Calling on Athena: Wisdom in the Fight for Justice
Goddesses for the Resistance
Image is of the Statue of Athena at the Academy of Athens, taken by me in 2018
In times of upheaval, it's easy to feel like our voices are whispers against the storm. But history—and mythology—tell us otherwise. Resistance doesn't always roar. Sometimes, it plans. It shields. It sees clearly and strikes with purpose.
When the weight of injustice threatens to crush clarity and courage, I turn to the archetypes that have stood watch over civilizations for centuries. One of the most powerful? Athena.
Not the kind of goddess who thrives on chaos for its own sake, Athena is the calm in the storm, the strategist at the heart of resistance. She embodies wisdom, lawful rebellion, and the quiet ferocity of knowing exactly when and how to act. She's the one who counsels heroes, protects cities, and never fights without a reason.
Athena, also called Pallas Athena, sprang fully formed and armored from Zeus’s forehead—an origin that already signals her as a deity of intellect and combat. She is not warlike in the chaotic, bloodthirsty way of Ares, but strategic, disciplined, and defensive. She’s a patron of heroes and rulers who strive to protect rather than dominate.
Here’s how:
Wisdom as a Weapon
Athena’s power lies in her clear-eyed insight. She sees the bigger picture, understands motives, and calculates outcomes. In the face of tyranny, Athena encourages us to outthink, outmaneuver, and find unexpected paths to justice.
Strategic Warfare
Unlike goddesses of wrath or vengeance, Athena’s approach is about careful planning, alliances, and precision. She represents the quiet power of long-term resistance and the wisdom to pick the right battles.
Protector of Cities
Her name is literally bound to Athens, a city she won by offering the olive tree—a symbol of peace and prosperity. She is invoked not just in wartime, but to preserve the ideals of democracy, civilization, and fair rule. That makes her especially relevant when confronting authoritarianism or political corruption.
Ally of Heroes
Athena aided Odysseus, Perseus, and others—not by brute force, but through cunning, tools, and guidance. She’s a reminder that even those without armies can be powerful when they have clarity and purpose.
Symbols and Offerings
Symbols: Owl (wisdom), Aegis (shield), spear, olive tree, snakes.
Offerings: Olive oil, honey, strategic writings or declarations, hand-crafted items, or anything that represents peaceful resistance.
Colors: Silver, gold, deep blue, olive green.
These aren’t just symbols—they’re spells in their own right. Each hue and object invites her presence, each act of offering a whisper in her ear.
Let’s step into her temple, light the candle, and remember: resistance is sacred work, and you are not alone.
Image is of the Temple of Athena at Delphi taken by me in 2018
How to Work with Athena in Resistance
Light a candle in her colors while writing a letter to your representatives, organizing community support, or engaging in educational activism.
Invoke her aid before a difficult conversation or confrontation, asking for her wisdom and grace in how you communicate.
Create a mini altar with an owl figure, an olive branch, and a written intention for justice.
Athena Ritual for Justice and Resistance
1. Preparation and Space
Timing: Choose a waxing moon phase if you’re building strength, or a waning moon if you’re dismantling injustice.
Tools:
A candle in deep blue, silver, or olive green.
A small owl figure, image, or feather.
Olive oil in a small dish.
A journal and pen.
A piece of fabric or scarf in her colors to define sacred space.
A bowl of water with a drop of lavender or rosemary (for clarity and focus).
Create a quiet space and set your items with intention. Place the owl and olive oil at the center of your altar, with the candle nearby.
2. Invocation of Athena
Speak this aloud or write it in your own words. Lighting the candle as you begin is a good way to mark sacred space:
Invocation to Athena
Pallas Athena, gray-eyed one,
Daughter of storm and lightning-brain,
Shield-bearer, sharp-sighted guardian,
Who guides the minds of heroes and rulers.I call to you now—not in bloodlust,
But in the hunger for justice,
In the need for clarity,
In the fire of right resistance.Stand by me in this fight.
Show me the threads of truth.
Strengthen my voice and my resolve.
Guide my words, sharpen my focus.
Let the shield of wisdom protect what is just.In your name, I act with honor and cunning.
So may it be done.
Let the candle burn while you reflect or take action. If fire is a concern, you can use a symbolic LED or skip the flame entirely.
3. Resistance Ritual Actions
After the invocation, choose one or more of these:
Anoint your forehead with olive oil for wisdom, or your hands for action.
Drop a written statement of your resistance into the water bowl, watching the ink run as a sign of what must be released or reimagined.
Write a letter or email to an official or organization, calling for justice, and keep Athena’s symbol near as you do.
Visualize a shield of Athena forming around your space or community—one that deflects falsehood, confusion, and oppression.
4. Journal Prompts: Channeling Athena
Use these prompts in your practice:
“Where am I called to use strategy instead of reaction?”
“What injustice have I been silent about, and what would Athena say?”
“What tools of wisdom and communication do I already possess?”
“What does a ‘just resistance’ look like for me?”
Take your time. Write freely and without editing. Athena often speaks in the calm clarity that follows inner silence.
5. Closing and Thanks
Extinguish the candle (if used), saying:
“Athena, I thank you for your presence.
May wisdom guide my path,
May justice anchor my spirit,
May courage temper my words.”
You can leave the altar up as long as you're actively engaging in resistance work, or return to it weekly to renew your focus.
Weaving Resistance Into Daily Magic
Working with Athena isn’t about summoning thunderbolts or donning armor—though some days, it might feel like we do just that. It’s about inviting strategy into our spells, calling on courage in our conversations, and choosing truth even when silence feels safer. Resistance, like ritual, is built one choice at a time.
Let this practice remind you: your voice is sacred. Your clarity is a spell. And wisdom? That’s magic sharpened into action.
So whether you're lighting a candle, writing to your senator, or setting fierce boundaries in your personal life, know that Athena walks with you—not behind you, not above you, but beside you. Shield raised. Eyes sharp. Purpose clear.
Until next time, keep weaving, keep writing, and may your magic be rooted and real.