that they would find ex-
Goddesses in Everywoman