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ATHENA
CLAN - Western Gate - August 12, 2007
(This clan
is already in motion - to
find a new clan click here)
INTRODUCTION
The
naming of a clan is a very sacred process. It is not dictated by the
creativity alone of the facilitator, but is rather more of a download of information that best represents the existing energy
of the group as a whole. Through intuition, meditation, inspiration,
imagination, observation and deep listening the clan is named, not by a
human, but through a human by the unseen energy source that connects us
all one to another.
We are but reflections of one another, until we are
reflecting only what is inside of our heart of hearts from our purest
essence. And we will then each be one to another the most persistent of
reminders of the greatness that lies within each of us. For it is then that we are
projecting the most essential part of our highest and finest selves
from the very core of our being. And so it is wise to pay attention to
everything and everyone that comes into your space. Let no blessing go unnoticed and no message go
unheard. Be not fooled by the wrapping paper on the gift or the cover on
the book.
And so with this, we have the
naming of this Addiction Alchemy tribe on May 6, 2007:
The Athena
Clan
ENERGIES
COURAGE/VULNERABILITY
ATHENA'S
POWER
The modern day Athena is the truly capable wise-woman, multi-tasker,
career juggler, devoted mother, dedicated spouse/partner, loyal friend,
and community leader. To the outside world she appears to have it all
together. Yet, Athena can, as life moves forward, find herself lost to
her own true identity. She may have never (or since childhood) focused
on just who she really is without all those titles. This is not to say
that she doesn’t derive a great deal of satisfaction from her conquests.
Her bravery in going after what she wants is stellar and she does
achieve great things. But sometimes this paints Athena into a
corner…..the corner of her own accomplishments! Conversely enough, all
this greatness can actually get in the way of Athena truly coming to
know and expressing herself from her core.
Athena is a force to be reckoned with, strong, wise and capable. Yet,
this façade of strength can often create a well of loneliness within her
soul. Athena-inspired women know no fear, or at least that's the face
they present to the world. Rest assured, Athena;s can be tough,
independent, clever and resourceful women. However, the soul call, now
that the skills of strength and wisdom have been honed, is to go back
and take adventure in the exploration of her weaknesses. For it is often
in her very “weaknesses” that the seeds of her true greatness lies
dormant. Athena needs to learn how to trust her incredible strength,
enough to become truly vulnerable. For in fact, it takes great strength
to reveal such tenderness. And it is this display of tenderness that
will balance her outer shell of perfection and bring her into her own.
Athena is truly the last step for the Goddess becoming in each of us.
She has proven that she can succeed. She has the strength, the wisdom
and the courage. Now all she has to do is trust it and let go!
Dare to fail! Dare to feel foolish! Dare to make a mistake! Understand
that mistakes are actually a part of every creation and are always a
pivotal point to even more successful outcomes. Athena reminds us to
open up to our softer side. She reminds to kick-butt and take
names.....WITH LOVE. She wants us to know that we are creator Goddesses
and that we are the embodiment of the divine feminine!
ATHENA’S MESSAGE
FIND YOUR VOICE!
Athena empowers you to surmount fears, giving you the freedom to explore
your independent, clever and resourceful side. Invoke Athena to "find
your voice" and overcome self-expression obstacles. Communicative energy
forms a healing power that facilitates the reconnection of body,
emotions, feelings and psychic energy. Effective communication not only
leads to positive outcomes for your projects, but the ‘true you’ is
honored whenever you express your honest feelings instead of voicing
what you expect others want to hear. It is your responsibility to make
yourself known.
If Athena is speaking to you, it is likely you are adept at "conquering"
the difficulties in your life - one by one, each time you conquer
another difficulty, you feel on top of the world. But, ask yourself why
you are entering cycles of seemingly impossible tasks, only to surmount
them then search out more. The rush that achievement brings may be
providing you with an endorphin surge that is addictive - you may be
compelled to seek out bigger and better challenges to sustain your
habit. If this sounds familiar, you may be presenting a strong and
courageous face to the world, but really you're drawing on your strength
rather than devoting time to exploring your weaknesses. It's time to
unclutter your life of all the issues dragging you down - the lower you
are dragged down the harder you have to fight to get back on top. And
while fighting for what you want is sometimes necessary, it is important
to recognize that it may be equally appropriate to "get out of our own
way". There are two modes of creation, through building up and cutting
away. It may be time to balance the two and bring more peace into our
lives.
ATHENA SAYS…
Pick up your sword and declare battle against the clutter in your life,
both internal and external. There is as much satisfaction to be found in
simplicity as there is in resolving complexity. If you have clothes in
your wardrobe you haven't worn in a year, give them away. If you have
books on your shelf that you know you are not going to read again, pass
them on. What junk is lurking in your drawers that you haven't used (or
even laid eyes on)? Throw it out! Toss out sticky bottles of
who-knows-what at the back of your fridge - fill it instead with fresh
fruit, and top up with water ready for the Summer. Spring clean your
immediate environment, and feel how much lighter you feel!
Now, is the time to use that “can do” attitude to bring about a
lightening of your own load and releasing what is not necessary in your
life or what may be bringing you down energetically. Aside from the
space clearing which can certainly open the doorway to a floodgate of
new energy, there may be a need for an attitude adjustment. Remember,
the answers do not lie in other people, places or things, but in your
own internal beliefs and attitudes which may be creating a drain on your
energies. Athena, in her eternal wisdom, is asking you to go inside and
spring clean your own heart and mind. Use some of that awesome wisdom
and strength for your own edification. This is what will clear the way
for right action. This is the difference between funding your will and
controlling and forcing. It is a relinquishing of the need to control
and the drive for perfection in order to allow and trust that in the
care and feeding of your soul, all else that is right and good will
flow.
ATHENA
AFFIRMATIONS
I totally accept myself, just as I am, right here and right now
I let go of perfection
I am beautiful and radiant
I am the embodiment of the Goddess
I am healthy and happy
I am welcoming peace
I allow myself to be quiet and still everyday
I feel absolutely supercharged
Today is my chance to be healthy
I honor the strength of my body and move with grace and ease
My vital energy resurfaces naturally
I enjoy the foods that are good for me
SYMBOLOGY
ATHENA
TOTEMS
Athena is often pictured with sword, shield, an owl and/or Nike, the
Goddess of Victory. Nike, in the modern world is associated with the
famous slogan “Just do it”! She is the perfect companion to Athena, as
this is the true secret to Athena’s success…she is a doer – a mover and
a shaker and a masterful creator of her world! Other names for Athena
are Pallas Athena (Greek), Minerva (Roman) and Sulis (Celtic).
GEMSTONES
Moonstone, lapis lazuli, dark aquamarine, selenite
ORIGINS OF
ATHENA
Greece
Zeus' favorite daughter, Athena was the beautiful warrior Goddess who
stood guard over the ancient city of Athens. A goddess in whose honor
was made an entire city, as well as temples and statues, not the least
of which was the Parthenon. The most celebrated statue of the warrior
Athena was that of the Parthenon, the work of Phidias. The Goddess,
standing, wore a long chiton; her head was helmeted, her breast covered
with the aegis (body plate with head of Medusa), her right hand rested
against a spear and in her left hand she held a winged Victory
(Nike-goddess of victory).
In addition to her undisputed
supreme qualities of wisdom, intelligence and warrior prowess, she was
adopted as the patron of the arts and craftspeople of Athens, and her
brave swordsmanship made her an inspiration to the military forces.
Athena's grace and intelligence and wisdom were underlying qualities to
her immense courage and strength.
Athena's functions are many: she
is venerated among the great divinities for her qualities of
warrior-Goddess, Goddess of the arts of peace and Goddess of prudent
intelligence. To Athena the warrior - her oldest manifestation - belong
the epithets Promachos ('who fights in the foremost ranks') and
Alalcomeneis ('who repulses the enemy'). She is the protectress
of towns and the guardian of acropolises. The pacific Athena protects
various industries. She is preeminently the Ergane, or working woman,
and is the patron of architects and sculptors, as well as of spinners
and weavers. The olive tree owed to her its fruit. Her wisdom, which
earned her the epithet Pronoia (the Foreseeing), made her the
counselor-Goddess (Boulaia) and the Goddess of the Assembly (Agoraia).
Athena's emblem is the owl. She is often depicted as well with sword,
shield, aegis, serpent, armor, helmet and at times Nike, the goddess of
victory.
There are two stories pertaining
to Athena which may have earned her the misnomer of being considered a
"man's goddess". The stories respectively of
Arachne and
Medusa (the Gorgon), depict Athena striking both of these women with
horrible curses which contribute to their demise. An interesting way to
interpreted these stories (and others) is to recognize that archetypally
Athena may be reminding us to accept the parts of ourselves which we
deem to be our weaknesses and that potentially by eradicating them
instead of integrating them we may be contributing to our own demise
metaphorically speaking. It could also be relating to our need to
support other women in our life and to accept their support, as well as
to more fully embrace the divine feminine inside of ourselves.
Rome
Minerva, the Roman virgin goddess of warriors, poetry, medicine, wisdom,
commerce, crafts, and the inventor of music, was equated with the Greek
Athena. She is the daughter of Jupiter (whose Greek counterpart is
Zeus), and in much the same way as Athena, sprang as a adult from her
father's head wearing armor and bearing weapons. Minerva is usually
depicted wearing a coat of chain mail and a helmet, and carrying a
spear. As Minerva Medica she is the patroness of physicians. She
is thought to be of Etruscan origin, as the goddess Menrva or Menerva.
As her Greek counterpart, Minerva has 2 symbols, the olive tree and the
owl.
Celtic
In Celtic lore Athena/Minerva's equivalent is Sulis. Sulis was a goddess
of healing who ruled over the remarkable hot spring beside the river
Avon near Bath (Aquae Sulis). She was not only a water deity, but her
name Sulis is obviously linked with the sun, probably related to the
heat of the waters. Thus she represents 2 of the elements, water and
fire. Her association with Minerva may have related with the craft of
healing. According to mythologists, the shrine of Sulis Minerva at Bath
provides a superb example of the hybridization of Roman and Celtic
religious beliefs and practices of the times.
JUMP TO:
GoddessAthena.org
Goddess.com.au
Mythman.com
Athena -
Wikipedia
Minerva's
- Wikipedia
Sulis -
Wikipedia
Medusa
Arachne
Colorwithin.com
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