Embodied Mythos: Life is Political, so is the Yogic Journey

Last week I wrote about Zeus and Prometheus to discuss upon the ruler using force, and the challenger using intellect. It’s easy to assume that power is about strength. But more often, true power lies in the ability to define reality. Whoever defines what’s possible, what’s forbidden, and what’s acceptable in a society holds the authority. Rulers, throughout time, have known this, and so they seek to control the narrative.

When Elon Musk bought Twitter, everyone had their own assumptions. But as time unfolded, one thing became clearer: this wasn’t just a business move. It was about influence and narrative. In a world algorithms and politicians intervening in everyday life this much, what happens to our free will on deciding when to surrender and when to seek victory.

Surrendering and Victory

Lately I have been practicing a lot of Yin Yoga to release the physical imprint of fear, the fears stemming from my upbringing in Turkey. Yin is about surrendering, but at the moment I feel far from surrendering. I want to be on street protests happening in Turkey, as the government forces surrender, slightly confused about my internal battle on this.

These thoughts led me into going back to the myth of Athena and Nike.

Athena’s Birth: Wisdom Forced Into Being

Athena’s origin is a story of paradox. Zeus, the ruler of the gods, feared a prophecy that his child with the Titaness Metis would become more powerful than him. In a move to prevent that, he swallowed Metis whole while she was still pregnant. But fate had other plans. Zeus began suffering from a splitting headache. Some versions say Hephaestus, others say Prometheus, split his head open with an axe, and from his skull emerged Athena, fully grown and armored.

Born from the mind, not the womb, Athena became the goddess of wisdom, strategic war, crafts, and reason. Her arrival wasn’t nurtured, it was forced out of a controlling mind that wanted to prevent her existence.

A New Kind of Power

This birth story is a metaphor in itself. What Zeus tried to suppress gave rise to a counterforce, not one of chaos, but of clarity. Not of revenge, but of strategy. Athena didn’t seek to overthrow Zeus. She balanced him.

Unlike her brother Ares, who charged into battle with blind rage, Athena played the long game. She thought before she moved. She stayed calm when others reacted. She used force, but only when needed, and always with purpose. As a goddess of crafts, she reminded us that strategy is a form of creativity.

Zeus Energy in the Modern World

Zeus represents a very familiar kind of power; centralized, fear-based, ego-driven. The type of leadership that resists change, suppresses opposition, and relies on dominance over dialogue. His fear of being outshone caused him to destroy what threatened him, only to give birth to it anyway.

This pattern is everywhere from global politics to personal dynamics. It’s the need to stay in charge, even if it means silencing what’s wise and new.

Athena-Nike: Rethinking Victory

Athena didn’t come alone in the symbolic imagination. Though Nike is a distinct goddess, she is often depicted alongside Athena, especially in the form of Athena Nike, a celebrated figure of victory through strategy rather than force.

This pairing represents a deeper kind of success, one rooted in trust, long-term vision, and the moral high ground.

Today, many of us are craving this kind of leadership. One that is ethical, emotionally intelligent, and willing to evolve. We don’t need more thunderbolts, we need clarity, courage, and compassion.

Myth as a Mirror: Self-Leadership in Action

These myths aren’t just old stories, they’re archetypes we live out.

When we try to control everything, when we silence our inner truth, when we lead with fear, that’s Zeus inside us. But when we reflect before reacting, when we align with our values, when we hold back until the moment is right, that’s Athena. And when we experience quiet, inner pride for doing the right thing, even if no one notices, that’s Nike.

Victory doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it’s just a deep breath and a feeling of self-respect.

Leading Yourself in Political Chaos

In places like Turkey, where the political climate is intense, or in a world where tech billionaires shape public discourse, self-leadership becomes a radical act. It’s resistance. It’s sovereignty. It’s the refusal to surrender our minds, even if we’re asked to surrender our bodies.

Yes, life is political. But so is a yogic journey.

Because every act of choosing presence over panic is a way to redefine power.