Ancient Wisdom
Photo from Pexals
I’ve recently fallen in love… with a country. A summer vacation in Greece not only ticked off another bucket list item but it’s left me deeply impressed for many reasons. One was the beauty of the culture and history of the land. Another was the kindness and good humor of the people. Yet another was the sheer beauty of the land and sea. But one of the things that struck me most was the way the titans of their ancient mythology still weave their way into their modern-day lives. In fact, many times in conversation, whether with a tour guide or small talk with a shopkeeper, names like Athena, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Dionysus would come up. Their origin stories, while fantastical, were retold as truth and I was left to wonder several times if we were talking about mortals or myths.
But one of the goddesses I loved hearing about was Hera. She’s probably best known as the daughter of Cronos and the wife of Zeus. To say she had a wild reputation would be an understatement. Known for her fiery temper and a mean jealous streak, she was cast as the goddess of marriage, women, and family and the protector of women during childbirth. I found her portrayal fascinating and, had she been a real modern-day mortal, would probably have her own show on Bravo. But in doing a deeper dive I came across a fact that made me really appreciate her all the more. She is also ascribed as the guardian of the sanctity of the home.
Photo from Pexals
When the ancient Greeks handed out attributes to assign to their deities, they thought about the things that they wanted protection from, or protection for, like war, abundance, agriculture, fertility, health, spiritual concerns, etc. The fact that they prioritized protection for the sanctity of the home really struck me and was a reminder that home has been a central figure in our lives for millennia. Now we are all tasked with being the guardians of the sanctity of our own homes. We might not be able to shoot bolts of lightning or turn a foe's hair into snakes, but we can be gatekeepers that fiercely protect what comes into our homes. We can cast away negative people, and negative thoughts and even slam the door on the negative din from the outside world. We have the power to be our own gods and goddesses in that effort. Because the health of the home is directly correlated to our physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing - we need to fiercely protect the sanctity of our space.
As this world continues to spin and confound us on a daily basis we can still find refuge in the home. But it doesn’t happen by chance. It takes a prioritizing of beauty and peace, and a commitment to checking in with our emotions and our possessions, and our intentions. What feels good remains and what doesn’t needs to be cast from the heavens of home, just as Hera would have done.
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