How to Use Goddess Archetypes to Navigate Change
When navigating uncertainty and challenging circumstances, it can be reassuring to realize we’re able to tap into different parts of ourselves that can come forward to support us.
What if you could recognize when a different part of yourself, a trait or skill you have yet to use, is needed to master whatever challenge stands before you.
Because ultimately that’s what challenges present us with: an opportunity to think, feel, be, act in a different way to overcome them, tapping into a new skillset and part of ourselves that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
Archetypes allow us to do this, to recognize a specific character type and quality that wants to come forward, and to drop into those unique qualities and skills to embody them.
In Jungian psychology, an archetype is defined as an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from past collective experience and present in the individual unconscious. Dynamic archetypes show up in our collective consciousness all the type, through myths and storytelling.
It was discovered in this way that god and goddess archetypes are found in the stored unconscious of the collective. In the book Goddess Within, the two authors studied this phenomenon and how these powerful beings of the past still show up in our modern world.
One thing to note however, is the reason that goddesses were split into multiple beings instead of one goddess, is because of the patriarchal rule that was emerging in Ancient Greece. Note, in these goddess archetypes I’m only referring to the greek goddesses as the studies were done on them, but there are god and goddess archetypes from many different cultures and ethnicities. I continue to explore these in my own research and will share it with you, for this blog’s purpose we are only talking about the Greek Goddesses.
So the Goddess was deemed ‘too powerful’ and split up into six goddesses: Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, and Persephone. Which means that we all have aspects of these goddesses within us, as ultimately it was originally in one form. Different ‘types’ will show up in different moments in time, based on the life circumstance that relates to the specific type.
For example, when single you meet someone and fall in love unexpectedly, Aphrodite is sure to be present. When your focus shifts to prioritizing your career, and using your gifts of intelligence and relating to others, Athena is guiding you with these qualities.
When you are navigating grief and loss, Persephone is your ally in navigating the darkness and embracing it for its lessons, instead of running away from their wisdom. We are complex beings and the goddesses, even though split as an attempt by the patriarchal rule at the time to dilute the power of the full goddess, one might argue that it only emboldened and defined each type more fully.
Each of them make up one full, actualized goddess archetype. They represent different aspects of women, representing the dynamics within each of us at play and how when we step into a new chapter parts of ourselves may be at odds with what is required of us in this new phase of life. Just like humans, these goddesses have an Achilles' heel, a weakness or negative trait if they don’t address it.
When you identify a goddess type that’s present in your life or you feel strongly aligned with, it’s a sign you’ve learned to embrace these traits and used their gifts within yourself. It also means there’s an opportunity to tap into another goddess type that can help you overcome your inherent weaknesses of the current goddess archetype.
The Six Greek Goddess Archetypes
Artemis: Artemis, the goddess of the wild, holds a central place in the modern world, embodying a sense of independence and wildness. She feels more at home in nature, moving her body, rather than in the city and focused on intellectual pursuits.
Athena: Athena is a highly visible goddess in our current society, known for her extraverted, practical, and intelligent nature. In Greek mythology, she was hailed as the companion of heroes, and in the modern world, she works alongside men in various fields such as business, politics, and education.
Persephone: Persephone is the queen of the underworld, and is not as easily recognizable as the other goddesses. Her charming exterior serves as a form of protection and concealment for her deeply inward nature. She feels at ease with the mystical, and is drawn to new age teachings, spirituality, and personal development.
Aphrodite: Aphrodite, the goddess of love, has captivated people's imagination throughout history, especially in the arts. She has a positive relationship to her body, and is at ease in the present moment, and drawn to the glamorous worlds of theatre and celebrity. She is deeply misunderstood, as she is drawn to all this from a selfless place vs. ego.
Hera: Hera is the queen bee, who possesses a commanding presence, effortlessly standing out in any crowd. Her confidence and self-assured demeanor make her a natural leader. Think of Hera up at the top of Olympus, looking down on the kingdom with Zeus from above.
Demeter: Demeter embodies the essence of motherhood within us all. Nurturing comes naturally to her, extending beyond simply caring for children, and her sense of fulfillment comes from taking care of others.
Perhaps you can already start to recognize yourself in some of these goddesses, though this is just a taste! I’ve made a short quiz designed to help you find out which goddess archetype is showing up strongest for you and which type you need to embody more for wholeness.
Take the quiz here, and you’ll receive a detailed overview of your goddess, what you need from your complementary goddess, plus a Pinterest board full of inspiration and symbols to help you connect with your goddesses.
Let me know which one you get, and note this can change at any time due to your current life transitions - it’s not final. You can listen to this as a podcast episode with more details here.
With love,
Emily Grace
This is the work I do with clients in my 1:1 program, which you can learn more about here.
Want to dive deeper into learning about the embodied arts? Download a free curriculum - I am a proud affiliate for The School of Embodied Arts.
