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 * ]

Inanna - Devas of Blue ray -I

Who was Ishtar?

Ishtar was East Akkadiean, Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of earth, fertility, love, sensuality, feminine power, moon, war and fight. Her counterparts were Sumerian Inanna, and later goddess of North west Semitic Aramean goddess Astarte (Ashtaroth) took similar role. The first goddess in pantheon was Inanna (her name means [ Enah-nah] Queen of heaven ). Her prominent symbols were planet Venus (she was personification of it) and the Eight pointed star. Later Ishtar had the same functions.

   Inanna was goddess associated closely with fertility of land and herd, rain, land, grains, and with sexuality, desire, love. She was depicted as strong independent woman wearing weapons. To underline her connection with freedom, free will and power, she was depicted with wings, rainbow necklace and burning eyes. According to some myths she was daughter of Mesopotamian creator god Anu.

Variations of her names are: Nanna, Nina, Nanna, Ninmesarra. Some see direct link to the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. But I would be skeptical about that, as many goddesses have similar functions, and features of Aphrodite were quite different.

Ishtar/ Inanna was amazing deity symbolizing feminine sexual power, love, land nourishing, fruits, protection, and war fights. She was called “Goddess of heaven” , of moon and “shining one”, “producer of life”, “Lady of battles and victory”. Her temple of worship was in city Uruk, called Eanna temple (dating back to 4500 BC)

Family of Inanna ~

She was daughter according to some myths to the creator god of Heaven –Anu, and in others she is daughter of Moon god Nanna. Her brothers were the Sun god Uta, the storm god –Iskur. She was in sacred marriage with the god of Vegetation or harvest –Dumizi (Tamuz).

Outlook of Inanna ~

Shown with wings, wearing crown with horns and skirt. Her sacred stone was Lapis Lazuli, and very similar to Egyptian Isis, she was associated both with life and death (underworld), as Morning and evening star (Venus).

Ishtar name means “Star of heaven”. Ishtar had many dedicated temples and were she was worshipped by priestesses (the theory of sacred “prostitution” in her temples is controversial, as there were many sacred ceremonies to express symbolically goddess qualities). The planets, associated with this power goddess were Venus (linked to sensuality, love), Moon (mystical powers, healing), Uranus (sacred knowledge and power), Neptune (psychic abilities, dreams). She was accepted as both giver of life and feminine energy and sending destruction, death. As war fighting goddess she was fearless and great protector of her people.

III. Inanna –Ishtar as Oracle, dream reader ~

She had ability to appear in dreams to people who worship her, and connect with them revealing what they need to do. In this way she was also called for defense, victory in battle and overcoming any other obstacles. Her special gift quality to humans were inner strength and fearlessness.

    She gave to humanity of her period (Sumerian people) the arts, culture and civilization; examples of them are reading, writing, music, architecture, speech, truth, temple rituals, art of love and singing. Her father Enki (Anu) was the god of Wisdom and possessed the Tablets of destiny. Innana took all the gifts of arts and civilizations by tricky way from her father (letting him to be drunk with wine).

Symbolically Ishtar –Inanna was depicted holding a bow, and arrows, and riding a chariot with seven Lions. (seven chakra gateways, suggested by *see references). These animals of great power were some of the main totem animals of the goddess. She sat on a throne made of Lapis Lazuli.

Other totem animals, often seen in Ishar attributes of royal status and power were: Snake, serpent, dragon, dove, scorpion, cow, fish, spider. Her main cities were in north Mesopotamia – Nineveh, Ashur, Erbil. To her were dedicated over 180 temples. She has also temples of so “Eye goddess” named so because inside were found many figures of her depicted with wide open eyes, similar to eyes of owl, with coiled snakes. (In Syria, Tell Bark, 3000 BC).

Other ancient symbols of Ishtar/ Inanna – reeds, rosette, eight pointed star (found in Star card of Tarot and mason symbol); Seven pointed star (septagram, or elven Star and linked to the Fairies), Pentagram –five pointed star, linked with other blue ray goddesses –Isis, Morgana Le Fay, Persephone. Inanna had crown with crescent moon or cow horns, linked to fertility and feminine energy. Inannas fruit was apple, and food wheat. She was goddess of Axis Mundi (or Tree of life, represented in Mesopotamian versions in date palm tree). 

References about Inanna ~ 

Inanna -Ishtar- pagan pages

[ nina Lea-noura * ]

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Anubis - Anpu

Who was Anubis?

One of the oldest in Egyptian history gods of death –Anubis, later became assistant of Osiris in the under world.

Depiction ~

You`ll see often his image on temples with body of man and black head of Jackal or dog. Normally jackals don’t have black skin, but in this case black was symbol of death, protection and under world.

Other names: he was know in Ancient society with names Inpu, Anpu, Anup, Imiut – Lord of the Place of embalming.

Functions of Anubis ~ As Egyptians believed in the travel of soul to Duat – afterlife – the role of Anubis was one of higher importance. He was protecting the souls of their way to underworld, greeting them and was guardian of the Scales of justice. He had power over the faith of the souls and where will be their further journey, according to their earthly deeds. With help of Maat and her feather of Truth, he weight the heart of the souls on one scale against Maat`s feather on another. Bad fate expected those, whose heart was heavier than feather of Turht, as they were eaten by the ancient female demon –Ammit. Souls with pure hearts were allowed to enter the world of Osiris, or heaven of gods.

Other important role of Anubis was mummification of dead bodies. He was observing the ceremony of body mummification, together with his daughter Kebechet, took part in the ritual of “mouth opening”. He became famous as embalming of dead, after his help in wrapping the dead body of Osiris in linen.

Family ~

Anubis was mostly known as son of Osiris and Nephtys (sister of Isis, who looked very similar to her). Nephtis was goddess of darkness. Other version claims that Anubis was son of Seth (god of darkness, evil and destruction) and Nephtys. The wife of Anubis not surprisingly has the same features as him – jackal head, but body of woman, her name is Anput. Their daughter – Kebechet – is goddess of purification. His brother was Horus (son of Osiris and Isis)

Temples ~

As we can see, he was worshiped everywhere across Egypt, with special locations of cemeteries, depicted with statues of jackal. But his main city of worship was called “Cynopolis” or city of dog. Statue of Anubis was often put above the tomb, as sign of sealing it and protecting the dead.

Interesting fact: priests, who made embalming on the dead worse masks of jackal.

His symbols are: Imiut fetish, flail, ankh, crook and “was” scepter, jackal head. Many sacred ceremonies and magical spells for the passing to Underworld ae found in the “Book of dead”, where the main guide is Anubis. All tombs in Ancient Egypt were carved with prayers to Anubis. Even his mother was Nephtys, she left him and he was found and raised by Isis.

Magical symbols ~

Crystal – Obsidian

Color – black

Number – three

Scent – musk

Animal – Jackal

Flower – white poppy

Tree – yew tree

Herb – savory

Food – apple

Invocation ~ Oh Anubis, master of the underworld (Duat), weigh on your scale my soul in the day of my departure, make me purified from sin. 

Anubis protecting the pharaoh 

 Anubis in underworld with Crook 

 Anubis with food gifts for afterlife - Hatshepsut temple 

[ nina Lea-noura* ]

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