by Marlene Luce Trembley
In Jungian theory, archetypes of human nature identify patterns of thoughts and behaviour of modern women with goddesses from Ancient Greece. In her book, Jungian analyst, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Goddesses in Every Woman, refers to seven feminine archetypes in Greek mythology. Seven Greek goddesses bring insights into human behaviour patterns, especially that of women. They are Athena, Artemis, Hestia, Persephone, Demeter, Hera and Aphrodite. Three of these goddesses are identified as the independent feminine archetypes – Athena (goddess of wisdom), Artemis (goddess of the hunt) and Hestia (goddess of the hearth).
Athena portrays a curious woman who seeks information and wants to know how things work. She values rational thinking and the superiority of will and intellect over instinct. While Artemis has the innate ability to concentrate on whatever matters to her. Artemis can be associated with the women’s movement in today’s world. On the other hand, Hestia is more like the Oracle, being introverted, spiritual and intuitive.
Unlike these independent feminine archetypes, goddesses Persephone, Demeter and Hera personify the relational feminine archetypes. Persephone, goddess queen of the underworld, has a natural understanding of the unconsciousness in the human psyche and can bring important healing to others. Demeter, the goddess of grain & agriculture, has a strong sense of responsibility. Hera, the goddess of marriage, is relationship-oriented & focuses on finding the perfect man for commitment.
Conversely, the goddess of love & beauty, Aphrodite seeks to consummate relationships and can focus on what matters to her while giving to those around her a sense of being special.
To illustrate the change of seasons, the myth of Hades, brother of Zeus and ruler of the underworld, and Demeter, sister & wife of Zeus, the goddess of the harvest and the earth’s fertility, whose abducted daughter, Persephone, is associated with the coming of Spring and Winter. When her daughter, Persephone, is taken away, the natural cycles were disrupted until her return. Because of the injustice that had been done to her as a result of her daughter being abducted, Demeter inflicted famine on the land. When her daughter was returned, then came Spring and abundance from nature resumed.
There is a strong parallel between the natural world and that of our humanity. Hymn to Demeter is a story about love, relationships, family bonds, grief, loss, and a renewal of hope. At this stage of my life, I can identify with Artemis, who is the archetype responsible for the at-oneness with nature, the inspiration of my art, for a walk in the wilderness is also a walk inward. Bolen writes: ”Women who follow Artemis in the wilderness characteristically discover themselves becoming more reflective…They see inner terrain and dream symbols by ”moonlight”, so to speak, in contrast to reality.”
Transcending time, the story illustrates stages that are taking place simultaneously; mainly the natural cycles of life, the seasons and rites of passage. A parallel between past and present is drawn while suggesting a new narrative for future generations.
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