Persephone

Greek Goddess Persephone, daughter of the God Zeus, and Demeter, Goddess of the harvest. 

Persephone’s name translates to “destroying face” and research shows her to be an ancient goddess of death, and some scholars say she is the original ruler of the Underworld. This leaves the possibility that Hades had to marry her in order to bring balance back to the Underworld, and to ally with her before she grew up to reclaim her place as the ruler of the Underworld on her own.  She is a powerful Goddess, known by many names, to include: “Queen of the Dead”, “The Pure One,” “Destroyer”, “The Venerable One,” and “The Great Goddess” – among others.

First known as Kora (or Kore), She was the Goddess of Spring, until her disappearance into the underworld when Hades, the god of the Underworld, asked his brother – her father- Zeus, for her hand in marriage, and Zeus accepted without Demeter’s knowledge. Hades kidnapped Kora when she was picking flowers with her Nymph, who wept herself into a lake, meanwhile Kora disappeared into the Underworld, and she lost her name Kora. her name for childhood and innocence, and is rebirthed into Persephone, Goddess of the Underworld. 

As Persephone settled into her role beside Hades in the Underworld, her mother Demeter was beside herself in despair over the loss of her daughter and sought her to no avail. The Goddess of Maize held back her nurturing energy from the Earth, which could endure Demeter’s sadness no more, as animals and humans began to die.  Soon, Zeus, and Hecate stepped in to intervene and helped Hades come to an agreement with Demeter in order for Persephone to be allowed to return home. Hades agreed, but under the condition that Persephone not eat anything while in the Underworld. There are many stories about how Persephone procures a pomegranate, which was believed to be food of the dead, but she ate six of its seeds, thus forever tying herself to the Underworld and Hades. For each seed, she would have to return and remain in the Underworld for an entire month. Some say it was a trick on the part of Hades, some say Persephone was hungry and ate as little as possible, thinking the seeds wouldn’t matter- not knowing it was the fruit of the dead. Personally, I think she wanted to share her time between life with her mother on Earth, while also spending time with her husband and lover Hades, with whom she reigned again as Queen of the Underworld.

 Persephone was so closely associated with her mother that they are often referred to as “The Two Goddesses”, and they are intrinsically connected to the The Seasons, Equinoxes, and Solstices, when celebrations are made in their honor, including two of the oldest and most celebrated Greek festivals:

Thesmophoria which was limited to married women and celebrated fertility, birth, death and rebirth honoring Demeter and Persephone; and the Eleusinian Mysteries, which also honored “The two Goddesses” and was widely attended not only by followers of the Cult of Demeter and Persephone, but also by writers, artists, intellectuals, and Philosophers, including Plato. This was a 9-day ceremony where participants went to connect with Spirit, and the Underworld. Little is known about the ceremonies, but research shows there was feasting as well as fasting, dancing, and the use of a psycho-active called Kykeon, and that they conducted performative rituals, to include Altar work with charms, amulets, etc.). 

Persephone is a powerful Goddess and Queen. She brings messages about transformation, working and healing through the Dark night of the Soul, healing from trauma, personal evolution/rebirth, and death. She is also a Goddess of fertility, passion, soulmates, twin flames, and eternal, true love; it is said that Hades was the only God who was loyal to his partner, Persephone, and he never loved another.