Throughout history and across cultures, women have drawn on symbols of feminine power to find inner strength and courage. Ancient goddesses, mythological figures, and meaningful icons have long reminded women of their fortitude and resilience.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most significant global symbols of women’s strength over the centuries.
Join us as we delve into the feminine mystique and might.
Mythology’s Strong Women
Legends and folklore offer vivid depictions of commanding queens, warriors, healers, and survivors. The stories of these iconic women gave generations the courage to persevere and lead.
Let’s look at feminine powerhouses from various mythologies.
Strong and Courageous Feminine Characters in Ancient Greece Mythology
Athena
The Greek goddess Athena epitomized wisdom, strategy, and skill in battle. She inspired (and still does today) women to master trades, arts, and philosophy.
Athena represents inner power, determination in the face of adversity, and the strategic intellect to overcome any challenge. With her shield and spear, Athena epitomizes the calm, tactical nature that provides the fortitude necessary to brave the most difficult of trials.
Artemis
Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth, symbolizes fierce independence and protection of women.
With her expert archery skills and companionship of wild animals, Artemis symbolizes the strong, daring spirit that enables one to successfully track and conquer whatever beasts or hardships one encounters.
Circe
In Greek stories, the sorceress Circe displays tremendous strength and courage while standing as a dangerous lone woman inhabiting her own island.
Most famous for temporarily transforming Odysseus’s crew into swine, she wields potent magic as a tool for enforcing her boundaries against rude trespassers.
Yet even with such powers, Circe ultimately offers lavish hospitality to Odysseus once he diplomatically earns her respect.
Throughout Homer’s Odyssey, Circe advises Odysseus on critical matters requiring her age-old wisdom.
Medusa
Medusa symbolizes a profound, fierce strength. Once a beautiful priestess devoted to the goddess Athena, she was transformed into a winged female monster with snakes for hair and the power to turn beholders into stone.
Some say Athena cursed Medusa in a fit of rage over Poseidon raping Medusa in Athena’s own temple.
Despite enduring trauma through no fault of her own at the hands of male powers, Medusa refuses to crumble.
With steely resolve, penetrating vision, and a form evoking chilling terror, Medusa cuts a stark image of a woman refusing to conform to comfort fragility or ego.
Medusa stands as an icon of courage continuing on after the devastation fate and life inflicts.
Strong and Courageous Feminine Characters in Native American Mythology
White Buffalo Calf Woman
In Lakota and other Native American traditions, White Buffalo Calf Woman represents the spiritual strength and courage of women.
According to legend, she appeared cradling a sacred bundle, with mystical powers to nurture the people during difficult times. Despite wearing white buckskin and the delicate appearance of a young pale-faced buffalo, she entered the Lakota camp alone to gift them the peace pipe for ritual ceremonies.
As the story goes, a young man desired the White Buffalo Calf Woman sexually, but she rebuked him by turning him into a pile of bones as punishment for his disrespect – showing her power and conviction.
Through stories of her self-assuredness, while bestowing sacred rites and dealing stern justice, White Buffalo Calf Woman grew into a figure associated with feminine wisdom, resilience, and authority against all odds.
Spider-Woman
In Hopi, Navajo, and other Native lore of the Southwestern United States, Spider-Woman represents the resilient and nurturing spirit of the earth.
According to their stories, she was responsible for weaving the world into existence on her loom of webs, thus demonstrating tremendous creative power and skill with tools for change.
Though taking the delicate form of a maternal figure spinning silken threads, Spider-Woman also holds unyielding conviction and responsibility in maintaining balance—she is said to occasionally re-weave her webs of fate, signaling massive transformations.
Even as she destroys, she ultimately brings renewal.
Changing Woman
A central figure in the origin stories of the Navajo (Diné) people, Changing Woman represents the graceful endurance of the spirit through all seasons and cycles of life.
She emerges each spring to grow from infancy to maidenhood with the seasons’ changes, representing the blossoming fertility of the Earth itself. When she reaches old age in winter, she renews herself to be born again when spring returns.
Changing Woman’s courageous ability to grow, decline, die, and reemerge embodies the Navajo ethos of walking in continuous beauty – persevering cheerfully and steadfastly through both blessings and hardships.
Even as external factors shift, Changing Woman models how one’s inner spirit can remain confident in carrying forward through turmoil toward rebirth.
Corn Mother
Across tribes from the Southwest to the Northeast, Corn Mother stories spread the cherished symbol of resilient nourishment through famine.
In parallel to drought and plentiful rainy seasons each year, Corn Mother dies by winter to be reborn when planting time returns. Even as severe lack depletes the land, Corn Mother selflessly sacrifices her body to provide sustaining grain when no other crops survive—she diminishes so that the people may live.
Figures like Corn Mother find courageous purpose in their toil so that entire tribes may together persist past periods of shortage and thrive in balance with what the living Earth can renew each turn of the year.
Strong and Courageous Feminine Characters in Asian Mythology
Durga
As a fierce warrior goddess in Hindu tales, Durga exhibits valor and resolve to defeat evil.
Most renowned for conquering the seemingly invincible buffalo demon, Mahishasura, Durga embodies power and mastery in battle.
Blessed with immeasurable strength from combining many of the gods’ potent weapons and most unrelenting qualities, Durga channels the divine feminine’s rage against those threatening righteousness.
Because no male god alone could withstand Mahishasura’s might, only through Durga’s unbending valor as a woman could the balance between good and evil be sustained.
Her courage arises not from reckless bloodlust but from settled defense of dharma.
Contemplative and decisive action, and an embodiment of the Almighty’s purposeful direction of energies – this exemplifies Durga Ma’s endurance in striving to uphold justice without straying down dark paths.
Guanyin
Revered for boundless compassion in East Asian traditions, the bodhisattva Guanyin offers courageous aid to all in need. Though reaching the threshold of nirvana and Buddhahood, Guanyin refuses to release from the cycle of mortal suffering in order to assist struggling souls across myriad realms.
She is said to manifest endless emanations to deliver salvation tailored to each being’s circumstances—a lordly figure ferrying lost mariners to safety, a white-robed maiden healing the ill, a queenly warrior subduing demons.
Guanyin’s persona traverses vast planes, wielding magical power only matched by endless wellsprings of mercy.
Her noble spirit welcomes the most humble into enlightened rebirth, facing mankind’s folly and vice with forbearance.
Benzaiten
The Japanese goddess Benzaiten represents the ability to keep going strong even when life throws curveballs. As one of the seven lucky gods, she’s all about blessing people with the power of words, artistry, and following their passion, even when it’s dramatic or risky.
Since she’s connected to rivers and music, think ‘going with the flow‘, letting creative juices keep pouring.
As a mom goddess, she nudges her kids to prosper and stick to high standards. And she rewards those loyal to her through thick and thin.
But when huge waves of misfortune or wickedness come, watch out! She’ll grab her bow and arrow as a warrior goddess and bring some righteous destruction.
Hine-nui-te-pō
In Māori mythology, Hine-nui-te-pō is the chieftess of the underworld. And she’s no decomposing zombie queen – Hine-nui-te-pō means “Great Lady of the Night,” so think beautiful dark goddess.
She guards the border between the living and dead. Her backstory has courage and strength written all over it. Originally, Hine was seduced by the god Tāne when she was just a mortal. She gave birth to their daughters before realizing Tāne was her father too.
Disgusted by the incest, Hine fled to the underworld. But she found her calling to rule as guardian of lost souls and keeper of mysteries.
Now Hine offers welcoming rest to deceased ancestors but keeps watch against disrespect.
Her steadfast work supports Māori customary beliefs about life’s passages.
Strong and Courageous Feminine Characters in European Mythology
Freya
In Norse myths, Freya maintains warrior goddess status while still being a full-on fashionista. Adorned in shimmering gold, she commands respect through her confidence, bravery, and competence in getting stuff done.
Freya takes zero BS – when giants stole her Brisingamen necklace, she boldly ventured to Jotunheim alone and dared shapeshifting tricks until she escaped with her precious jewelry.
Her courage gets tested too by the sadness of missing her wandering husband, Odr. But Freya handles single motherhood leading the noble Vanir gods while awaiting his return.
With charming beauty and magical know-how, Freya enjoys well-earned clout. She loves music, verse, and pleasure, and follows her heart – a liberated goddess who still commands respect.
Iduna
In Norse mythology, the youthful goddess Idunn may seem a strange icon of gutsy valor. As caretaker of the golden apples that keep gods and goddesses forever young, she’s literally the fountain of youth for Asgard!
Yet those precious fruits also tie Idunn to weighty duty few can handle alone.
When trickster god Loki let Idunn get kidnapped by giants, everything almost crumbles without her apples’ magic. But with brave resolve, Idunn kept her captors indifferent rather than helping them conquer aging too. And she trusted rescue would come.
In the end, cunning words from Loki restore cosmic order and Idunn to Asgard. As much as her orchard gifts immortality, however, Idunn embodies moral courage behind true everlastingness – to selflessly stand guard through isolation and vulnerability so others survive dark winters.
Cerridwen
Talk about goddess goals! Cerridwen from Welsh lore has crazy magic powers as a master alchemist cookin’ up potions.
How’d she get so skilled?
Centuries of solitary study and experiments gone wrong! Her child Gwion even got accidentally turned into a hare. But failures like that never stopped resilient Cerridwen.
Cerridwen’s backstory inspires fellow outsider creatives and moms committed to thankless tasks. Because under pressure, she handled magic mishaps calmly, then kept chasing her goals without bitterness.
Her endless drive shows us how to keep chasing inspiration, no matter what chaotic form life may take.
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga is an old witch from Russian folk tales. She lives deep in the forest in a magic hut on chicken legs.
Baba Yaga can be scary.
She has iron teeth and bony arms and legs. She flies around in a pestle and sweeps away her tracks with a broom.
But Baba Yaga is also very wise.
When kids are lost in the woods and they find Baba Yaga’s hut, sometimes she helps them. If they are polite to the old witch, she will give them what they need. Other times, if they are rude or try to trick her, she will eat them!
Baba Yaga is like the forest. She can be dangerous, powerful, and uncontrollable. But she can also shelter and feed you.
To get help from Baba Yaga without getting eaten or hurt, you have to be brave. You have to show courage and respect to nature’s wild magic.
Strong and Courageous Feminine Characters in South American Mythology
Pachamama
Pachamama is an important goddess for Andean cultures in South America.
Her name means “Mother Earth” in the Quecha language. Pachamama nurtures life, providing food and shelter so people and nature can grow. But people still have to work hard and face challenges to survive.
Pachamama controls earthquakes, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters that can destroy crops and homes.
She can give blessings of abundance when she is happy. However, she can become angry if treated badly.
Then Pachamama causes disasters as punishment. People show Pachamama respect through offerings and celebrations for a good harvest.
As both creator and destroyer, Pachamama reflects nature’s cycles. The courage to carry on through destructive events comes from Pachamama’s resilient spirit.
People honor her as the living land that feeds its children even during awful hardship. No matter what life-threatening crises occur, Pachamama endures to provide again when times improve.
Ixchel
Ixchel was the Mayan jaguar goddess of the moon, women, fertility, water, and medicine.
She watched over pregnant women and newborn babies.
She helped with healing and childbirth. But the moon could also be wild and dangerous like the jaguar.
Ixchel sent rain and floods. She unleashed terrible storms. The moon and waters she controlled both had extreme, changing cycles. But through it all, Ixchel’s power let life grow. Even destructive floods left land more fertile for farming.
For Mayan women, Ixchel gave the courage to face childbirth’s pain and danger.
So she became a symbol of resilient feminine strength passed on through every new generation.
Atabey
Atabey was the Taíno mother goddess of the Caribbean islands. She was one of the first deities over the world’s creation.
Atabey gave birth to the moon, sun, and stars. So she brought light against darkness. She watched over fresh waters too to nurture living things.
Atabey’s names meant “Mother of Waters,” “the Great Mother,” or “Great Woman.”
The Taínos saw Atabey as mother of their people as well. They said all women had Atabey’s spiritual strength. So mothers and daughters carried on Atabey’s female force over generations.
Atabey could also be a fierce protector. Some stories say the sea god Yúcahu once attacked islands to destroy humans. But Atabey defeated Yúcahu to save her earthly children.
Her courage held chaos back from overwhelming the world. And her care kept gently flowing rivers clean and calm.
Atabey gave that balance of gentleness and warrior spirit to Taíno women through the ages.
Build Your Own Brave Aesthetic
Beyond drawing on ancient stories, creating a personal aesthetic can bolster your valor. Surround yourself with items evoking attributes you want to embody.
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Home Décor:
– Wall art of goddesses or affirmations
– Candles representing confidence and calm
– Tiger’s eye, obsidian or carnelian stones
– Essential oils like jasmine, cinnamon and clove
Self-Care:
– Clothing in bold patterns and colors
– Statement jewelry like cuffs or chokers
– Makeup with fierce winged eyeliner or red lips
– Hairstyles like braids and ponytails that project poise
– Tattoos indicating spiritual protection or luck
By immersing yourself in symbolic touches and care, you manifest moxie in your environment.
Rituals to Bolster Bravery
Scheduled rituals can reinforce valor and certainty. Dedicate time to activities that ignite your inner heroine.
- Begin each day by stating 3 affirmations aloud
- Meditate on a bold intention for the week ahead
- Ask loved ones to share stories of strength
- Take solo nature walks for mental clarity
- Journal about times you demonstrated courage
- Try adrenaline-boosting activities like karaoke or rollercoasters
- Channel fortitude in creative pursuits like dancing and writing
- Listen to playlists with powerful anthems and lyrics
- Volunteer for challenging roles at work and in your community
- Review keepsakes and images commemorating bold moments
When courage wavers, revisit rituals that reconnect you to your tenacity.
Conclusion
Which mythological heroine or symbol of courage resonated with you most? How do you envision expressing your own valor? Let us know your thoughts, and share this with fellow bold women in your life.
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