THE WONDER WOMAN I WAS HOPING FOR

Don’t get me wrong—I LOVED the Wonder Woman movie.  I thought Gal Godot did a smashing job as Diana.  I loved the idea of the Amazons being ancient protectresses of the planet. I loved some of the little tropes in the movie that spoke of intersectionality, like the moment when Diana is speaking with Sameer who basically tells her that everyone has crosses to bear.  And I LOVED that Diana comes to believe that her power comes from love.  Yes, yes and hell yes.

But ultimately, to my mind, Wonder Woman’s tale is a flawed story, in that it follows the predictable path of any male hero.  As described by Joseph Campbell in the Hero with a Thousand Faces, the male hero’s story is all about being THE ONE, the lone person who can save the day.  He may have friends and allies, but in reality everything rests on the actions of the hero.  At the end of the day, the hero is the one who receives all the accolades when the job is finally done, the day is saved or the evil empire is beaten back.

However, the heroine’s story is a bit different, and more closely tied to her relationship with other women.  Women, finding ways to integrate both the masculine and feminine in a meaningful way.  Women knowing that our strength is our solidarity, not in standing alone.  The heroine’s story is about coming home wiser, more self assured, more ready to give back to the community that spawned her.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE WOMEN?

Once Diana leaves her island home, she meets only two of consequence, Etta, Sir Patric’s secretary, and the creepy, broken villainess of the piece, Dr. Maru.  Now I’m no hater of the female antagonist.  Consider the Wizard of Oz, where every powerful character, from Aunt Em to the Wicked Witch of the West, is female.  The lone male believed to be of any real consequence isn’t all powerful but rather puffed up and pretentious.  However Maru is more disturbed and manipulated than she appears to be potent in her own right.  She and Wonder Woman in no way are equals.

Although I did love the movie, in the days since I have seen it I have been rewriting it in my head.  Or rather I’ve been adding to the existing story those elements that were not handled well to my mind.

WONDER WOMAN MY WAY

First off, why on earth is Diana the only child on Themyscira?  The Amazons were a race of fierce warrior women believed to have existed in Asia Minor, who bred with a nearby tribe of men.  The boys they gave to the men; the girls they kept for themselves.  So I can see the need for the island to exist simultaneously with the outside world in secret, but she could have had some friends.

Once she decides to leave, Diana’s mom could let her go reluctantly, and Diana’s two besties could leave with her.  The three women, plus Steve Trevor team up with Sameer, Charlie and the Chief  to go after Aries.  Maybe Diana isn’t the only one to make a love connection.

Once Aries is defeated, Diana goes home to Themyscira to make peace with her mother.  Her two buddies decide they would rather stay on their island home.  But Diana wants to continue her work in the outside world and returns, this time, with her mother’s blessing.

And for the love of all that’s holy, can we please call Diana what she is—A GODDESS!

BE YOUR OWN WONDER WOMAN!!!

After seeing the movie, one of my friends remarked —“I should have been born an Amazon!”  My answer to her was—“You were!”  Every woman has within her an aspect of the Goddess that is the Amazon.  The Goddess is typically seen in three phases—maiden, mother, and crone.  The Amazon can be in any or all of these phases, or exist as her own fourth phase, between mother and crone aspects.  In all cases, the Amazon is defined by fierceness in inner and outer battles, focus on her goals and then which she wishes to achieve and femininity—however she defines it.  

Join me on July 26 for a FREE workshop to explore and activate this fourth feminine archetype.  We will connect with the energy of the Amazons, learn the 5 types of Inner Warrior each of us can call on to get sh*t done.  And pledge ourselves to greater sisterhood and the return of the sacred feminine. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WORKSHOP!