This exploration has landed so timely for me! I also battle with the tension of living in nature vs staying where we are, with our community that our kids have grown up with. I’m pretty new to mythology and Artemis introduced herself to me just two nights ago by the way of an oracle card at a spell casting circle. I know who she is but would love to dive deeper - do you have any reading recommendations?
A very welcome invitation! Either, both! Definitely interested in the psychological interpretations but appreciate that immersing in her mythology will provide a rich understanding of psychological interpretation, so anything you suggest would be greatly welcomed
I do think reading about her myth really helps with deeper understanding! It’s nice to situate yourself in the mythic ground before or while peeling back the layers. That can be as simple as reading the Wikipedia page about her, or, working through a general book on Greek myth. I like “Mythology” by Edith Hamilton.
For a psychological approach, I haven’t found a book dedicated to only Artemis, but I really enjoy these books that speak to Artemis (and other Greek gods and myths):
I loved the exploration of your process through an archetypal lens. I grew up in a farm and had acres of land at my disposal as a child. I loved it and am so grateful that nature was there for me when my overwhelmed parents couldn’t be. I raised my daughters in the city because I needed the community support that wouldn’t be available in the countryside. We made every effort to get out in nature and now they are both mothers who love camping and being in nature - I suspect when the children get older and they don’t need as much support, at least one of them may move out of the city. Until then I am cherishing every moment with my grandchildren!
Thank you for sharing, Cindy. Growing up, did being on the farm and closer to nature ever feel isolating? Like there wasn't enough opportunity, community, or other things to do? Sometimes I wonder about that element if I were to move.
It's so wonderful to hear how your daughters have a love of nature, even though they grew up in the city. I do think it's possible to foster that!
I feel that call as less of an impulse to escape and more like a nervous-system truth: my body and my family remembers what it’s like to breathe when we’re under open sky.
I’m raising three littles through adoption, trauma history, and ADHD. And for us, nature isn’t a hobby, it’s regulation. Screens and loud, high-stimulation places can tip everyone into overload pretty fast. But outside? They thrive. Sticks become stories, climbing becomes play, and their energy finally has somewhere honest to go. The volume turns down, the attitudes soften, and they get to just be kids.
Your line about not concretizing the yearning really stayed with me. I’m learning to honor the Artemis pull with gentle action, more trails, more water, more green, while still holding community and relationships close. Thanks for naming this tension with so much tenderness.
Thank you for sharing! Yes, the body remembers in a way the psyche can't quite grasp. I feel that too when I am out in nature, there's a softening, an ease, an expansiveness.
I know that for me, as a child, my time in the wild was so powerful and meaningful. It shook me to my core the first time I was truly exposed to it (after 8 years-old!!). And the experience was similar to what you describe, child-like wonder and energy finally has somewhere to go. You befriend the trees and the dirt and animals and the sky. Play with siblings takes on a different nuance. They are some of my most cherished childhood memories.
I think about wanting to provide that for my daughter, what it could mean. It's such a delicate thing to consider, but I think it's important to try.
This exploration has landed so timely for me! I also battle with the tension of living in nature vs staying where we are, with our community that our kids have grown up with. I’m pretty new to mythology and Artemis introduced herself to me just two nights ago by the way of an oracle card at a spell casting circle. I know who she is but would love to dive deeper - do you have any reading recommendations?
Oh, how wonderful that Artemis is showing up for you!! Are your interests more in her mythology or in psychological interpretations of her themes?
Thank you so much, I’ll check them out!
Yay, thank you! I’ve been digging into your archives all morning, so many resources I’m excited to read and watch ✨
Wonderful!!! Hope you enjoy :D
A very welcome invitation! Either, both! Definitely interested in the psychological interpretations but appreciate that immersing in her mythology will provide a rich understanding of psychological interpretation, so anything you suggest would be greatly welcomed
Also, welcome to the membership!!! If you haven't checked out the Resource Library yet, I have lots of book recommendations there too :)
https://www.theartemisian.com/p/resource-library
I do think reading about her myth really helps with deeper understanding! It’s nice to situate yourself in the mythic ground before or while peeling back the layers. That can be as simple as reading the Wikipedia page about her, or, working through a general book on Greek myth. I like “Mythology” by Edith Hamilton.
For a psychological approach, I haven’t found a book dedicated to only Artemis, but I really enjoy these books that speak to Artemis (and other Greek gods and myths):
- The Goddess by Christine Downing
- The Eternal Drama by Edward Edinger
I loved the exploration of your process through an archetypal lens. I grew up in a farm and had acres of land at my disposal as a child. I loved it and am so grateful that nature was there for me when my overwhelmed parents couldn’t be. I raised my daughters in the city because I needed the community support that wouldn’t be available in the countryside. We made every effort to get out in nature and now they are both mothers who love camping and being in nature - I suspect when the children get older and they don’t need as much support, at least one of them may move out of the city. Until then I am cherishing every moment with my grandchildren!
Thank you for sharing, Cindy. Growing up, did being on the farm and closer to nature ever feel isolating? Like there wasn't enough opportunity, community, or other things to do? Sometimes I wonder about that element if I were to move.
It's so wonderful to hear how your daughters have a love of nature, even though they grew up in the city. I do think it's possible to foster that!
Alyssa, this really met me.
I feel that call as less of an impulse to escape and more like a nervous-system truth: my body and my family remembers what it’s like to breathe when we’re under open sky.
I’m raising three littles through adoption, trauma history, and ADHD. And for us, nature isn’t a hobby, it’s regulation. Screens and loud, high-stimulation places can tip everyone into overload pretty fast. But outside? They thrive. Sticks become stories, climbing becomes play, and their energy finally has somewhere honest to go. The volume turns down, the attitudes soften, and they get to just be kids.
Your line about not concretizing the yearning really stayed with me. I’m learning to honor the Artemis pull with gentle action, more trails, more water, more green, while still holding community and relationships close. Thanks for naming this tension with so much tenderness.
Thank you for sharing! Yes, the body remembers in a way the psyche can't quite grasp. I feel that too when I am out in nature, there's a softening, an ease, an expansiveness.
I know that for me, as a child, my time in the wild was so powerful and meaningful. It shook me to my core the first time I was truly exposed to it (after 8 years-old!!). And the experience was similar to what you describe, child-like wonder and energy finally has somewhere to go. You befriend the trees and the dirt and animals and the sky. Play with siblings takes on a different nuance. They are some of my most cherished childhood memories.
I think about wanting to provide that for my daughter, what it could mean. It's such a delicate thing to consider, but I think it's important to try.