WALK UP (The Goddess of the Moon)

THE Ancient Greek Goddess Artemis (in Roman, Diana) is the Virgin Goddess of the Moon, twin sister to the Sun God Apollo, and also the Goddess of wild animals and hunting. At the same time, she is also a Goddess of Childbirth!

This has to do with the story of her birth. Artemis and Apollo are the children of the mortal woman Leto, with whom Zeus their dad had an affair. While pregnant, Leto was pursued by a jealous Hera, and was brought to safety by the kind God Hermes. 

Hermes brought Leto to the Greek island of Delos, and there Leto found sanctuary (later Delos became an important religious centre for classic Greece). During the pains of labour, the baby Artemis came out first.

Though she was tiny, Artemis was also a Goddess. She walked up, and helped her mother deliver Apollo, her twin brother.

Since then, Artemis is a protector of women in labor! The same goes for Leto, and the Goddess Hera, who is also the patron Goddess of home and family.

Motherhood is a gift to women, though I don't think it's necessarily a woman's destiny. Also, a woman needs help with motherhood -- in terms of infrastructure, from the state, and in terms of sharing and support from a partner, if there is one.

And I believe that motherhood, in a broader sense, is not exclusive to women! Some dads are excellent at mothering too! :-)