Athena's Attic of Secrets

TL;DR I am taking about 2 weeks off. I need a break, I need to work on other things, and I need time to relax. Longer Story While I was working on my next post, I sat down to write a personal reflection and realized that I have not been working on any of my goals that I set for myself this year. These are personal goals, creative goals, and even some general home maintenance that I've been putting off until I had more time. The post that I was drafting is about flow. I will be sharing that post eventually, but I do not have a set date, still mulling over the flow of the post😅. As I wrote, I began to thing about how easy it is to become caught up with "going with the flow," that you slowly drift away from the things that bring you joy, or even what simply needs to get done. That is what happened with me. I set aside a lot of things I love to do, and things that matter to me. So, for the next two weeks, I'm hitting pause here to catch up, reset and give myself time to ...

Click here to read from the beginning. The Hero God: The First Face of the Divine Masculine Archetype The Hero God is the bright, bold champion of the waxing year, embodying youthful energy, passion, and the exhilarating rush of possibility. As an expression of the divine masculine archetype in his most adventurous form, the Hero represents the rising force of life’s cycle, the fearless leap into action, the joy of competition, and the thrill of discovery. Unlike the King and the Wizard, who are the later aspects of the God, the Hero symbolizes the confident, charming, and untamed spirit at the beginning of life’s journey. He teaches us to act with courage, seize the moment, and believe that all things are possible. Quick Summary of the Hero Archetype Role: Action, courage, vitality, and fearless pursuit of goals Symbols: Waxing Sun, Spring, Morning, Solar Plexus Chakra Light Side: Enthusiasm, bravery, physical strength, optimism, joy in the moment Shadow Side: Impulsiveness, destructi...

Making My Own Florida Water Again This few weeks ago, while cleaning and cleansing my house, I used up the rest of my commercial Florida Water. I live pretty far out of the way, and it got me thinking about making my own again. I say "again" because I haven't made Florida Water in about 10 years; it's just been cheaper and easier to buy. Things have changed, and spending $10 on a bottle isn't exactly a top priority for me anymore. I looked back at the old recipe I used and realized I had just about everything on hand except citrus peels; which for me, are easy to get since I eat a lot of citrus fruits. As I revisited that original recipe, I remembered it being a bit bland, it lacked the depth and brightness I was used to in store-bought versions. During my research, I discovered that most commercial Florida Water contains synthetic fragrances. That explained why I often reacted to it when I wore it; my skin is sensitive. It also turns out it's not recommended ...

I recently came across a quote on social media that created some drama and confusion, especially among spiritual leaders, coaches, and trauma-informed practitioners. While the quote may be been intended to inspire action during crisis or injustice, many spiritual people felt personally attacked or called out. This tension raises deeper questions about the role of silence in spiritual leadership, emotional intelligence, and conscious activism. In this post we'll explore the meaning behind the quote, break down the psychology of silent action versus inaction, and uncover how spiritual responses during crisis often look very different that we expect, especially in today's visibility-driven world.  The Quote: “Any 'spiritual teacher,' coach or therapist who has been silent during a genocide has nothing of value to teach you. Nothing.” ~ Source Unknown When Bold Words Spark Deep Feelings I can see how that quote might stir up a lot of emotion: It's bold. It's blunt. ...

Part of the Divine Archetypes Series Click here to read from the beginning. This FAQ explores common questions about working with deities and archetypes in spiritual practices, from curiosity to deeper connection, the information is here to help you feel and be supported in your journey. Table of Contents Foundational Understanding Before diving into the details, it helps to get a clear picture on some basic ideas that come up a lot when working with deities. Things like archetypes and spirit guides might sound mysterious, but they are really just ways we make sense of the patterns and connections in our lives. This section breaks down those ideas in simple terms to help you be ready to explore your connection to spirit or deity. What is an archetype? An archetype is a universal pattern or symbol that appears across cultures, myths, and stories. The term comes from the Greek archetypos , meaning “original pattern,” and was popular...