Artemis is a powerful energy. She is wild, ferocious, gentle, and nurturing. She is the primal aspect of ourselves, the instinctual and visceral potency of our divine nature. Fiercely autonomous in body and spirit, she is a sacred place for us to worship the feminine.
Artemis has many myths and has been received by many people over the course of human history. In my own life, I often think of Artemis in relation to the modern world and state of women, and of Woman.
Personally, since I began working with Artemis energy, It has been abundantly clear to me that she is a protectress of that which is precious. In many myths, she is portrayed as quite ferocious, vicious, and unyieldingly enraged. I believe this alludes to her potency as a keeper of the divine feminine in an often cruel and dangerous world.
For thousands of years, women have been in various states of peril at the hands of the patriarchy. Women have developed survival tactics as subtle as gossip all the way to the visceral nature of poisoning abusive husbands, castration, and other violent acts. Artemis speaks to this aspect of our nature, our will to survive in dismal environments, and our knowledge of what is true and undeniable to the senses while communing with nature.
Here are several stories of Artemis I find particularly intriguing:
Artemis as midwife and protector of children:
Artemis and Apollo were twins, born of Leto. Leto became pregnant by Zeus, which angered Hera so greatly she cursed Leto with the inability to give birth on Earth. And so Leto found the floating island Delos upon which to give birth. Artemis came first, and came simply. Apollo’s birth was far more difficult, and Artemis assisted Leto and as such became deeply intertwined with midwifery.
This aspect of Artemis carried forth into her life in the forest, as she assisted many animals with birth as well. It is also said that Artemis has the power to bestow or deny fertility upon any being. In other myths, Artemis is known to save newborn children from miserable ends (though on occasion she is responsible for the situation).
In considering this myth, it speaks to the nature of intuition. As a newborn, goddess or not, Artemis knew instinctively how to assist her own mother with the birth of her brother. Immediately upon her entry into the world, Artemis trusted herself above anything else, and used the knowledge inherent in nature to serve another.
It is very simple to justify away intuition. Women are heavily groomed to be submissive and gentle, and not to interfere. These qualities have literally been necessary to survival for women for millennia, and they are not easily shed with modern freedom and respect (though there is still such a long way to go). In times that I find myself doubting my intuition, I think of Artemis, of the rush and babble of a creek, the rustle of leaves, the sound of a twig snapping me into alertness as it would a deer, and she helps me to trust what I know to be true, that which I sense and feel.
Artemis as fierce protector of women and autonomy:
In one myth, Artemis’ autonomy is challenged by a hunter named Actaeon. She is bathing in her sacred pool, her weapons held by her nymphs, her clothing set aside. Actaeon then happens upon her. It is often said that this was purely accidental, but other translations say it was quite intentional, even so far as to say Actaeon attempted to force himself upon her. In any case, Artemis’ chastity was deeply sacred to her, and this was a deep violation. She then splashes water at Actaeon while reciting an incantation, and he transforms into a stag, soon seen by his own hounds, who then hunted him down and tore him limb from limb.
In another myth, Artemis and Orion develop a deep and sacred friendship, blossomed from their hunting partnership. As their love for one another grows, Apollo grows jealous and starts to believe Artemis will renounce her chastity and marry Orion. He tells Artemis that an evil man has attacked and raped one of her sacred priestesses, and that he has seen the evil man swimming away attempting to avoid her wrath. She is overcome with rage, and in her blinding ire, she finds this man and slays him with her arrow. Only afterward does she realize the man was Orion, her trusted and beloved friend, and that her brother had deceived her. To honor her dear Orion, she places him amongst the stars as a constellation.
There is much attention paid to the idea of Artemis’ virginity in myth. In Greek myth, this is a sacred component of her life, and she protects it ferociously. She is deeply offended by any challenge to this concept, and will instantly flood with rage and punish the offender. For myself, this represents the necessity of bodily autonomy amongst women. Should a man even accidentally gaze upon her naked body, he will be torturously slain. At the thought of someone violating her priestess, the only possibility is death for the perpetrator.
The idea of chastity has had many cultural impacts over the years, but it has also been a safe haven for those who don’t want another to control their body. I don’t think it’s fair to look at historical chastity and place there a label of purity, as a dichotomous element to sexuality. I think one must regard chastity as one of few options for women and the queer community. When society at large will murder you, incarcerate you, or throw you in an asylum should you veer off the course of heteronormative expectations, a vow of chastity could provide sanctuary for the temple of your body, as it remains in your own possession.
When I think of the chastity of Artemis, I think of the ferocity with which we have the right to protect ourselves and our bodies. The absolute truth that nobody has any right to you and your form outside of the permission you give, that is the quality of Artemis I find so profound. This is where, in my perception of our existence, Artemis and Medusa share a common ground. Both entities know the sanctity of their own bodies, and the repugnance of violating that sanctity.
Artemis as an independent thinker:
When Artemis was a child, she asked her father Zeus for six wishes:
1. She never wanted to be distracted by the constraints of marriage
2. She wanted a bow and arrow, like that of her brother
3. She wanted a hunting outfit, and she didn’t want to be forced to dress like a lady, she wanted the freedom to wear what she desired
4. She wanted to bring light into the world
5. She wanted 60 nymphs as companions and to help her care for her hounds
6. She wanted all mountains of the world as her domain
From the get-go, Artemis knew her connection to nature was true. She wants to dress comfortably, not in conformation to society. She wants freedom to be herself and to roam across the earth in the company of women. She wanted to be a bearer of light.
There is so much to be said for these desires. I don’t know how many times I’ve had this conversation with women, about this desire to be in the safety of other women and in the vastness of true freedom. For so many of us, that is our greatest goal. To be able to travel through the natural world without fear. This is where Artemis serves as inspiration.
It is also worth mentioning the allusion to a variety of queer identity types in Artemis myth. In one rather tragic story, Callisto, a priestess of Artemis, is desired by Zeus. He approaches her disguised as Artemis and seduces her in this way. Several months later, while bathing naked in a pool together, Artemis notices Callisto’s pregnancy, and exiles her to the forest. Just after Callisto gives birth, Artemis turns her into a bear as punishment.
There is much here to unpack. Callisto, upon seeing Artemis as seductress, immediately participates. The word ‘companion’ in Ancient Greek can have connotations of romantic partnership, and so there is a possibility that romance amongst Artemis and her nymphs was common. I don’t know Ancient Greek, but it is probably not too far of a stretch that ‘chastity’ may have been seen as solely between men and women. But there is plenty to be said for the idea of asexuality as well. Artemis knows from a young age she wants to avoid marriage, and it is incredibly important to her that she is recognized as chaste, or possibly asexual. She doesn’t want to be seen as a lady, she just wants to be herself. Honestly, Artemis as related to the queer community should be a book, not just a piece of a journal entry.
If you’re interested in any of these aspects of Artemis, I strongly suggest reading more about her, both in her myths and in modern interpretations. I think modern interpretations of stories that have lasted millennia are vital as a way to relate to the deeper truths within the stories.
If you’re interested in working with Artemis energy, live boldly and authentically, listen to your intuition as if it’s the only existent authority, find respite in woodland solitude, and embrace your body as a sacred temple.
Thank you so much for reading this. I hope we can discuss it someday!
May beauty surround you. Above you and about you. Before you and behind you. And may your journey home be on a trail of peace. Happily may you return.