Athena Statue

Along with many in the world, I have watched with a certain numbness and disbelief as America enters yet another war. I am suspicious of how loved and trusted newsmen shape the story, and listened to our President talking about our entry into Libyan affairs tonight with more caution than I usually feel with him. My recent sense of hope and trust feels familiarly battered, and it makes me sad. The whole world is sad right now, we are all feeling it enormously, I’m sure of that.

After Obama’s speech I turned off the TV and stared into the fire burning in my stove. I have a statue of the Goddess Athena who sits over my left shoulder in my little work station in my living room. Her presence felt strong. I said to myself, “Ok, think… what would Athena do?” She is the Goddess of War, who is guided by the owl, wisdom; she only supports war when it is absolutely necessary. On my statue the owl sits on her left shoulder. Athena is complex, an earthy goddess of crafts and agriculture, as well as the goddess who protects and guides heroes in the ancient myths.

What would she do in this case? Anyone’s reflection is as valid as anyone else’s – we are all groping I believe. When our President said he preferred to act before he saw the images of thousands slaughtered, I thought maybe She is guiding him. This is the time. The protection is necessary. I hate war, but have an image of the Goddess of War sitting over my shoulder. She is waking me up to situations in my own life that need a more war-like response, and helping me to understand. Sometimes it takes war-like responses to protect beauty, truth, justice and innocence.

Everything we do in life is about our intentions in doing it, this was one of my earliest inspired guidances. If we enter an argument or a war for any egoistic or materialistic reasons, it is a crime and will reap those consequences. If we do the same thing to protect love and innocence, the universe responds completely differently. It is so in our most trivial and private affairs, as well as in global and international affairs. The Goddess of Wisdom must be the guide.

I have no answers, obviously. only reflections and prayers. I will say that I do trust the heart of this man we have elected, still, and always pray that he will be guided by the most wise sensibilities in himself and universe.