Pagan Meditations: The Worlds of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hestia

by Ginette Paris

This book is Paris's contribution to "imaginative" feminism.

Genres: Mythology, Psychology, Feminism, Paganism, Spirituality, Religion, Witchcraft

220 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1991

About the author

Ginette Paris Ph.D. is a psychologist, therapist and author of many books, including Wisdom of the Psyche: Depth Psychology after Neuroscience (Routledge 2007). She was trained as a psychologist in Montréal, Canada where she was a tenured professor in the Department of Communication of the U. of Québec in Montréal for 15 years. In 1995 she became a permanent US resident and a core faculty at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. Her books have been translated in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish. Her lectures and workshops, in the US, Canada and Europe, are usually done in collaboration with Pacifica's Public Events, or through The Foundation for Mythological Studies. Dr. Paris is a Honorary Member of the C.G. Jung Society of Montreal and serves on the editiorial board of Spring: A Journal of Archetype and Culture.

Reviews

[Nora Barnacle]

Cum grano salis za veoma dobro.
Dobri lajbrerijane, učini vidljivim Fedonovo izdanje: https://plus.cobiss.net/cobiss/sr/sr/...

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. Paris takes the Greek gods and goddesses seriously by exploring their meanings. More importantly, she understands them in our contemporary setting and deals with how we enact these archetypes.

For example, we experience Artemis when we strive for purity, when we set aside family or relationships in order to pursue our individual goals -- career, say, or avoiding having children.

I found the book illuminating, brilliant, and insightful.

[Adriana Scarpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salve Ártemis!

Mas quem quer que seja - homem ou mulher - que use os mitos para ditar comportamentos estereotipados aos outros, para restringir a realidade em vez de aprofundá-la, ou para forçar outra pessoa a manter-se dentro de determinado espaço, papel ou mito, que não seja natural para ela, procede exatamente ao contrário do pensamento mítico, que convida cada pessoa a reconhecer o mito que emerge mais naturalmente de seu próprio ser e destino

[Samantha C.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated Dr. Paris' presentation of these Goddesses and her overall goal of not necessarily trying to convince anyone of anything, but rather petition for a change of perspective. It's as equally dangerous to have a patriarchal, monotheistic belief as it is a matriarchal, monotheistic belief; I really liked the emphasis that women can be everything and should be everything. Although it was a psychological approach to the subject, I found it quite pleasant to read (not dry) and appreciated that she was not scared to share her personal opinions. I particularly found myself surprised and engaged with her stance on Artemis; she is typically worshipped as the Virgin Goddess but I liked that she is also the Goddess of Childbirth, part of the Triple Goddess, and that deep connection to animalism and death that all women have when they are free/empowered to connect with it. It is less about being a Virgin and more about coming back to yourself and having the power/space to be alone and untouched for periods of time - it was wonderfully refreshing to have her presented that way since her "purity" was twisted and then integrated into Christian beliefs, ultimately skewing one aspect of her.
There isn't anything jaw-dropping, but still a solid-read that I'd recommend.

[Lauren Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my second reading of this novel, I found I loved and understood it even more! The insight is so needed and healing. I like that she describes a returning to this pantheon of feminine goddesses not as a returning to the past, but as a renaissance for our time and lives.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating political and mythological look at the option of polytheism as presented by three Greek Goddesses; Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hestia.

The blend of psychology, feminist philosophy and history captured me attention, all while bringing me closer to the archetypes of these three sovereigns and what they offered Ancient Greece. Even more so - what they may offer each of us individually and collectively today.

[Dodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The book covers the goddesses of Aphrodite, Artemis and Hestia. It’s a blend of psychology, feminism philosophy and how these archetype have their sovereignty. I liked how the author pointed out the importance of Hestia even though we don’t hear much about her.

[Elaine Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I've read a few times over the year. If you're interested in Greek Goddess mythology, you'll find it illuminating and well-written.

[Lulu Delulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is top-tier reading for anyone who is interested in archetypes and their influence on the human psyche.

I read this over months, diligently, intentionally. This text was life-changing for me and how I understood myself and the roles I play in the world. As an ardent scholar of symbolism, archetype, language, and myth, I found this to be foundational to my understanding of human psychology in these areas.

Despite the title, this doesn't inform the reader in Paganism, perse, not in any practical sense. There is also a distinct favor given to one section, one aspect in the book, over the others. The author is clearly preferential to Aphrodite over Artemis or, especially, Hestia, which I found to be a shame, as I would have loved to have the same level of detailed analysis on all aspects represented. This doesn't impact the quality of the text, though, as it is incredible throughout.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thinking person's, non-gender-specific alternative to Jean Shinoda Bolen's Goddesses in Every Woman.

[Xia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical & Informative

[izzy strazzabosco · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book makes me wanna get a phd in occult theory

[Genabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top-notch! A source text I use to refresh my sense for archetypal patterns in soul-making.