How to create world peace, starting with yourself: The Goddesses’ Guide to Giving up your Battles.

​It has been speculated that if women were to rule the world, political and economic disputes between countries would be solved through cordial discussion and a cup of tea – without breaking so much as a fingernail. As opposed to the highly destructive custom of starting wars. Just imagine the difference!
 
Yet women are no less guilty of fighting battles, though many of them may be internal or social in nature. On the level of energy, a battle is a battle, whether it is fought with a sword or with judgment. (This is not to invalidate the immense suffering that a physical war causes.)
 
There comes a point in the experience of enlightenment when it is time to give up the battles and lay down the swords. All of them. The battles fought out of anger, but also the battles fought for protection. The battles fought in the name of darkness and the battles fought in the name of light. The battles fought against others and the battles fought against yourself. Enlightenment, after all, is a state of allowing and acceptance, and it is incompatible with things like resistance and effort. 
 
As I’m reluctantly laying down my own sword and dissolving some of my cherished aspects – like the mediator, the feminist, the warrior & the rebel – I decided to seek some divine council from the goddesses. I was especially interested to hear what the feminine warrior archetypes had to say about this topic. Are the goddesses of war still “pro-war”? 
 
The first archetype I called up was the Greek goddess Athena, known both as the goddess of war and wisdom. Next, I communed with the Nordic goddess Freyja, known as the goddess of love, sex, and war. That’s an interesting set of domains to specialize in, but who am I to question the job description of a goddess. I was also curious to hear what the Egyptian deity Sekhmet had to share. 
 
It turns out that these ladies are peace-loving pacifists. After talking with the trio, I collected their wisdom and assembled a short guide to support anyone in the art of de-battling. Or, in Athena’s words: how to create world peace, starting with yourself.   (If you’re wondering how I ‘talk’ with these non-embodied entities, I simply cast a wish to connect with the specific entity, open my inner ear, and write down or record any inspiration that flows in.)

1. Wisdom traditions throughout the ages have taught us that the only way to stop external battles is by ending the battles within; in other words, through integration and self-acceptance. If you need motivation for this, remember the words of war strategist Athena. Her logic is simple, but sharp as the tip of her spear:  “If you don’t want to lose, don’t enter the game. The only way to ensure victory is to not battle in the first place.” 
2. When I asked the goddesses why humans are so drawn to battles, Freyja responded: “The ego has a need to be right, and many of your daily battles are really just about that: the need to be right. But do you really need to be acknowledged by everyone? And whose opinion matters so much to you, anyway?” (She asks, while lounging next to her two pet lynxes. I suppose if you have her confidence, you don’t really need to care too much about the opinions of others…)
3. While I see her point, there are also other reasons for engaging in conflict, such as the need to protect or defend your ideals. Athena answered with the following message: “You cannot engage in duality without strengthening it. Even if you enter a conflict with the sole purpose of defending someone, the very act of defence strengthens the reality that there is something to defend against. In other words, the moment you step into the role of ‘defence’, you have already given your power to fear.”
4. So is there a way to support a cause you believe in without playing into the dynamics of duality? According to Athena, you can discern the difference by asking yourself: am I for something or against something? “The moment you’re against something, you have entered the realm of resistance. It’s a thin line, but if you’re honest with yourself, you will be able to discern the difference.”
5. Sekhmet adds: “Many people suffer from guilt. The fear that if you don’t help someone by fighting with them, then it means that you abandon them. This is a learned belief that traps entire families in suffering. If you are affected by guilt, consider if there are other ways of showing support that don’t involve getting caught in the battle. For example, by using your voice (which can be done without blame), by inspiring hope and by being a standard for a new way of living. Guilt is not love, it’s just guilt.” (For anyone unfamiliar with Sekhmet, picture a lion-headed woman who can breathe fire. She's the daughter of Ra, and the embodiment of feminine fierceness. Despite her cut-throat reputation, when I really tune into her, I feel passion and courage more than anything else.)
6. Then how do we deal with anger caused by conflict situations? Sekhmet shares the following advice: “Anger is an emotional reaction and a natural part of the human experience. Anger can reveal things that have been suppressed or ignored. The best way to deal with anger is to feel it and acknowledge it. It can be helpful to view anger as your body guard rather than the decision-maker of your internal system.” 
7. How about dealing with other emotions? Sekhmet says: “Allow your emotions to flow through you. If you do feel strong emotions about a conflict or a war, allow those emotions – but without entertaining the mental narrative about the situation. A practical way to do this is to focus on your breathing and on the physical sensations in the body as the waves of emotion wash through you. Whenever you notice yourself getting caught in the stories of the mind, shift your focus back on the breath.”
8. Any advice on how to deal with the wars happening right now on Earth? Athena speaks: “Don’t take sides. I know this can be triggering for anyone who is directly involved or affected in a conflict, or if you have loved ones who are suffering. But whenever you ‘take a side’, you are energetically fanning the flames of the battle. Instead of taking a side, try to observe the energy dynamics with compassion. If compassion is too difficult, it is better to disconnect from the energies as much as possible.” (I hear Freyja shouting in the background: “Compassion is the new fashion!” She would have made a great cheerleader.)   Athena continues: “Notice if you’re addicted to the energy of drama. Many people say they are anti-war, yet constantly consume news that focus on war and conflict, play violent video games, or watch movies where the good guys fight the bad guys. What kind of media do you consume? Do you delight in gossip? Pay attention to the quality and quantity of content that you consume.”
9. What else can we as conscious beings do right now to create more peace in the world?  Freyja answers: “Joy is a more effective way of causing change on the planet than pity, fear, or anger. It might not seem as effective at first glance, because it doesn’t cause the same shock reaction in the body. Joy, however, is just as influential as fear or anger, and feels much better! So if you need to be a rebel, start a joy revolution. If you need to protect, inspire others by showing how you set healthy boundaries. Dare to be different, hold a high frequency, and show others how they can raise their frequency, too.”
10. Got it! Any other advice?  Freyja adds: “You might think the hippies came up with the slogan: make love, not war, but of course many masters have taught this principle before the 1960s, including me. Healing your sexual wounds is a service to yourself and to humanity that leads to significant transformation. You can heal many deep, subconscious imbalances through sexual healing, not to mention the effect that it will have on your relationships. (Side note: You don’t need a partner to heal sexual wounds.) When you heal your own sexual energy imbalances, you are ending the battle between your inner feminine and inner masculine. Making love to yourself is a practical and joyful activity that will lead to more peace within your universe.”
11. Sekhmet wants to share another reminder: “When you remember who you are in divine truth, fear has no power over you. The only way to be truly fearless is to remember your true nature.” 
12. Athena ends with the following note: “Look for the wisdom. Whatever situation you find yourself in, whatever your experience is, squeeze the wisdom from it like you would squeeze lemon juice from the fruit. Then throw away the parts of the story that don’t serve you. Wisdom can be found in every situation if you look for it.”

"The only way to be truly fearless is to remember your true nature."

The trio explains that war mythology was important at a time when so much of humanity was experiencing war; now humanity is going through a steep transformation into a new age, where physical wars will not be tolerated by humans for much longer. Despite current events, consciousness is rising on the planet at a fast rate.

With this significant shift in consciousness, archetypes also transform to reflect the changes. Athena, Freyja, and Sekhmet ensure that they are still here to play with humans through storytelling and mythology, but with an update in their image. You can always call upon Athena if you need help with relationship disputes or communication issues; call upon Freyja if you want support with self-confidence and self-love, especially after a heartbreak; or call upon Sekhmet for courage to face your inner demons. These celestial ladies also want to remind you that there are legions of angelic beings and masters on the other side of the veil willing and able to support you, if you are going through a tough time or if you’re looking for some angelic company.