3/30/11

Goddess of the Week: Artio

The goddess Artio from the Muri statuette grou...Image via WikipediaFinally! Spring! And it's not just on the calendar. It's in my backyard. No more rain. No more cold. The sun is shining and the perennials are switching out their dark green leaves for a spunkier, lighter, more fashionable hue. Naturally, we need a goddess!

I give us Artio, a little known bear goddess who made herself at home in the Swiss Alps. I know what you're thinking. A bear goddess? What's so springy about bears? Aren't bears really cranky in the Spring? Aren't bears the last thing you want to encounter while picking wild flowers and channeling Julie Andrews channeling Maria Von Trapp? Won't a spring bear chase and maul you if you get too close.

The answer is, of course, yes. So don't get too close, but do appreciate the miracle of hibernation, and do see how ancient people, in particular, would see a bear's ability to hibernate as something pretty darn mystical. I mean, you go to bed, walk up three months later, get yourself a snack, and you're good. And isn't that what we all do? Winter comes; the days get shorter; you hole up inside and eat carbs, and then--wham--one day the leaves have gone a shocking shade of pea green and you're craving strawberries.

So here's too strawberries! (I'm growing them. I'm hoping to get maybe six.) And here's to spring. I am so ready.

Channel this goddess: When winter (real or metaphorical) is hanging on too darn long, when you feel like you've been hibernating and need to get back to living, when you're getting a little obsessed with carbs: Remember potatoes--my precious--belong to winter.

Need a goddess? I got goddesses! Post a comment explaining what you need or want a goddess to help you out with. Then check back in a week or two and see what you got!

P.S.: I just want you to know that I'm really loving exclamation points of late! They're very spring! !!!


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22 comments:

Unknown said...

LOL! I think I've been channeling Artio (or maybe just an angry, freshly out of hibernation grizzly... I should work on that). I just bought a strawberry plant about two weeks ago at my daughter's urging. I'm actively trying to keep myself from accidentally murdering it. Good luck on your berries, and I hope you get more than six!

Tony Van Helsing said...

I don't need a goddess but I do need strawberries. I will only eat them in season and when I do I gorge on them.

claire bangasser said...

I will remember Artio when I find myself in a temperate country where there is Spring.

I like the idea of a bear goddess, and I love idea of fresh garden grown strawberries :-)

Joanne said...

Oh Margaret, I'm channeling Artio this week, and inviting him to swipe his bear paws at Winter, and at the Nor'easter we're going to have Friday ... Heavy rain and anywhere from 1 to 10 inches of snow, depending on where in the state you are. Artio, please come East!

Mairie said...

How lovely to sleep away the winter and wake up to the new beginning of spring. Although I might miss some of the lovlier winter imagery. It is a delight how these great beasts have such a gourmet's palate for berries, honey and flowers (I believe). Yes, bear-dom is very tantilising.

Rois said...

Once again Spring has forsaken us here,25 days straight of rain and gloom. You bet I will be channeling Artio.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

thats right, talk about me behind my back

Anonymous said...

Bears!!!!Strawberries!!!!and !!!!

Bec said...

A Swiss goddess? Perfect! I'm going to Armstrong's tomorrow so big sister can plant strawberries in her garden. Hooray for spring!

Margaret said...

Well, now I feel like I've been flaunting my southern California spring. Sorry about that Claire, Joanne, and Rois. It sounds like you need Artio more than I, so I'm sending her your way.

Jess: Good luck with the strawberries. I hope you get more than six too!

PA: Turn around so we can do it again.

AH: ! !!! !!!!!

Bec: I know! Swiss! I guess, technically, she is one of the contintental Celtic goddesses, but people hear Celtic and think Ireland, so I just went with where they have found evidence of where she was worshipped.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Why yes, I WAS thinking "what's so spring about bears?" but you brought it right around and it makes perfect sense! Thanks for introducing us to Artio! And good luck with those strawberries!

Jean Spitzer said...

Strawberries, yes. I tried growing them a couple of years ago, and I got maybe six.

TheChieftess said...

The bears are definitely waking up around here!!! As a matter of fact, our very own Bear Whisperer is giving a preview to his new season on Animal Planet this Sunday...I think I need to go...the Chief was filmed at least once this past year!!!

If you're interested in Bears...check out the Bear Whisperer on Animal Planet!!!

Curly said...

Bears are lovely and they wake up in Spring together with nature! Wouldn't it be awesome to sleep during the cold winter and open the eyes the exact moment that nature is born again! Lovely...

pasadenapio said...

We've been waiting for her!

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm inspired by Artio! I weeded today! I must have a green thumb because I have the most amazing weeds.

Bellis said...

You need my rabbit, not a bear, Petrea. Anyone want a rabbit? he's chewing his way through all my California natives. I guess bears are just large, intelligent rabbits, so they'd do even more damage. Especially to strawberries.

Shanna said...

YES! to Spring!

Watson said...

The thought of Spring makes me giddy!!!!
Thank you for Artio. I met her one Fall day on the roof of my wood shed. We said hello through the glass storm door!
http://fur-licity.blogspot.com/2009/10/visitor.html

Watson said...

Oh... and good luck with your strawberries!!!!!!

Susan Campisi said...

Spring turned into Summer last week. I'm very glad it's Spring again.

Hibernating bears truly are mystical.

TheChieftess said...

Anyone interested in bears might be interested in seeing the Bear Whisperer on Animal Planet Thursday night!!! Filmed in Mammoth with our very own "Bear Whisperer"!!!