I was struck by the realization that they can represent the three major directions that a woman’s life can take—aspects within a woman that often are in conflict. Hera puts marriage first; so would the woman who identifies with Hera’s goals. Athena values the use of intellect to achieve mastery, a woman who honors her as the fairest would consider her career primary. Aphrodite favors beauty, love and passion, and creativity as the ultimate values, and the woman who agrees will place the vitality of her subjective life above enduring relationships and achievements.
