Hera and Not Losing Oneself In A Relationship

 

 

Hera, “the goddess of women, marriage, family and women in childbirth in ancient Greek religion and mythology. She is one of the twelve Olympians, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.” – Wikipedia

Hera, a Greek Goddess of myth and literature, was portrayed as a jealous and rancorous wife of Zeus.  She could be very vindictive when it came to disloyal husbands or lovers.  She is the Goddess of marriage and women’s life (particularly women in labor). She was a city Goddess and of high import to peace and war.  She was a highly adored goddess who was also a severe matron. 

Her sacred animal was the cow; her sacred bird, the cuckoo and then the peacock; she offered women good health, protection, and was an aide to relationships and marriages.  She was known to be powerfully positive or negative.  They also attributed her with power over the skies and could make it beautiful or stormy.  They felt she cold curse with storms , with marriage problems, kept women safe from rape but either kept a woman alive during child birth or death. 

She was known to have the ability to fly through the air, to be able to change shapes in order to find cheating men.  Because of her jealous nature, she uses mind control, illusion and hypnotism against cheating men...and, also, their illegitimate offspring.   

Because of her jealous nature, she will do anything to help a woman hang on to her husband, any woman to hang on to who she loves.  In spring she was honored as the woman of the bath that is said to restore virginity.  In summer and fall, the marriage of Zeus and Hera is celebrated.  In winter, widowhood is celebrated.  The three stages of a woman’s life, virgin, married, widow. 

Today she offers women the power of intuition and intention to serve us daily.  She has guidance and wisdom to offer us and reminds us to never give up our essential self for another human being, no matter who we love.  She reminds us to keep our power and not forfeit it to a partner no matter how much we love them.  She reminds us not to lose ourselves in a relationship.

Using characters, from magazines, you mix and match body parts and other aspects of a collage.  It can be very interesting.  I absolutely love this collaged art journal page.  

©Carol Desjarlais 6.30.22