Outline of myth and its symbolisms:

The myth of Afaia begins at her conception, since she is the daughter of Zeus and a priestess
of the cleansing river waters (Kharme). The union of Zeus and water goddesses, spirits or
priestesses, is common ground in Greek mythology, symbolizing perhaps divine
manifestation, the union of Manas (or mental energy, symbolized by Zeus), with the energy
of life (symbolized by the element of water). In her early years, Afaia was named
Vritomartys, the sweet virgin, and she was a huntress in the mountains of Crete. Her skill
was so great, that according to some variations of her myth, she was considered a follower
or an avatar of Artemis, or an embodiment of the beauty/abundance/wild nature aspect of
the All Mother Goddess of ancient Crete. The invention of the hunting net is attributed to
her.

Her dwelling place was the mountain Diktys, where the king Minoas went to meditate upon
the matters of correct legislation and correct government of his people. Minoas was
considered a paragon of justice and fairness, as he was receiving inspiration in these matters
with the help of the young demigoddess, who acted as a mediator between Zeus and him.
For all these reasons, Vritomartys was named Diktynna as she grew up, “the woman of the
net”, from the word “dikty”(δίχτυ), or from the mountain “Diktys”. These epithets show also
her mental gifts and capacities. Net is the tool used to attract and grasp things, symbolically
also conceive ideas, and is also a symbol of the Goddess Athena, the third ray of active
intelligence, as well as of the nerve system. However, as Diktynna grew up, Minoas fell in
love with her. She rejected him, but he would not respect her wishes. He hunted her though
the whole Crete, and he could not catch her, until her dress was caught in a myrtle tree (a
symbol of love and marriage, perhaps indicating the in the end she may have also developed
some feelings for Minoas). Even then, though, she was unyielding. She preferred to die, by
letting go of her dress and falling into the sea, giving us another common symbol in Greek
mythology, the fall into the sea being prepared for death. This is also a universal symbol of
the second initiation, the “Baptism”. Like all the other initiates that “relinquish themselves in
the waters” before her (Danae, Semeli, Alcyone, Aegeas, Andromeda, Alia, Ino etc), she does
not die, but is saved by divine providence. Diktynna, the woman of the nets, is thus saved by
local fishermen who hide her, where else, but under their fishing nets.

The fishermen take her to Aegina, which in Greek, one of the meanings is “land of the Goat”
or “land of Elevation” (Αίγινα/αίγα/αίσσω, πηδώ, κινούμαι ορμητικά προς-many myths
surrounding the name, probably because of the elevated waves of Aegean sea, but
Aegina/Aegean sea/Aiga-goat has had esoteric insinuations since ancient times). In Aegina,
she is greeted with extreme love and admiration befitting a Goddess, or in other variations
of the myth, the local fishermen fall in love with her, too. In any case, despite the promises
of adoration she receives, she wants to avoid the outside turmoil, and find the connection
with her father and the Divine. She seeks the highest place of the island to isolate herself
and pray. When she indeed finds it and does that, her prayers are answered. She ascends,
leaving behind a statue (or nothing at all) in her place. When the people of Aegina, who have
by then searched all nooks and corners of the island, finally catch up to her amidst a
moonless night, they find nothing (or nothing but her statue). Realizing what has happened,
they dedicate a temple in her honor in that very place, and name her “Afaia”, the Unseen
Goddess. The orientation towards the mind aspect, the seeking of the “high place” and the
change of her form to one that transcends the human element, all hint towards the third
initiation processes, the “Tranfiguration”. Afaia’s form, after she orients herself to the
Divine, is liberated from all time and space limitations, leaving behind only a statue, a
symbol of worship or a work or a channel of a vibration.

The name Afaia, Unseen, may also relate to her connection to lunar goddesses (Artemis and
the water element), and the new moon. Her whole myth is permeated by the symbolism of
“the hunt”. She either hunts, or is hunted; she seeks, or is sought (physically, emotionally or
mentally). This brings to my mind connections about the hidden or unseen divinity in each
human being, the “Unseen Harmony”, the omnipresent divine nature, which is subject in all
things in the Universe according to Heracletus. This harmony is the inner wish of happiness
and fulfillment for all human beings, and yet continues to be mysterious in core and elusive
in nature, no matter how much we seek it, and is only revealed in initiatory context.

The Journey of Afaia and Initiations:

These three symbols remind of the first three initiations, as described in “Rays and
Initiations”: The Birth, The Baptism, and the Transfiguration.

The Birth, evoking the transmutation from the sacral to the throat, is hinted upon in the first
part of the myth, when Vritomartys is sovereign of her physical-etheric nature, being an
excellent huntress, and yet she is oriented towards conceiving visions and ideas.

The Baptism, which is precedented by the erotic pursuit of Minoas, a symbolic war between
opposite forces, is one of the most common narrations in Greek mythology. The fall in the
waters does not only cleanse the initiate, but makes them also a bringer of catharsis. Ino
becomes the White Goddess and wife of Poseidon; Aegeas is thought dead, but is
recognized as a son of Poseidon and becomes one of the deities that help people to alleviate
grief. Likewise in her path, Diktynna is saved in essence by the simplest of men (in a
symbolism analogous to the calling of Peter and Andrew by Jesus Christ), and is not swayed
by the promises of earthly adoration that she finds in Aegina.

The Transfiguration, the first major initiation, symbolized, as we said, by Afaia’s “standing in
the mountain top”, is what precedes Elevation, and in fact is a transcendence of all that was
known until the present moment. Nothing of her previous form remains, yet her true nature
stands revealed.

The triangles that are formed with the temple of Afaia may reveal once again her journey:

From Poseidon/Neptune, the temple in Sounio (the sixth ray planet, the sixth ray initiation
and the fall in the waters) to Hephestus/Vulcan, the temple in Thission (the first ray planet,
associated with the crown chakra and the mountaintop of the third initiation).

And from Athena, Parthenon (the mental aspect that can attract and grasp the energy of the
Higher Mind) to Apollo, Delphi (the pure energy of the Sun and all that is encompassed in it;
her identification with the Soul and the Hierarchy)
The significance of the myth within the context of Group Progress:

In the myth of Afaia, we observe three stages:

1) The hunt which evolves into seeking and ability to grasp mental concepts, and which
can be correlated with the need for Discrimination which will result in Intuitional
Response from the law of Group Progress.

2) The “falling in the sea”, which in most myths results to an absolution or a catharsis
from a previous hubris or painful experience, followed by or consummated within a
miraculous salvation. In the context of Group Progress, we see Decentralization as
the factor which allows Divine energy to flow into the group and bring catharsis.

3) And finally, the orientation towards the High Place, a second seeking, one which
needs Integrity and inner Coherence, and which results in Elevation.

Meditation:

The Journey of Unseen Harmony

1) We will now meditate in three groups, each group facing a direction towards one of
the temples. (Poseidon/Sounio, Hephestus/Thisseio, Afaia)

2) We close our eyes and do an alignment with the soul

3) And we will meditate on the three stages of the journey towards elevation

a. Discrimination

Visualize the etheric body of the group strong and nurtured both from the earth and the
Soul. Visualize a pink light, a color which helps with the relaxation and makes receptive the
nerve system, engulf each member’s etheric body and encouraging them to be more open
to recognizing subtle vibrations.

b. Decentralization

Visualize the astral body of the group as a beautiful lake under the night sky in new moon.
Each member’s soul light is a star, reflected as a point of light in the waters of this lake. The
light generated benefits the whole lake and reveals the connections between all group
members.

c. Integrity

Visualize the mental body of the group in the mental plane as a diamond with many sides.
Each side represents one point of view, one truth and one contribution to the group
integrity and coherence. Visualize all the sides clear and oriented to direct the light of the
Group Soul.

The effect of the Law of Group Progress is ELEVATION.

Imagine the group consciousness responding to this effect and rising as one to the

mountaintop of initiations. Stand as a group on the mountaintop. OM

Sources:

https://www.greek-language.gr/digitalResources/ancient_greek/mythology/lexicon/water/
page_075.html

https://www.greek-language.gr/digitalResources/ancient_greek/mythology/lexicon/water/
page_031.html

http://www.arxeion-politismou.gr/2019/10/etrogan-elafi-agriogourouno-kynigi-stin-
Aigina-prin-4200-xronia.html?m=1

https://omadaorfeas.blogspot.com/2018/09/iera-trigwna-ellados-apokryfes-
mathimatikes-sysxetiseis.html?m=1

http://aeginahistory.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_3297.html?m=1

https://www.e-storieskritis.gr/2017/04/blog-post_99.html?m=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegina_(mythology)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphaea