Actaeon was the hunting companion of Artemis who, seeing her naked in her sacred spring, lost control of himself. She was bathing in the woods when he stumbled across her, thus seeing her naked. Actaeon stopped and stared, amazed at her ravishing beauty. This is the natural instinct in males to adore the physical beauty in women - the "wandering eye" which is an expression of masculinity and empassioning to the male, filling him with life. However, the downside is the selfish experience and expression of this.
Once seen, Artemis got revenge on Actaeon: she forbade him speech — if he tried to speak, he would be changed into a stag — for the unlucky profanation of her virginity's mystery. This makes perfect sense today, in the old wisdom that a real and chivalrous gentleman, “never kisses and tells.” To do so dishonors the woman, and reveals the man to have poor boundaries, unable to keep a secret, control himself, or treat her with respect in which she is at risk in her reputation for allowing such intimate contact with her.
When a man kisses and tells, or behaves in an ungentlemanly way, he may find himself deprived of a voice in the social group which the woman belongs to. The Artemis in women assesses, identifies and judges the mature behavior capability in men - that which leads to resources and a stable commitment later. When he is immature, unreliable, or rude, he may find himself voiceless, shouted down even by his own peers (symbolically, his hunting dogs, or one might call, “wingmen.”)
Upon hearing the call of his hunting party, Actaeon cried out to them and immediately was changed into a stag, as per the curse. At this he fled deep into the woods, and doing so he came upon a pond and, seeing his reflection, groaned. His own hounds were on his heels at that point, and turned on him, not recognizing him. In an endeavour to save himself, he raised his eyes (and would have raised his arms, had he had them) toward Mount Olympus. The gods did not heed his actions, and he was torn to pieces.
As with many myths and many of the instincts, it is possible that the various interpretations reveal various functions of the instinct. This myth and story reveal how it is that the “Actaeon in men” is spotted by the woman’s Artemis Instinct in the form of lack of maturity, lack of character, lack of sophistication, chivalry or gentlemanliness in the form of such singles’ behaviors as:
- The man not being able to control his sexual urges.
- The man being “too eager” or impatient to get to the bedroom (or to get anything else he wants - impatience is poor boundaries.
- The man being too free and easy to neglect his duties and responsibilities (as Actaeon was charged with being a professional, maintaining propriety with Artemis, and as a hunter.)
- Crossing professional boundaries into romance or acting on fantasies or wishes (which is a no no for sure in today’s workplaces.)
- Ignoring or betraying one’s mates on account of a woman. (the origin of “Bros before...” well, women in today’s lingo.)
These and others in today’s dating world are spotted by the Artemis in women. They indicate that the man will not likely be a good mate for the long haul, provider, or generous, chivalrous gentleman.