Athena

[OceanGoddess]

what do you think about Athena?

[Raevyn]

She's a deity... ;) What do you think of her?

[Azure]

I spent my early childhood in Athens. The first thing I saw every morning from my window was the Parthenon. To me she is a guardian figure still, even though my belief system is based on Celtic history and mythology, rather than Greek.

She inspires awe in me in a way that few deities do, she is a symbol of wisdom, rational thought, courage and conviction. While she is a warrior as well, and willing to use force to win, she doesn't do so without being aware of the consequences and doesn't chose to attack lightly. She speaks for justice rather than revenge, for knowlegde over ignorance, and for the great potential all people have in them. She watches over and protects what is hers, inspiring them to great works of art - she is a patroness of the theatre, along with her brothers Dionysios and Apollo, and of music and art, of architecture and the study of history.

She requires trials of her chosen, for how else does one gain wisdom? Odysseus, the wandering warrior, renowned for his keen wit, is the archetypal chosen of Athena, as is his clever and artistic wife, Penelope. She rarely offers easy solutions to anything, but will guide you in the way that will best prepare you for what you have to face in life. Socratic method suits her, and you may find that she answers a question with a question. She expects scholarship, artistry, and athleticism from most of her chosen in my experience, and sometimes martial skill.

Referred to as a virgin goddess, from my perspective, "virgin" underlines specifically her unmarried status. She takes her power from no man, it is her own. She is not without sexual feeling or attraction, nor does she deny it to her followers.

That has been my experience with her, as someone who was first carried up the Parthenon steps and "introduced" at the age of three.

[Emaleth]

For me Athena is an example, a model, she possesses all the qualities I'd like to have, especially as far as my work is concerned. When I started to work as a teacher, it was Her I prayed to for wisdom, courage, strength and justice. I still look at her this way and pray that I might be more like Her.

Blessed Be

[Kaylara]

She is my Matron. There is a book by Karen Hall called "Athena" that you may want to check out... It goes into all of the different faces and aspects of Athena.

Kaylara

[catlin]

I think Azure explained pretty well the aspects of Athena. Before I was called to the Celtic pantheon, Athena was my patron deity.