How to Be Spiritually Sovereign: Making Magic with the Virgin Goddesses
When it comes to the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, everyone is sleeping with everyone. Almost.
Three goddesses remain untouched by the wanted—or often unwanted—passions of men. As Jean Shinoda Bolen shares in her iconic book, Goddesses in Everywoman, these are the virgin goddesses…
Meet Artemis, Athena, and Hestia.
Of all the Greek goddesses, these were the only ones who never married, were never overpowered, and were never humiliated by male deities or men.
Interestingly, as Bolen notes, only these three—among gods, goddesses, and humans alike—were the only beings never susceptible to Aphrodite’s seductive power.
Why? How could these virgin goddesses maintain their independence? Because they are each whole in and of themselves. These aren’t just the virgin goddesses—these are sovereign goddesses.
Virginity carries many connotations in our modern vernacular—though we will still apply it to some goods such as virgin oil, it’s most often associated with sex.
When it comes to archetypal perspectives on virginity, the definition expands. The virgin archetype is one of purity—such as the spiritual clarity and pure heart of Mother Mary. And the virgin archetype is one of originality—meaning, “in original form”.
Your original form. Before you were touched, influenced, and hurt by all that we experience in our lives.
The virgin archetype within us is our true self—that part of us that is whole, divine, and always spiritually free and fulfilled.
As we move through life, most of us lose touch with our true selves to varying degrees.
We experience trauma and soul loss. We’re enculturated into the rules and norms of societal and family systems that don’t always meet the needs of our wild spirits. And we’re subtly—and not so subtly—manipulated by forces and groups that thrive when we give our power away.
This is normal. And it’s within the awesome gifts of the virgin goddesses to help.
The virgin goddesses can model sovereignty, freedom, and wholeness for us.
And to be clear—this doesn’t mean we aren’t in relationship! Rather, it means that we are complete within ourselves, which allows us to enter into relationship with greater clarity, healthier boundaries, and more secure attachment styles.
Each of the Greek virgin goddesses offers us a slightly different perspective on spiritual and personal sovereignty…
And, as a note—I especially love that these goddesses show us that the following qualities are all inherently feminine. These aren’t goddesses embodying masculine qualities within feminine form. These are feminine goddesses reflecting the divine feminine back to us—leadership, wisdom, contemplation, independence, focus, and achieving goals are innately feminine traits.
Gustav Klimt's Pallas Athena
Athena
Athena (Minerva), the goddess of wisdom and crafts, helps us connect our heads and our hearts in a way that illuminates Truth with a capital T. Just a few of her gifts we can explore:
Athena helps us see beyond the surface and uncover the deeper mysteries and knowledge available to us.
Able to hold both strategic, practical insights alongside creative energy that is self-generated and refined, Athena is an invaluable ally for bringing impeccable creations to life.
As a regal goddess who thrives in culture, Athena models true leadership, leadership we can apply to our own lives as well as draw from in service of others.
Hestia
Hestia (Vesta), the goddess of the hearth, is said to be felt within the heart of every home, turning our everyday world into a sacred space. A few of the gifts we can explore:
Hestia’s attention to the sacredness of our homes tunes us into the sensual nature of daily living, making simple household “chores” acts of pleasure and devotion.
The sacredness of our homes is extended to our bodies as well. Hestia reminds us that we are whole and sacred, and helps us treat our body temples with reverence and gratitude.
Hestia’s inward focus aligns with great mysticism. In meditating with this goddess, we touch into our oneness with the divine, receive deep spiritual insights, and cultivate the stillness from all movement arises.
Artemis
Artemis (Diana), the goddess of the moon and the hunt, brings us the gifts of rewilding. A few of her gifts to explore:
More at home in nature’s wilds than any society, Artemis is especially skilled at helping us deprogram from cultural conditioning and remember our own wild natures.
A fierce defender of women, Artemis is one of the few goddesses who show no jealousy toward other women, helping us both embrace the power of sisterhood and embody independence.
As a skilled archer and goddess of the hunt, Artemis helps us pursue what really matters without fear of competition, judgment, or failure. She knows she can accomplish whatever she sets out to achieve, and helps us do the same.
This is truly the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these goddesses, and I’ll be sharing more in-depth explorations of their magic and medicine in future articles.
For now though, here’s a practice to give you a taste of what working with these powerful women can offer…
Decide on which goddess you would like to connect with from the above list, and then follow the instructions below.
Goddess Meditation for Sovereignty
Get into a comfortable position. Bring your awareness to the present moment. Feel your body, sense the space you’re held in, and drop anything that’s not needed at this time. Use your breath to call in awareness and let go of distraction.
Visualize yourself in a beautiful, protective orb of light. Affirm that only love and compassionate beings are invited and able to be with you in this practice.
Use your intention to call forth the goddess you wish to connect with, making sure to specify that you wish to meet with her most compassionate form. You might like to speak her name aloud. Repeat her name as a mantra until you feel her presence.
As for an attunement to this goddess. She will take the lead so simply receive. You may get images, have a knowing of what’s happening, or simply feel vibrational shifts. Some people will even get a hint of an aroma as confirmation of the goddess’s presence.
When the attunement feels complete, ask the goddess, “How can I embody greater sovereignty in my daily life?”
Allow the answers to arise in your consciousness. Remember, spirit speaks in symbols and feelings. If you don’t feel clear on the answer right away, it’s likely that more meaning will unfold in the coming days. Stay open to synchronicities and insights related to your question.
Give thanks. Offer gratitude for the goddess and blessings and wisdom she’s shared with you.
Close the meditation. Affirm that the process is complete, all beings may return to where they came from, and you are free to rest.
If you’d like to explore the gifts of the goddesses further, it’s not too late to join the Goddess Activation Series.
Each month, we meet with a different goddess to explore her gifts and receive an attunement to her energy. These are accessible 90 minute workshops and each is recorded in case you can’t make it live.