Persephone -I

Who was Persephone?
Also known as Kore (young maiden), Persephone is queen of Underworld and wife of Greek god of underworld Hades. He was brother of Olympic greatest god – Zeus. The mother of Persephone was Demeter – (goddess of earth fruits and harvest), she was daughter of Zeus. Her sisters were the famous goddesses Athena and Aphrodite. (total pages - 6) 

Persephone in Greek myth ~

One day Persephone played with her beautiful companions oceanides (nymphs), she was mesmerized by the time of spring. Light rays were penetrating the forest and touching the gentle leaves and each flower. Persephone was occupied by the game with the nymphs, they ran freely in the vast fields, hiding behind the trees. Meanwhile Persephone, as every young girl, picked up flowers – roses, hyacinth, pansies, white lilies…She felt the amazing scent of her bouquet and ran further. Exactly in this time, when she was lost in her admiration and game in the forest, god of the underworld Hades saw her. He fell in love with her and wanted she to be for him forever.

Now Hades, as brother of her father Zeus, didn’t hesitate much to ask for hand of Persephone. She was already part of his family. Zeus couldn’t refuse to Hades, so the dark god of underworld made a plan. It was not possible to simply ask for Persephone from her mother, as she was too attached to her daughter. The plan was to abduct the beautiful maiden Kore – when she is in nature or forest. Hades asked the goddess of earth Geia to create of amazing beautiful flower with unique aroma that can make the senses drunk and hypnotized. So she did, and the flower bloomed in the same place where Persephone played – Neeseian Valley. When she stretched her hand to pick up this flower, the ground opened suddenly below her feet and from there appeared the figure of the mighty Hades. He took Persephone without objection to his underworld Kingdom and married her. In this way she became the queen of Underworld, the place of dead souls.

The search for Persephone ~

Goddess Demeter heard the scream of her daughter – in her heart and mind. So she knew something awful happened and ran to search Persephone. She soon understood about the unwilling marriage and that her only child maiden was given to god Hades from his brother Zeus. Demeter was restless, grabbed by feeling of strong grief and lost in her sorrow she refused to give blessings for the middle earth anymore. Soon after that the trees stopped to produce fruits, all the blooming ceased, grass and flowers wilted. The time in all nature was frozen. The sadness of Demeter continued until her daughter was returned to her. As the people faced hard times and famine on earth, the Olympian god finally agreed to the deal – he returned Persephone for a while to her mother.

Persephone` s gift from Hades ~

The underworld queen was much more found of her beloved husband now – after spending long time with him. She took her role and felt pain of separation with Hades, even though she missed her mother too much. Persephone prepared to be taken by god Hermes – divine messenger. Hades gave her on one special gift – pomegranate. This is special fruit of “forgetfulness” that would prevent any soul from underworld to return back to earth plane. Persephone was aware of that, and didn’t want to completely lose her chance to meet her mother. In the same time, to have a vow for Hades, that she will return back, she ate seven seeds from the pomegranate. Now she had choice to stay a while and return back. Because of the strong bound between Persephone and Demeter, now agreement was made. The queen of underworld will stay with her husband in land of dead for four months each year –this time was dedicated to winter season, when all trees and nature stand still and barren. The earth will be covered by cold winds and snow. The rest of the months will be dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, they will be united and all the time the nature will be flourishing and producing fruits.

This myth gives us clear perspective on seasons and nature cycles on earth. The returning of Persephone is associated with awakening, spring, blooming flowers, love, innocence, aroma. The decent to underworld each year is symbol of winter sleep, stillness of nature, frozen time, preparation.

In the same time Persephone didn’t neglect her duties as Queen of underworld. As she ate the Pomegranates seeds, she always managed to return to her kingdom when needed, so she was successful queen.

In such way of wisdom and grace Persephone helped many heroes with tests from gods – Psyche, Hercules (she loaned him the three headed dog Cerberus – guardian of the underworld). She accepted the hero Odysseus when she came to travel the kingdom of Hades. Persephone also hid the young Adonis from his lover –Aphrodite, when she was searching for him.

Later she also fell for his charm and wanted him to stay in the place of darkness.

She was goddess similarly to Isis and Ishtar with two sides and many faces. She was symbol of spring and of winter in the same time, of innocence and femininity, of fertility of land and emptiness, of living and dead souls. But more she was committed to the underworld and Hades. She was goddess of dead and rebirth, acceptance, devotion and purity.

Visualization of Persephone ~

(For the purpose of initiation). You will see the queen of underworld dressed in light transparent black tunic covered with silver stars and crescents. Her hair is light black, long and silky, her face is very gentle, and she has light brown- yellow eyes. She is wearing pendant with silver crescent moon on the forehead, and white poppies in hair. On her side you can see a figure of griffin – mythological animal. She has in both her hands blue circles with silver stars – pentagrams. Sometimes she is holding a pomegranate. She has sad smile and looks very fair. She can be called by the name –Star of underworld, silver star. She has special divination of Tarot (divination of Persephone).

Magical symbols of Persephone ~

Element – blue river of underworld, waterfall, hot springs

Directions – north, west

Incense – frankincense, lotus, jasmine, rose, geranium, orange

Flower – all blue flowers, forget me not, pansies, violets, lavender

Geometry form – leaf, crescent moon; oval

Crown – white poppy flowers on head, silver crescent, silver moon

Sacred sign – pentagram in circle (silver), crescent

Planets – Saturn, Neptune, Moon

Minerals – silver, clear quartz, blue quartz, kyanite, black onyx, black obsidian, black agate.  

Trees – pomegranate, willow tree, ivy

Scent – vanilla, bergamot, lily of the valley

Colors – black, silver, lavender, indigo.

Other names – Queen of underworld, Silver star, awakening goddess, bright star;

Angelic colors – indigo, violet

Earth color – red, white, silver

Attunements with Persephone ~

Elements included – underworld, blue river, springs, waters of river –potion, initiation –fish, sign of pentagram in blue circle; rain and mythical crow, Anubis – transformation; animal – griffin; pomegranate tree and fruit. Silver crescent moon initiation – going deep down. Cleansing the sub consciousness, mind. Flight of griffin. Persephone star – silver pentagram – accepting on both palms of hands and forehead. Third eye opening, crown and soul star opening. Indigo crescent sign above crystal in oval shape. 

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[ nina Lea-nura * ]