TW: Suicide
Today I'm going to talk about my relationship with the Greek Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis. Daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin to Apollon. One who never wanted to be married, and so Zeus actually honored Her request. She chose to hang with Nymph Handmaidens and hunting hounds, instead of a horny, dramatic husband.
I don't think that means She was a virgin in terms of never having sex. Back in the old days, at some point virgin just ment unwed. She did have lovers, just no husbands or wives, as far as I'm aware.
Like all or perhaps most deities, I believe Her to be pansexual and polyamorous.
Artemis is a protector of the forests, animals, ethical hunters, girls, the moon (although I don't see this one, why not the Earth--everything else about Her is earthy), and is associated with birth. Once she was born, Artemis helped Leto give birth to Apollon. She's associated with the good and bad stuff of pregnancy and birth.
With all three of my born, I prayed to Artemis during labor. Labor was rough and loooonnnnggggg, and excruciatingly painful to boot--middle and youngest I chose natural after my terrible experience with the first kid (Nurse: "push in your crotch, not your face!" Me: "I can't feel my crotch!"...among many other issues.) (although midkid, I needed an epidural because I was in so much pain and in labor for so long---if the epidural didn't work, then I'd need an emergency c-section). As I was in every position known to womb-er kind, and having Artemis to focus on helped to distract here and there.
Unlike some women, I don't agree with Artemis being a man-hater. In the myths, She had male lovers. In my life, She doesn't hate my husband or sons, nor did She urge me to stick to women when it came to my love life. She was there to help me birth my kids. In my Oracle work, Artemis has come to help non-females, too! Yeah, She punished pervs, but who wouldn't? Wish we could turn all sexual predators into animals that hounds find tasty, much like Circe.
More of that humans putting rules on the Gods thing. The vanity of it all.
Like Sister Moon, Hestia-Vesta, and Hephaestus, Artemis has been with me since I was a child. In my family, hunting and fishing were traditions, and our family had rules, too (they hated poachers, trophy seekers, and over-hunters/fishers). I grew up with their rules and ethics and was taught by Artemis, too. I rarely fish now (I used to be really good! But I stopped bc of the harm I was causing the animals--fishing wasn't for food) and stopped hunting in high school, but I love doing wildlife photography, and Artemis is with me in the woods, too. Reminding me about patience and observation--lots of waiting and observing in both hunting and photography.
I don't actually own any guns due to a pact that I made with myself back in 2014 when I was suicidal--if I go by my hand it'll be by bullet. I haven't been suicidal in a few years, but I'm still not comfortable with a gun in my home. I preach to my family to get proper training and the legal documents should they ever own any. I've also taught them the ethics that I was taught about fishing (which they enjoy) and hunting (if they ever try it--I would like them to have the skills incase they ever need the food--who knows what the future holds).
Archery however, well, kinda hard to off yourself with bow and arrow. Obviously you can stab yourself, but nah. Specific pact rules with myself.
Onto something more positive, yes?
There was a time when I lived in an area that apparently had a lot of registered sex offenders--and I mean legit rapists and molesters, not someone drunk pissing in public. AND we all lived near an elementary school! I grew up being taught that sex offenders weren't allowed to live anywhere near schools. I guess that rule doesn't apply to Ohio.
Artemis had me go and apply for Sex Offender notifications from the local police department. I'd look up their offences, and ask Artemis if they were actually bad people--because not all SO's are guilty. She had me target specific SO's--the ones who hurt children--and practice cursing on them. So I did. This went on for while. She also would have me target prisoners--all local targets.
For me, local is stronger and more accurate for magik. Hence why targeting certain politicians doesn't work. At least on my own...
This past ritual with my online grove, Artemis came out telling practitioners to stop whining and crying and being helpless. Saying that in order to achieve peace, we need to be bold and walk through fire. To not be afraid of the fire. Turn it into a tool and use it to protect our vulnerable and against our enemies. Be a Guardian, a Protector to allow the Healers to work and the vulnerable safety.
She told the Guardians to step the eff up.
Curse if you can. But violence isn't the only way to make peace. Look at Mediators, Debaters--those who're good with speech. Fighting with logic, with facts, with integrity, with courage. Yet sometimes even our Speakers need to be protected. You can bet your butts, the other side is cursing you without a second thought.
Eye for an eye can make the world blind, but sometimes one must fight fire with fire. Allow them to wage this war like the Enrage Ares--reckless, impulsive, guns blazing and uncaring who they may hit. We need to be more like the Thoughtful Athena. The Earth King, not the Fire Knight. Grounded, careful, mindful, aware. Be Artemis. The bow-wielding Huntress--patient, observant, focused, making the arrow shot count. Do so knowing that you and yours are protected.
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How Artemis Appears to Me
Artemis looks to be anywhere from High School ages to 20's. Young and extremely wise at the same time. Always with Red Stag antlers. Wearing gold sandals that lace up to the knee. Sometimes a white chiton. Sometimes as a caucasian or with brown skin, with blonde or brown curly hair with gold and leaves binding it or entwined.
Accompanied by a Bear, a horse-sized Jackalope, a Hare, a Honey-Bee, and a White-Tailed Buck.
Armed with a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a dagger.
Wants to be outside, playing, hunting, exploring, camping. She comes with me when I do landscape and wildlife photography, and I've dedicated certain places and pictures to Her.
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Some Artemis Correspondences (Tradition and UPG):
- Epithets: Potnia Theron (Mistress of Animals), Agrotera (Huntress), Phoebe (Bright One), Lochia (Protector of the Pregnant)...
- Family: Zeus, Leto; twin to Apollon.
- Number: 6
- Domain: Ethical Hunting, Earth, Moon, Forest, Animals, Birth Doulas, Protecting Girls, Independant, Determination, Boundaries, Sovereignty, Guardian...
- Fauna: Rabbits, Deer, Bears, Hounds, Honey Bees, Boar...
- Flora: Cypress, Cedar, Mugwort, Wild Berries, Myrrh, Vervain, Wildflowers, Poppies...
- Gems, Stones, and Metals: Moonstone, Quartz, Selenite, Emerald, Chert, Flint, Obsidian, Agate, Silver...
- Colors: Silver, White, Green, Brown...
- Symbols: Waxing Crescent Moon, Bow and Arrows, Arrowheads, Hunting/Fishing Gear, Bees, Antlers, Antler Crowns, Nets...
- Offerings: Hearts from your hunting/fishing bounty (UPG), "life for life" so blood from me (UPG), fauna bones and teeth, Honey, Nuts, Wild Game Meats, Any of the Listed Above, Being out in Nature, Learning about your local plants, Wild Harvesting, learning survival/hunting/fishing skills, being an ethical hunter/fisher, supporting the fight against poachers and trophy hunters, supporting nature reserves and parks, picking up litter, caring for your local nature and critters, Seeking Magikal/Mundane Justice for SA Survivors...
- Retinue: Melissae, Nymph Handmaidens
- Similar Deities: Diana (Roman), Skaði (Norse), Dali (Georgian)...
- Ashley, Elizabeth. Meeting the Melissae: The Ancient Greek Bee Priestesses of Demeter. 1 October 2023.
- Evslin, Bernard. Gods, Demigods & Demons: An Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology. 1 January 1975. Childrens.
- Gill, Nikita. Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters. 3 September 2019.
- Holub, Joan. Artemis the Brave. 7 December 2010. Middle School level.
- Holub, Joan. Artemis the Loyal. 6 December 2011. Middle School level.
- Holub, Joan. Artemis the Hero. 6 December 2022, Middle School level.
- Huanaco, Francisco. Spells8: Artemis: Symbols of the Forest Moon Goddess. 11 July 2005. https://spells8.com/lessons/artemis-goddess-symbols/
- Minai, Thista. Unbound: A Devotional Anthology for Artemis. 1 January 2009.
- Pirso, Anette. Gonzalez, Israel. The Goddess Atlas: An Illustrated Guide to Female Deities, Myths, and Sacred Feminine Stories from Around the World. 2 December 2025.
- Theoi: Artemis - https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Artemis.html