Dear Athena, as you are doubtless aware, there is a new god in town. This is not bad news in and of itself. In fact, I find his joie de vivre and positive attitude rather charming, and indeed refreshing.
Charmed as I may be, it does not make me oblivious to what his arrival means for me. There are mutterings about the reparations owing to him, and the need for him to take his rightful place. What it comes down to is this: there are twelve thrones on Olympus, and now a thirteenth deity has come along. Someone’s going to get the shove and I can’t see it being anyone other than me. After all, who prefers the stay-at-home to the life of the party?
The way I see it, I have three options. I could wait for the inevitable summons from my almighty brother, and hear him pretend to suggest, while actually commanding, that I take myself elsewhere; I could make a stand and put up a fight for my rightful place; I could accept that perhaps it is somebody else’s turn and vacate my seat willingly and with good grace. I think it has to be one of the latter two in order for me to maintain any sort of self-respect. But which to choose? It seems bizarre that a goddess with my particular specialism would find it so difficult to decide where she belongs, although perhaps this pressure is why I’m so torn. I want to do the right thing, both for this newcomer and for myself. Should I start house-hunting? -home_is_where_the_hearth_is
Athena says: As a fellow occupant of the Olympian thrones, one who can honestly say that she hasn’t even given a second of thought to giving up her place, I salute you. This level of kindness, sensitivity, courage, humility, is not something that I have come to expect from my colleagues.
If I had considered the possibility of divine musical chairs, and found myself faced with the options that you have set out, I would most certainly be inclined to fight for my spot. How dare they even think about asking you to step aside? How dare they disregard your years of service? How dare they imply for one moment that you are replaceable or interchangeable. You are a unique and powerful goddess, and don’t let them forget it.
How dare they imply that you are replaceable or interchangeable?
I have no doubt that you would have a strong case for reserving your seat, and if you wish to keep it then it is well worth struggling for. But is it what you truly want?
We may be alike in our divinity, but I suspect that we may differ in what our instincts would tell us to do in this situation. Your willingness even to consider an alternative residence suggests to me that you have a bravery and sense of adventure that are often overlooked due to your self-proclaimed stay-at-home nature. If you think that there might be something else out there for you, then why not take that leap?
I don’t deny that I stand to gain if you choose to vacate your place. I have no desire to find myself in this particular hotseat. However, bias or no bias, I do think that a move really might be the answer for you, as long as it is on your own terms.
The fact that you are prepared to engage with an alternative future could well be an indicator that you are being called elsewhere. I wouldn’t often suggest this, as it doesn’t look brilliant for the Dear Athena brand, but perhaps a consultation with The Fates is in order. They might be able to offer some clarity on your next move.
This throne is in your gift, it cannot be taken from you
Whether you seek definite answers or not, the most important thing is that you reclaim control of the situation. This throne is is in your gift, it is not something that can be taken from you. You must make it clear that you are doing this because you are making a choice, and not because you have no choice.
And there is no need to fly by the seat of your chiton. Set up your future before making any major decisions. If you are being called elsewhere, then where is it that you feel you ought to go? You suggest that your specialism should make it easy to know where you belong, but I can see how it would complicate matters. You are an essential element of every home and household in our world, and being far above it all up on our high mountain seems somehow incompatible with that. You have no shortage of places to make yourself at home, you merely need to choose one. In fact, why stop at that? This could be an opportunity to lean into your omnipresence, and put yourself right at the heart(h!) of things.
Once you have made your plans, then you can bestow your throne upon our lively young newcomer without fear or anxiety. You have made your decision, nobody is being put in a difficult position, and new adventures await. I look forward to seeing where your instinct takes you.
Dear Athena 