Episode 168
Carla Ionescu- She Who Hunts: Artemis: The Goddess Who Changed the World
June 7th, 2023
1 hr 19 mins 30 secs
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About this Episode
In the latest episode of The Revelation Project Podcast, host Monica interviews Dr. Carla Ionescu, an expert on the goddess Artemis and her relationship to women in both the ancient and modern worlds.
Dive deep into Carla’s fascinating journey from a PhD researcher to falling into a devotional relationship with the Goddess Artemis. Despite the male-dominated academic world which often dismisses the insights and passions that surround Goddess scholarship, Carla discover the magnetic pull this goddess has over countless women, inspiring them to be fierce, unapologetic, and free.
Carla is the host of her very own Artemis-inspired podcast, The Goddess Project, which aims to empower and educate people on the divine feminine.
By working closely with goddesses, we can heal patriarchal wounds and unleash our intrinsic power.
We also dive into theories about Artemis and her embodiment of the balanced masculine and feminine, lost rituals, and the transformation brought to those who embrace the goddess within.
Episode Highlights:
- Carla's academic journey to discovering Artemis and developing an intimate relationship with her
- The importance of goddesses like Artemis in breaking free from the stereotypes forced upon women by patriarchal society
- Ways in which women can work with different goddesses to re-integrate and restore the feminine aspects of their existence
- A historical look at how women used to practice in caves without fear, and how patriarchal storytelling has attempted to suppress the power of women.
- The call to restore the feminine within and implications of this movement for society at large
- Why the modern world often categorizes women into specific roles that limit their true potential and unique qualities
- Patriarchal narratives have historically attempted to marginalize women's power and authority within spiritual practices
- Artemis as protector for those who honour her is all encompassing, her vengeance for those who cross her is swift and fatal.
Filled with examples of ritual, symbolism and an extensive collection of Artemis myths and folklore, Carla’s book is a comprehensive compilation of all things Artemis, and her fundamental role in the communal, political and ritual development of the Greco-Roman world. The goddess of the hunt is more than just a virgin in the woods. Her worship can be traced to a time before the Minoans, and her rituals include all facets of the human experience, starting from birth rituals to rites of passage, to death and beyond. Her protection for those who honour her is all encompassing, her vengeance for those who cross her is swift and fatal.
While classic scholars focused mostly on Olympian deities such as Apollo, Athena, Zeus and Dionysius, this book provides vivid and detailed evidence that the goddess Artemis has been underrated for much too long. Dr. Ionescu's work is a labour of love and research, born out of her long-standing certainty that Artemis was the most prevalent and influential goddess of the Mediterranean.
Dr. Carla Ionescu is a Romanian refugee who escaped the Communist regime with her family when she was 10 years old. She is also an adrenaline junkie, an animal lover, and a natural born storyteller. She likes to ride motorcycles real fast, and research through archival documents very carefully. Carla’s research centers on the influential nature of Artemis both in the Greek world and in Ephesus. Her work provides evidence which suggests that Artemis is the most prevalent and influential goddess of the Mediterranean.
As one of the leading experts in the worship and ritual of Artemis Ephesia, Dr. Ionescu spends most of her time teaching in the field of Ancient History and Women’s Studies, and/or applying for grants to support her research travels.
In the summers she scavenges new locations and cities worldwide, digging through the remains of grave sites, ruins, and abandoned buildings, trying to uncover the long-lost mystery that is Artemis, The Great Mother.
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