The pomegranate.
It’s a fruit of myth, mentioned in the stories of Persephone and Hades, of the Garden of Eden. It’s a super food, rich in nutrients. I’ve eaten the seeds of this fruit for pleasure and ceremony.
I’d read the Greek mythology of the pomegranate long before I’d heard it referred to as fruit of the dead. I knew the story of Persephone and her abduction into the Underworld well, and how she’d eaten the seeds of a pomegranate- the fruit of the underworld- that meant she’d have to return to the Underworld. A story that explained the shifting seasons, and some stories say she ate 3 seeds, others say she ate 6. This juicy red fruit is also sacred to Aphrodite- a symbol of fertility. It is, according to Greek mythology, said to have come from the blood of Adonis.
In some beliefs, the fruit of knowledge was a pomegranate, that grew within the garden of Eden.
As well as the stories or myths attached to this fruit, it is a super-food in today’s society. Packed full of antioxidants, and high in fibre, vitamins and minerals whilst being low in calories. They go well on salads, are great for a snack or indulging in some cocktails.
Fruit of the Dead.
Despite the rich history, myth and the health benefits of this fruit, the pomegranate will always be my link to Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. November is national pomegranate month, and is a time that I’ve found Persephone has not only completed her descent into the Underworld, but has now reclaimed her crown as Queen of the Underworld. As one of the first Goddesses that I honoured when I began on my path, it’s easy to see why I felt a natural draw to this fruit.
The term ‘fruit of the dead’ refers to the fact that Persephone, in her mythology story, ate the seeds of the pomegranate whilst in the underworld. Once she’d consumed the food of the underworld (or food of the dead) she was bound to returning to the Underworld for as many months as the number of seeds she consumed- this was either six or three months, depending on which version of the story you read. The tree also holds its ripened fruits from September onwards- making it one of the last fruits to be harvested; sometimes well into the Winter months.
So, in honour of the month of the pomegranate and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, I’m sharing a piece of poetry that I’ve written. If you’d like to read more of my poetry, I’m pleased to announce that my book of soul poetry- Witch. Priestess. Storyteller. will be available to purchase from Amazon in just 1 week!
