45 Master Characters (17 page)

She's so unobtrusive people assume she's nothing more than a sweet shy person who could do no wrong. When people learn that she isn't what they expected they feel deeply betrayed. They set a higher standard for her than most women.

When she feels trapped by a family member she snaps and tries to regain control of her life and home. Rejection can also make her lose control.

She has a tendency to avoid people and social situations. She's so afraid of doing something wrong that she tries to please everyone in all situations. This causes her so much stress she snaps. She feels inadequate and is terrified of rejection. She has no close relationships, is inhibited and socially inept, and is reluctant to take risks.

She thinks people never really look at her and never try to see the real woman inside. She happily gives them the “quiet little woman” stereotype to hide her deviant nature. If married she may feel her husband is a pain who takes away all her peace and quiet. She justifies her actions by saying she may kill someone but they won't feel a thing.

• Usually feels trapped.
  

• Uses the “quiet little woman” stereotype to her advantage.
  

• Thinks of herself first and foremost.
  

• Has no problem taking a life or breaking a commandment because she goes to church and pays her dues.
  

• Relies on the kindness of strangers.
  

• Lets others feel good about helping her so they let their guard down.
  

• Is an expert liar.
  

• Maybe a sociopath. Very often a mental illness can be the cause of her deviant behavior.
  

• Is socially inept.
  

• Is afraid to take risks and make friends.
  

• Wants to be alone.
  

• Feels inadequate and fears rejection.
  

• Tries to please everyone around her and may snap under the pressure.
  

Hestia in Action

Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow) in
Friends

Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery (Jenna Elfman) in
Dharma & Greg

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) in
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) in
Serial Mom

Marina (Demi Moore) in
The Butcher's Wife

Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) in
Annie Hall

Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances in
Practical Magic
by Alice Hoffman

Dolores Claiborne in
Dolores Claiborne
by Stephen King

Grandmother in
Flowers in the Attic
by V.C. Andrews

Julia in
Hideous Kinky
by Esther Freud

Eugenia Alabaster in
Angels and Insects
by A.S. Byatt

Beth March in
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott

Muriel Pritchett in
The Accidental Tourist
by Anne Tyler

Blanche DuBois in
A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams

Surrounded by light, Isis walks across the earth bringing change, transformation and knowledge wherever she goes. She illuminates all she comes into contact with. She alone holds the words of life and death, for she alone knows the secret name of God. Those in her favor are blessed with the mysteries of eternal life, and those who wish to stay as they are fear her transforming presence. They will fight change with their last breath and will wish harm upon her, calling her unholy. Unconcerned with those of closed minds, she moves on with her mission to help her children find salvation and freedom. She is beauty, love, compassion and transformation.

The Female Messiah

The Messiah is the archetype of androgyny. Both the male and female version of this archetype are identical except for the fact that the male preaches and shows the way to love and enlightenment while the female is the way to love and enlightenment. This is probably why we hear so much more about male saints and yogis than female saints and yoginis.

The Female Messiah archetype can also contain any of the other archetypes, which will help her to achieve her goals in this lifetime. For example, Joan of Arc was a savior of her people who embodied the Artemis/Amazon archetype in battle.

The Female Messiah may not know of her connection to the Divine but just be “driven” to accomplish something important. In this respect she isn't working on a spiritual goal; it seems her whole life is for one purpose and that purpose affects the lives of thousands of people.

In Arthurian legend, the Lady of the Lake, a Female Messiah, presents Arthur with the famed sword Excalibur.

The Female Messiah has the ability to see the whole picture when it comes to any problem. She never jumps to conclusions or gets involved in the gossip or drama of everyday life. She's a detached observer who sees all sides and understands all views.

She respects all religions and belief systems. She gives freely of herself because she knows what she puts out comes back to her threefold.

The Female Messiah isn't as easily accepted by the masses as a spiritual authority figure because of her gender. If she remains somewhat quiet and allows others to speak of her for a time, she'll later have the opportunity to speak out about her views. It's OK for her to have a message that's about the feminine traits of love and compassion, but her message may be much harsher than that, as was Joan of Arc's. This can cause trouble for her unless women are viewed as equals. She can be thought of as hysterical or may be pushed aside and called “just a housewife” to demean her and her accomplishments.

She may not realize her Divine connections but be born with a strong pull toward a goal and a willingness to sacrifice herself for it. Think of what the women who fought for the right to vote sacrificed, or the chance Rosa Parks took when she refused to give up her seat.

What Does the Female Messiah Care About?

The Female Messiah understands the plight of women and the feminine in a patriarchal society, and she cares about elevating the female status.

She cares about herself as well as others. Every living thing is a manifestation of the Divine to her.

She cares about others recognizing their own divine nature. She wants everyone to grow spiritually.

She pays special attention to the children and animals because they can't help themselves.

She values healing the soul above healing the body. She can't take away the pain of another who needs to learn from his experience even though she may be a gifted healer.

What Does the Female Messiah Fear?

The Female Messiah fears people will be led astray by those on the wrong path or by their own desire to please.

She fears she'll be persecuted but embraces it as part of her destiny. She sees the greater good of every event and only suffers if her family is persecuted because of her actions.

She fears she'll run out of time to fulfill her mission or that she'll have to watch others suffer.

What Motivates the Female Messiah?

The aesthetic need to be connected to something greater than herself motivates her as well as her desire to give and receive unconditional love.

She knows she must battle her demons to maintain her connection to the divine. She has moments of clarity and bliss but then she must learn to integrate this experience with the tasks of everyday life. She doesn't place herself above anyone else.