Becoming Minerva: Reclaiming the Goddess Within

Some discoveries feel like they were meant to happen, even if they come by accident.  

Mine began with a simple mistake - a recurring misspelling of my name as “Minerva.”  

Autocorrect has renamed me so often over the years, I started brushing it off as an amusing quirk.

In a group chat one day, a new friend apologized for the autocorrected message and another friend responded,

“Minerva is a Roman Goddess. Autocorrect coulda done worse...."

What began as a casual Google search to get to know Minerva, transformed into a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. 

What I uncovered was more than just information about a mythological figure. 

I found an archetype of power, creativity, and intelligence that society so often teaches women to suppress. 

Minerva, The Goddess 

Turns out Minerva is one of the most revered deities of Roman mythology.  

As the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and the arts, Minerva is a unique combination of intellect and creativity. She lacks the large body of mythical stories that are common for deity figures that were often capricious, reckless, and impulsive. Instead, she represented the practical application of knowledge, deliberate and thoughtful problem solving, and ingenuity.  

Minerva, I discovered, is not just a goddess of wisdom. She is a protector of the arts, a champion of strategy, and a symbol of feminine autonomy in a patriarchal pantheon. She is not afraid to wield power, but she does so with intelligence and grace, preferring strategy over brute force. 

As I learned more about her, I started to see myself in her story. I, too, have always been drawn to solving problems creatively, to blending logic with imagination. But like many women, I’ve often downplayed these strengths.  

Society teaches us to be modest about our accomplishments, to soften our brilliance so as not to threaten others. As women, we’ve been conditioned to fit into narrow molds of behavior - be polite, be agreeable, don’t outshine others, and above all, don’t claim too much power.  

This separation from our inner strength has dulled our connection to the very qualities that make us extraordinary. 

Minerva’s unapologetic power and independence struck a chord. Here was a goddess who didn’t ask for permission to lead or create - she simply did. She wasn’t waiting for validation from anyone.  

It made me wonder: How often do we, as women, wait for permission to own our power?  

And how much of our potential is lost in that waiting? 

The Goddess Within 

My connection to Minerva felt like an invitation to explore what it means to embody the goddess within - a part of us that is wise, creative, and strong but often buried under societal expectations.  

Women have long been taught to suppress these qualities, to prioritize being agreeable over being assertive, and to focus on nurturing others while neglecting our own growth. 

This separation from our inner goddess isn’t accidental. It’s a product of a society that fears empowered women.  

History is full of examples of women whose intelligence, creativity, or independence made them targets of suppression. From the witch trials of the past to the modern-day backlash against women who defy traditional roles, the message is clear:  

A woman in touch with her power is a threat and dangerous. 

But what if we stopped seeing our power as something to be hidden and started seeing it as something to celebrate?

What if we allowed ourselves to fully embody the traits we admire in figures like Minerva - wisdom, creativity, and strength? 

Stepping into the Archetype 

One of the most transformative ideas I’ve encountered is the concept of archetype - universal symbols or personas that we can draw inspiration from.  

Minerva became my archetype, a persona I could channel to reconnect with my power. This isn’t about pretending to be someone else; it’s about using an archetype as a lens to see the best in yourself. She became a way for me to tap into qualities I already had but had been conditioned to downplay. 

This isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about giving yourself permission to amplify the parts of you that align with the archetype you admire.  

Minerva didn’t create new qualities in me - she reminded me of the ones I already had but had been taught to suppress. 

When I face a challenge now, I ask myself: How would Minerva approach this?  

Would she hesitate, second-guess, or wait for approval?  

Or would she trust her wisdom, act decisively, and create solutions?  

These questions help me reframe my thinking and remind me of the power I already possess. 

Reclaiming Power in a World That Fears It 

As women, we’re often taught that power is not ours to claim. From a young age, we’re socialized to prioritize pleasing others over standing out, to accept limitation rather than challenge it.  

Even when we excel, we’re told to downplay our success. 

This separation from our inner goddess - the part of us that is wise, creative, and strong - has been deliberate. A society that fears empowered women thrives on our silence and compliance.  

Reclaiming that power is not just an act of personal growth; it’s an act of defiance. 

Minerva taught me that wisdom isn’t quiet and passive.  

It’s bold and strategic.  

Creativity isn’t frivolous. 

It’s a form of problem-solving and self-expression.  

Power isn’t something to fear. 

It's something to wield thoughtfully and unapologetically. 

The idea of reclaiming power is radical because it goes against everything women are taught.  

We’re told to be small, to defer, to avoid making others uncomfortable.  

Even our language reflects this conditioning. How often do we start sentences with “I’m sorry” or use words like “just” to soften our statements? (Stop doing this!) 

Reconnecting with your inner goddess is an act of defiance against these norms. It’s a way of saying: I am allowed to take up space.  

I am allowed to be powerful.  

I am allowed to be unapologetically myself. 

For me, embodying Minerva’s energy has meant learning to trust my own voice. It meant embracing the parts of myself that society might label as “too much” - too ambitious, too opinionated, too creative.  

These are not flaws.  

They are gifts. 

Creativity as a Form of Power 

Minerva is not just a goddess of wisdom; she’s a patron of creativity and craftsmanship.  

Creativity is one of the most powerful tools we have. 

Society often downplays the value of creativity, especially for women. It’s seen as frivolous or secondary to more “practical” pursuits. But creativity is revolutionary. It’s the ability to imagine new possibilities, to solve problems in innovative ways, and to express truths that might otherwise go unheard. 

For me, embracing Minerva’s creative energy has meant seeing my own creative work as a form of resistance.  

Every time I write, brainstorm, or create something new, I’m not just producing and building a body of work - I’m reclaiming my power to shape the world around me. 

Wisdom, Strength, and Strategy 

For Minerva, wisdom is not passive.  

Wisdom has nothing to do with acquiring knowledge. Instead, it is about applying knowledge in ways that create meaningful change.  

Wisdom requires action, and sometimes it requires strategy. 

As women, we’re often discouraged from being strategic. Strategy is seen as calculating, a word with negative connotations when applied to women.  

Strategy is a form of strength. It’s the ability to see the bigger picture, to plan thoughtfully, and to achieve goals with precision. 

Strength also doesn’t have to be loud or aggressive - it can be quiet, deliberate, and deeply effective. 

Finding Your Own Archetype 

While Minerva has been a transformative figure for me, she’s just one archetype among many. Each of us can find a figure - mythological, historical, or even fictional - that resonates with our unique strengths and aspirations. 

Ask yourself:  

What qualities do I embody that I want to bring forward more?  

Is it courage, resilience, compassion, or creativity?  

Then think of a figure who represents those qualities. Maybe it’s Athena, Frida Kahlo, or even a modern-day trailblazer like Malala Yousafzai. Whoever it is, let them inspire you to see those qualities in yourself. 

Living as Minerva 

Since embracing Minerva as my archetype, I’ve noticed profound changes in how I see myself and how I move through the world. I’m more confident in my decisions, more unapologetic in my creativity, and more intentional in how I use my power. 

This journey has also taught me to pay attention to life’s small nudges. A misspelled name might seem trivial, but for me, it was the spark that ignited a transformative journey.  

Sometimes, the universe whispers to us in ways we don’t expect - it’s up to us to listen. 

Reclaiming Our Power 

While my connection to Minerva came by accident, choosing an archetype to embody can be a powerful act of intention.  

Who inspires you?  

Who embodies the traits you want to cultivate in yourself? 

This isn’t about idolizing or imitating someone else. It’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself that have been buried under societal expectations. Whether your archetype is Minerva, a historical figure, or a fictional character, stepping into their energy can help you access your inner power. 

Reconnecting with your inner goddess, however, is not just a personal journey; it’s a collective one.  

When women reclaim their power, they inspire others to do the same. They challenge the systems that seek to keep them small. And in doing so, they create a ripple effect, showing others that it is not only acceptable but necessary to step into their strength and unapologetically own who they are. 

Embracing the goddess within isn’t about reaching for or grasping at something external - it’s about remembering what has always been present inside us.  

Every woman has a wellspring of wisdom, creativity, and power waiting to be tapped into. These qualities may have been buried under years of societal conditioning, but they are not lost. They are dormant, ready to awaken the moment you decide to reclaim them. 

When you step into this reclamation, you’re not just doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for the women who came before you, who were silenced or held back, and for the women who will come after you, who need to see examples of what’s possible.  

You’re sending a message to the world that women’s voices, ideas, and contributions are not optional - they’re essential. 

Imagine a world where every woman feels free to embrace her full self - her intelligence, her creativity, her strength.  

Imagine what could be built, discovered, and transformed in a world where women lead unapologetically. That world begins with each of us deciding to say yes to our power. 

So, here’s my invitation to you: Find your Minerva; your archetype of power and possibility. Let her be the guide that reminds you of your limitless potential. Step into her shoes when you need courage, strength, or clarity, and know that she isn’t separate from you.  

She is you. 

When we reclaim our inner goddess, we don’t just change our own lives.  

We create a movement.  

We rewrite the narrative.  

We inspire generations to come to never again doubt the profound, transformative power of women fully owning who they are. 

Reclaim your goddess.  

Reclaim your story.  

Reclaim yourself.  

Journal Prompts for Exploring Your Inner Goddess Archetype 

1. Discover Your Archetype 

• Reflect on the qualities within yourself that feel most powerful, authentic, or aligned with who you want to be. What strengths, talents, or traits already exist in you that might align with a goddess archetype? Write about how you can honor and amplify these qualities in your life. 

2. Reclaiming Suppressed Strengths 

• What are some strengths or qualities you’ve been told to downplay or hide because they didn’t align with societal expectations? How might embodying a goddess archetype help you reclaim those parts of yourself? 

3. The Goddess in Daily Life 

• Imagine stepping into the role of your chosen goddess archetype for a day. How would you approach challenges, relationships, or decisions differently? Describe specific actions or attitudes you could adopt to embody this energy in your daily life. 

4. Creativity as Power 

• Reflect on your relationship with creativity. How has society shaped your view of your creative abilities? How can you channel your goddess archetype to see creativity as a source of power and self-expression? 

5. Overcoming Fear of Power 

• Write about a time when you felt hesitant to assert your power, share your voice, or take the lead. What held you back? How might your goddess archetype have approached that situation? How can adopting her perspective help you move forward with confidence?