Goddess of the Week: Kali

This Hindu goddess of death and destruction is often represented as blue and with many arms.  

Poor Kali is a bit misunderstood, as, perhaps, any goddess with her particular skill set might be.  She is the goddess of death and destruction, but more metaphorically than literally.  What she kills isn't man (or woman), but the ego.  And as for destruction, she symbolizes the natural passings (physical, philosophical, emotional) that come with change and time.

Personal attributes: loyal and compassionate to followers, but you don't want to mess with her.  She doesn't politely swallow her rage.  She acts on it.  And how.

Channel this goddess: When passive aggression just doesn't cut it anymore and you need to speak your honest-to-goodness mind; when faced with the inevitability of loss; when confronted with worthless computer technicians who really have no idea at all why your DSL line won't work and keep passing the buck.  

Goddess of the Week: Artemis

In honor of the Olympics, this week's goddess is Artemis: Greek goddess of hunt.  

The twin of Ares, god of war, Artemis made two requests of her father when she was but a wee baby divinity.   Request number one: that she never be forced to marry.  Request number two: that she be granted her own fifty fleet-footed wood nymphs and a pack of hound dogs. Generous father that he was, Zeus granted his daughter's wishes and Artemis spent her days hunting in the forest and swimming naked in crystal clear springs with her devoted nymphs, which leads one to wonder what else was going on with those nymphs.  

Personal attributes: independent, athletic and no nonsense, but could be a bit cold-hearted, especially toward male mortals who accidentally found her swimming with her nymphs.

Channel this goddess when: you are going for the gold or, alternately, just plain sick of men. 

Quote of the day

From the June 21st issue of The Economist:  "The thin, the focused and the neat are freaks -- but they are cut out for success."

Heaven help us.  How terrifying is that?