I felt lit up when I first learnt about Artemis. The fact that she made her home in the woods and the wilderness, despite not being from there. And especially that she was a protector of young girls. There was a festival in her honour where young girls would go into the forest to dance, run and dress as bears. I grew up in a big city and…
I felt lit up when I first learnt about Artemis. The fact that she made her home in the woods and the wilderness, despite not being from there. And especially that she was a protector of young girls. There was a festival in her honour where young girls would go into the forest to dance, run and dress as bears. I grew up in a big city and was a shy and sensitive kid, so I find the idea of a wild feral girlhood and this kind of coming-of-age, confidence-building ritual very compelling!
Artemis is a powerful invitation to explore the wildness of nature and its reflections within ourselves. I think I've continued to contemplate how to exist in both worlds, because my draw to the wild is really strong, almost too strong at times (I daydream of leaving city life behind and being in the mountains).
Do you feel drawn to her other expressions as well (a lunar deity, huntress, etc)?
Katniss, yes! She is very much an Artemisian figure. Especially when you consider her relationship with young Rue. Hunger Games is a retelling of Theseus' story, but I like the perspective that its one with an Artemisian twist.
I felt lit up when I first learnt about Artemis. The fact that she made her home in the woods and the wilderness, despite not being from there. And especially that she was a protector of young girls. There was a festival in her honour where young girls would go into the forest to dance, run and dress as bears. I grew up in a big city and was a shy and sensitive kid, so I find the idea of a wild feral girlhood and this kind of coming-of-age, confidence-building ritual very compelling!
I really relate to this, Susannah. I touched on some of those themes in this older post: https://www.theartemisian.com/p/hiking-with-artemis
Artemis is a powerful invitation to explore the wildness of nature and its reflections within ourselves. I think I've continued to contemplate how to exist in both worlds, because my draw to the wild is really strong, almost too strong at times (I daydream of leaving city life behind and being in the mountains).
Do you feel drawn to her other expressions as well (a lunar deity, huntress, etc)?
Oh my goodness, I'm going to savour this article - thank you!!
Very much drawn to the huntress aspect. This may also speak to my other fantasy life as Katniss Everdeen :)
You're welcome :)
Katniss, yes! She is very much an Artemisian figure. Especially when you consider her relationship with young Rue. Hunger Games is a retelling of Theseus' story, but I like the perspective that its one with an Artemisian twist.