Finding Your Magic: Connecting With the Divine Feminine This Autumn
Updated: Oct 23
Ancient goddesses, feminine archetypes, and the psychology of reclaiming your magic.
Admiring the Caryatids, the six sculpted sisters who stand guard at the Erechtheion, an ancient temple honoring Athena on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. September 2026.
There's something about autumn that makes me want to light my fall candles, watch Practical Magic, and reconnect with the parts of myself that feel a little wild, wise, and powerful.
Maybe it's the changing seasons. Maybe it's Halloween stirring up folklore surrounding witches and the supernatural. There's something particularly appealing about a season that celebrates women who refuse to be ordinary, obedient, or easily understood.
Even if Halloween isn't your thing, autumn offers plenty of symbolism worth exploring. Across different cultures and traditions, it's a season associated with harvest, remembrance, transformation, and preparation for change. The changing leaves remind us that letting go can be a natural part of growth, while the harvest invites us to appreciate what we've cultivated. For me, these themes feel especially relevant this year.
Discovering and Connecting with the Goddess Athena in Ancient Greece
I recently returned from traveling through Greece, visiting places where ancient mythology, history, and spirituality are woven into the landscape. One experience was particularly meaningful.
I sat on the Acropolis in Athens, between the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, taking a moment to meditate and reflect on Athena (whom the Erechtheion honors), the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, courage, and strategic warfare.
It hit me like a bolt of lightning just how much I need those qualities in my own life right now. I'm at some significant turning points. I'm making big decisions, taking risks, exploring new opportunities, and challenging myself to imagine a future that looks different from the one I've known.
It's exciting. It's intimidating. Sometimes it's downright terrifying.
I've spent much of my adult life learning how to survive difficult things. The past four years, in particular, have been heavy with grief, with so much of my energy devoted simply to making it through. In between, I've chased adventure through travel, searching for moments that made me feel alive again and glimpses of hope in a world that had, in many ways, betrayed me. But this chapter feels different. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking toward the future with more than just the hope of surviving it. I'm learning how to trust myself enough to pursue extraordinary things again.
And somewhere in the middle of all that uncertainty, I've found myself calling upon Athena.
Not necessarily because I believe a Greek goddess is going to descend from Mount Olympus and make my decisions for me (although, Athena, girl, if you're available, I wouldn't turn down some direct guidance). But because what she represents is exactly what I'm trying to cultivate within myself. Wisdom to make thoughtful decisions. Courage to take calculated risks. Strategy to navigate the unknown. And the confidence to believe that victory is possible, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed.
As a psychologist, I find this fascinating. Because whether or not we believe in the literal existence of goddesses or other divine figures, we can find genuine psychological meaning in the symbols and stories we connect with.
What if connecting with our magic isn't about discovering supernatural powers, but about reclaiming the parts of ourselves we've been taught to suppress, forgotten we possessed, or haven't yet dared to explore? I think that connecting with the divine feminine is a great place to start in the pursuit of reconnecting with our power.
What Is the Divine Feminine, Anyway?
The divine feminine is a concept found across various spiritual and philosophical traditions. Broadly speaking, it describes qualities historically associated with femininity, including intuition, creativity, compassion, sensuality, wisdom, and transformation.
But let's establish something important: these qualities don't belong exclusively to women, and there is no single correct way to embody femininity. In fact, reclaiming the divine feminine can mean challenging the idea that women must be endlessly nurturing, accommodating, gentle, or self-sacrificing.
The divine feminine can be compassionate. She can also be furious. She can nurture life, establish boundaries, pursue pleasure, demand justice, and walk away from situations that no longer serve her. And she doesn't owe anyone an apology for her complexity.
Psychologically, exploring these qualities can be a form of identity exploration. Stories and symbols offer opportunities to reflect on who we are, what we value, and which parts of ourselves deserve more attention.
Meet Your Magic: Finding Feminine Figures Who Inspire You
Across cultures and centuries, people have found inspiration in goddesses, saints, ancestors, historical figures, and fictional heroines. Their origins and meanings are distinct, but each can offer a different opportunity for reflection.
Channeling Athena’s strength and wisdom at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. September 2026.
Ancient Goddesses
Athena: Wisdom, Strategy, and Courage
Athena represents the balance between thoughtful judgment and decisive action. She's become my personal reminder that I can be strategic and ambitious, cautious and courageous, all at once.
Ask yourself: Where do I need to trust my wisdom and take a calculated risk?
Persephone: Transformation and New Beginnings
The Greek goddess of spring and Queen of the Underworld, Persephone is associated with cycles of separation, return, and renewal. Her myth begins with an abduction and loss of autonomy, but her later role as a powerful queen offers rich symbolism around transformation and navigating different worlds.
Ask yourself: What version of myself am I outgrowing, and what new possibilities might be emerging?
Hecate: Crossroads, Magic, and the Unknown
Associated with witchcraft, magic, and crossroads, Hecate is often depicted carrying torches to illuminate the darkness. She represents navigating uncertainty, embracing the unknown, and finding our way through life's transitions.
Ask yourself: What crossroads am I facing, and how can I find the courage to take the next step?
Aphrodite: Pleasure and Self-Appreciation
Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite invites us to explore sensuality, desire, and the pleasure of existing in our bodies without needing external validation.
Ask yourself: How can I experience more joy and pleasure on my own terms?
Archetypes: The Different Women Within Us
Psychologist Carl Jung popularized the concept of archetypes, recurring symbolic figures found in stories and mythology. While his theory of universal archetypes has been criticized for its limited scientific evidence and Western cultural assumptions, these figures can still serve as meaningful metaphors for exploring different aspects of ourselves.
Consider a few:
The Queen: Leadership, self-respect, and the confidence to occupy space without shrinking.
The Warrior: Courage, assertiveness, and the willingness to stand up for ourselves and others.
The Healer: Compassion, emotional wisdom, and the ability to care for others without abandoning ourselves.
The Witch: Independence, intuition, unconventional wisdom, and the refusal to be controlled.
We don't have to choose just one. Some days we need the Healer. Other days, the Warrior. And sometimes, we need the Witch who has simply had enough.
Saints, Ancestors, and Everyday Heroines
Our sources of inspiration don't have to come from mythology.
Perhaps you connect with Joan of Arc's courage, the spiritual significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the determination of a historical woman who challenged injustice.
Or perhaps your most powerful inspiration comes from someone closer to home. A grandmother who survived impossible circumstances. An activist who refused to accept the status quo. A friend who rebuilt her life after devastating loss. Sometimes the women who teach us the most about strength are the ones whose stories never made it into history books.
Want to take this exploration a little deeper? I've created a free guided reflection to help you reconnect with your power and give yourself permission to take up space.
A moment of renewal beneath Toraille Waterfall. St. Lucia, June 2026
Five Ways to Channel Your Divine Feminine Power
Learning about goddesses, archetypes, and extraordinary women can be inspiring, but the real opportunity comes when we begin translating that inspiration into our own lives. After all, admiring Athena's wisdom doesn't automatically make me more strategic, and wearing a necklace featuring Persephone doesn't mean transformation will magically happen (if only it were that easy).
But these symbols can remind us of the qualities we want to cultivate and encourage us to make choices that reflect them. From a psychological perspective, we can use them as starting points for values clarification, self-reflection, perspective-taking, and intentional behavior. And the best part? You don't need crystals, expensive supplies, or a full moon to get started.
1. Find Your Feminine Inspiration
Choose a goddess, archetype, ancestor, or historical figure who represents something you need right now. For me in this season, it's Athena. When I'm facing uncertainty, I ask myself what it would look like to approach the situation with wisdom and courage rather than letting fear make my decisions.
What quality do you want to cultivate, and who symbolizes it for you?
2. Create a Small Ritual of Intention
Rituals can provide structure and meaning, and some psychological research suggests they can help people manage uncertainty and emotional distress. Light a candle. Make tea. Put on music that makes you feel powerful. Or find a meaningful object, like a figurine, piece of art, or jewelry, that serves as a reminder of the qualities you're trying to cultivate.
I brought home an Athena figurine from Athens and may have gone a little overboard purchasing jewelry featuring Athena, Medusa, and Persephone while traveling through Greece. These pieces serve as tangible reminders of the strength, wisdom, and transformation I want to embrace.
Take five minutes to set an intention. Maybe it's I will trust my judgment, or I will stop apologizing for having needs. The objects themselves aren't creating the change. The meaning we give them, the intentions we set, and the actions we take are what matter.
3. Write a Letter From Your Inner Wise Woman
Imagine a future version of yourself who has successfully embodied the traits you're channeling and navigated your current challenges. What advice would she give you? What would she encourage you to release? What would she remind you that you're capable of?
This exercise draws on psychological distancing, which can help us consider difficult situations from a broader perspective.
4. Practice Embodying Your Chosen Quality
Confidence doesn't always come before action. Sometimes it develops because we act.
Channeling your inner Warrior? Set a boundary you've been avoiding.
Connecting with Aphrodite? Wear something that makes you feel beautiful without worrying about anyone else's opinion.
Calling upon Athena? Make a thoughtful decision without asking six people to validate it.
Choose one small action that reflects the quality you want to strengthen.
5. Create Your Own Personal Pantheon
Who says you have to draw inspiration from just one source? In mythology, a pantheon is a collection of gods and goddesses. Think of your personal pantheon as a collection of figures who represent the qualities you want to cultivate.
Maybe Athena reminds you to trust your intelligence, Hecate encourages you to embrace uncertainty, and your grandmother represents resilience.
Keep their images, quotes, or meaningful objects somewhere you'll see them. Think of it as a visual reminder of your values, aspirations, and the many different forms your strength can take.
The Real Magic Is Reclaiming Yourself
When I think back to sitting on the Acropolis, surrounded by ancient temples and stories of gods and goddesses, what stays with me isn't just the beauty of the place. It's the feeling of being connected to something larger than the immediate decisions and uncertainties of my own life.
Thousands of years ago, people looked to Athena for wisdom, protection, and strength. Today, I find myself drawn to those same qualities as I navigate my own very modern challenges.
I don't know exactly what the next chapter of my life will look like.
I know there are risks, moments of doubt, and no guaranteed outcomes. But I'm choosing to approach this chapter with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to trust the wisdom I've spent a lifetime developing. And maybe that's what connecting with our magic really means. Not becoming someone entirely new, but finding meaningful ways to access the strength, knowledge, and possibility that already exist within us.
Maybe your magic is your intellect. Maybe it's your compassion. Maybe it's your sexuality, your righteous anger, your creativity, your resilience, or your willingness to begin again.
Whatever it is, I hope this autumn inspires you to explore it.
Light the candle. Watch the witchy movie. Learn about a goddess who fascinates you. Honor the women who came before you.
And then take that magic into the real world.
Make the decision. Set the boundary. Pursue the dream. Take the calculated risk.
Because perhaps the most magical thing we can do is recognize that the wisdom and power we're searching for may have been within us all along.
Your journey doesn't have to end here. Continue exploring what it means to reclaim your magic with my free guided reflection journal, Finding Your Magic: Permission to Be Powerful.
Embracing a little ancient Greek magic, crowned with an olive wreath at the Archaeological Site of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, September 2026.
Sources & Further Reading
The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework (Hobson et al., 2018)
A peer-reviewed examination of how rituals can influence emotional regulation, goal-directed behavior, and social connection. Relevant to the article's suggestion of creating small, meaningful rituals.
Making Meaning Out of Negative Experiences by Self-Distancing (Kross & Ayduk, 2011)
Explores how adopting a broader psychological perspective can support more constructive self-reflection. Particularly relevant to the exercise of writing a letter from your future, wiser self.
Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (Clarissa Pinkola Estés, 1992)
Drawing on Jungian psychology, folklore, and storytelling, Estés explores the Wild Woman archetype as a symbol of women's instinctual wisdom, creativity, resilience, and authentic self-expression. A powerful companion for anyone interested in reclaiming parts of themselves that have been silenced, neglected, or forgotten.
Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines (Patricia Monaghan, 2014)
A comprehensive exploration of goddesses, heroines, and powerful feminine figures from mythologies and cultures around the world. Monaghan brings together ancient stories and traditions that illuminate the many ways feminine strength, wisdom, creativity, and transformation have been celebrated throughout history.
Comments