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Greece Retreat
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Greece Retreat 2005

 
Bio

Zoe Artemis, who organizes the Writing Retreats on the isle of Skiathos, spends her time between New York City and Europe. A native New Yorker, with an M.A. in Dance Therapy, and extensive experience with the arts in psychotheray, Zoe teaches dance, yoga, writes reviews and poetry. From l977-79 (one of her first jobs), she worked at the White House for the Carter Presidency. Her writings have appeared in the Aquarian Times, L.I. Quarterly, Beat Scene, PoetryBay, many other magazines, and she reads at the Bowery Poetry Club. In 1997 she founded and directed 'Gypsy Fire Dance Troupe', the first Tribal style Belly Dance Troupe in N.Y. Zoe has taught courses at the Naropa Institute, Zen Center of NY, Skyros Center, Greece; Cortigo Romero Center, Spain and throughout the UK. Zoe has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, Miami Herald, Syracuse New Times, Athens News, Greek Diplomant, Fox-TV News and numerous publications. Although she has been teaching dance most of her life, it is the milieu of writers, on both sides of the Atlantic, where she feels most at home and inspired.


ARTEMIS THE HUNTRESS:

According to Greek mythology, Artemis, sister of Apollo, was born at Mt. Olympus to Zeus and Leto. Her symbols are the bow and arrow and the bear. Artemis is known as Benevolent Spirit, Bear Goddess, Moon Goddess and Goddess of the Wilderness.

Artemis is representative of the strong, independent, free spirit and the eternal virgin (metaphorically speaking). She never married and preferred living in community. Artemis' Temple, built in 550bc in Ephesus, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. She had a huge cult following, as did all the Goddesses, and her temple was visited by royalty, artisans, merchants and tourists. The Temple of Artemis was burned down in ad401 by St. John Chrysostom. Artemis knew of secret places in nature where one could relax and rejuvenate. She is associated with fertility, forests, highlands, wild animals, herbal medicine, music, dance, travel and protecting the young. It is said that her younger devotees would wear bear skins to scare away boys and protect themselvs from male adolescent angst.