Persephone- Queen of the Underworld.

One Goddess I remember learning about as a child was Persephone- the Maiden of Spring, daughter of Demeter, who was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the Underworld. Demeter mourned the loss of her daughter and so the land became barren whilst she searched for her daughter, not knowing that she was in the Underworld. A mythological story that told the story of the seasons; at Winter when the land was barren, Demeter mourned for her daughter and awaited her return, and Persephone, who became Queen of the Underworld and wife of Hades, who remained for six months every year after consuming the food of the underworld- pomegranate seeds, before returning to her mother.

From the moment I heard the story of this Goddess, She had my attention. She remained with me, over the years, and I explored Her mythos in detail; from Kore; the Maiden of Spring, her descent into the Underworld and the claiming of Her sovereignty to become Persephone- Queen of the Underworld. I read her stories, her re-tellings and re-imaginings, and explored the themes she is so intricately associated with. Today, She is a Goddess I have dedicated myself to. Every year, I honour Her descent into the Underworld and the lessons that await me in the Underworld. I undertake a spiritual journey- with Queen Persephone as my guide and companion- into the Underworld, some years are short, just a few months before I feel the pull of Spring and a wish to return to the light. Other years are longer- the lessons harder and require longer to process and integrate. Some years I’ve lingered in the Underworld, long after the start of Spring, when Persephone has returned. I go when I feel the pull and return when it feels right.

It’s now that I can feel that pull to the Underworld. The Autumn Equinox is the time when Persephone begins her descent into the Underworld; some years I feel it long before (I distinctly remember it in August one year whilst I was in Glastonbury) but this year I feel it as the darkness begins to tip the balance, just after the equinox. As October rolls in, now is the time that I honour that journey.

Journey To the Underworld

Each descent has a lesson- a kernel of truth- laid at the heart of it. Whilst I will not share what that lesson is- as this is such a personal journey that I undertake- I will say that often the lesson is something that will stretch my comfort zone. It pushes against boundaries- sometimes redefining them; sometimes the lesson a reminder in the boundaries I hold and to reaffirm them. Just as Persephone, as Queen, learns her own boundaries and is sovereign into herself, I too, learn mine. I set a space- a sacred space- to call in Persephone, and honour Her and her descent into the Underworld. I leave an offering of incense, and light her candle. I meditate on her journey, her return to the Underworld and her husband, whilst leaving her mother to mourn once more. I take in the silence, the stillness, and begin to look for the lesson that awaits me.

I journal. I write my wants, my wishes, my hopes for this dark half of the year. I write what I’m most afraid of, of what I don’t wish to face. Sometimes I write poetry. This year, I’m working with essential oils, to create a blend for Persephone that I can use for candle work and to honour her time in the Underworld. A blend of frankincense, clove, floral scents and vanilla. I eat pomegranate seeds- leaving 6 as an offering to Her- reflecting on the year that has already been, and the year that is still to come. Lastly, I listen to some music, as an offering to Her.

Over the next few months, I’ll work with Persephone in Her queen aspect. Using the oil blend I created and continuing to journal and explore what comes up in dreams, poetry, thoughts that come across my mind whilst I’m out walking as a meditative practice.