Juno Goddess of Unions

Juno, named for June, was a fierce protector of her marriage. She was

prepared to go to any length, and did, to keep her marriage afloat.  She took violent revenge on her husband’s mistresses and while we can admire her loyalty, fidelity, and passion toward her husband, we should also try to learn from her most obvious mistakes. 

According to legend, Roman goddess Juno, daughter of Saturn, sister (and wife) of Jupiter, and mother of Mars and Vulcan, was protector of marriage, pregnancy, and birth. In Greek legend she is called Hera.  Her strengths were loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion.  Her weaknesses were jealousy and vindictiveness.  

No where does it indicate she ever held her husband accountable for his unfaithfulness.  No where does is it recorded she got fed up with him and simply left him to fend for himself.  She took all her wrath out on his victims, which they became as soon as he wooed, won, or just took them.  Her service to her husband, the authoritative figure she vowed to support, was unquestionable. And this is what any decent, hard working man wants in a mate. right?  Who doesn't want a woman who never questions his role in infidelity?  Who doesn't want a woman who defends her spouse's behavior as nothing short of angelic and under attack by haters who just want to see perfection destroyed? Who doesn't want a help mate who never questions strange phone calls and hang ups, questionable body fluids on garments, and a noticeable lag in passion when he is at home....resting? Juno never questioned her own saturation points in her promise to be a loyal, devoted wife and mother.

It's one thing to be loyal and it's a whole different thing to be tied to someone who doesn't respect you for that loyalty.  It comes down to asking yourself why you should devote your life to someone who obviously doesn't feel you are all they need to be happy in the relationship. When someone is in love, they aren't looking for the next best thing around every corner.  If a partner has begun wondering if they settled for second best, it's time to re-evaluate the relationship.  My thinking is why hold someone to a vow if they aren't going to be happy enough to do the same for you.  

At any time someone feels they might have been trapped in a relationship with you is the perfect time to remind them life is short and shouldn't be spent trying to force any relationship into submission. However, make sure they understand they can't share your bed, your bathroom, your kitchen, or your heart while they search for their treasure.  Wish them well, wish them happiness, but send them on their merry way.

The other part to Juno's legacy was the wrath she reserved for the women she caught cavorting with her man.  The wrath was over the top and cruel.  She felt justified in her jealousy because she was so devoted and loyal.  In her mind because SHE was faithful, she would hold her husband guiltless by destroying any one who came between them, no matter how unimportant that sexual romp was to her husband. By establishing SHE was worthy, she felt justified in whatever cruel and destructive measures she took on his conquests.

This kind of thinking, of course, ignores the same truth that a happy man will not constantly seek sexual romps with other women on the down low.  If a woman's mate isn't going to be held accountable for their role in the infidelity then their union is not a union in the marital sense of the word. It's nothing more than a working relationship, a corporation where one partner handles the needs of raising the children and providing the necessary comforts of that home and the other maintains the financial strength of that union needed to support all the members dependent on that partner in the corporation.  It's not based on personal devotion or sexual/emotional intimacy. This is what most people refer to as being divorced.

Bottom line in this whole 'do you take' business is both partners have to be on the same page if the relationship is to move forward and remain healthy.  If at any point it becomes clear one partner has lost sight of or willfully disrespected the vow, the other needs to be prepared to say good bye.  No burning of clothes, no keying of cars, no stalking and criminal mischief of those who participated in the infidelity.  Your heart will be broken, but your integrity needs to stay in tact. Send the cheater away with the knowledge that they have quite possibly hurt the one person who would have stood firmly at their side in sickness and health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer up to and beyond the grave.  Sucks to be them now.  But you deserve to have someone at your side who feels the exact same way. Don't short change yourself just because you believe vows are meant to be kept. They are, but they won't be taken seriously unless both partners take them for what they are....promises written in true love.