03/31/2026
I’ve been doing shadow work in Jungian therapy lately regarding the shadow side of my Athena Complex—namely, the part of Athena who was a “father’s daughter” (born from Zeus’ head) who often took sides with the patriarchy and Olympian men.
Like many Gen X women, I’ve spent much of my adult life trying to free myself from all the different ways I was socialized and socially engineered to bend, twist and, sadly, sometimes even align with patriarchal and misogynistic social standards and systems…even as I considered myself a feminist and a bit of a rebellious wild woman. Confronting internalized misogyny is so frustrating and teeth gnashing, but the journey through and out of it is so worth the effort!
In honor of my breakthrough, I decided to spend some time also honoring the “light” side of the Athena within me by crocheting owls. I am grateful that I love learning, research, and the time I spent in academia. This is the first owl I completed to honor Athena. It was so much fun to make!
Pattern: “Barn Owl Olivia” by
Btw, if you’re interested in learning more about things like the Athena complex, check out “Goddesses In Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes In Women’s Lives” by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen. Some of the examples are a little dated, but, wow, I learned so much about myself and some of the women in my life! It’s a pretty powerful read!
