Aesthetic: Persephone | Greek goddess (3/…)

I’m not sure whether I should laugh or cry.

Is OP aware that oh so many books exist on this subject?

And that almost universally the ones authored by people with doctorates in classicism and mythology disagree with OP?

Including the… epic hymn that first told this story? You know what’s in that original source material… right?

Abducted, yes. Demeter mourned? Definitely. Rape, no.

So here’s some info on Ancient Greek wedding traditions which (oh my stars and garters!!) included abducting the bride. With the father’s permission, which Hades got before he took her away.

Here’s a whole book on the subject of Ancient Greek wedding custom and its conflation with funeral rites. (Which sounds a bit like Hades and Persephone to anyone who’s ever dabbled in things like explication and context)

Here’s a link to another book that talks about Persephone’s rise to power as a result of her willingly eating the pomegranate seeds.

Oh shit!!

Here’s a whole bunch of myths and hymns that talk about her Queen of the Underworld badassery!!

Holy pug tacos Batman!!

Here’s another book about the myth focusing on the seasonal religious and liminal rites. WHICH TAKE PLACE IN THE DRY SUMMER (not the fucking winter), which you know if you read a book.Way to go, OP!

All these fucking books!  What could anyone possibly do with them all?!?!?!?! Do you eat books to absorb their powers instead of read them?

A better guess would be that you got into a moral panic over the name of a certain Renaissance statue and maybe after reading three pages of Edith Hamilton or the first paragraph of a Wikipedia article. And then used that to castigate and demean not only the people who actually take their limited time to create gorgeous art but also to denigrate modern day worshippers of Persephone and Hades?

Maybe next time, you stringy piece of over-boiled okra, you might want to take your own advice and pick up a book, instead of reducing the feared and respected Queen of the Underworld who held power equal to or in many interpretations GREATER than her husband into a meaningless pastiche of female disenfranchisement that you seemingly plucked from your own ass.

JESUS CHRIST THANK YOU

I don’t often reblog posts of people getting owned, but when I do…

man the ancient greeks didn’t dare to speak persephone’s name she was that powerful and venerated (they called her Kore, “the maiden”), hades didn’t get that honour

Rebagel for those book links, I find the Persephone and Hades stuff on here fascinating and I want to research it more

Book links, owning and the sheer badassery that is Persephone.

reblog forever

Reblogging for the links until this misapprehension finally ceases.

See also: Seduction and Rape in Greek Myth and Predatory Goddesses, both by classicist Mary Lefkowicz.

EDIT: Finally put together a bibliography of scholarly works about Hades and Persephone with the help of @coloricioso to help refute these old, tired accusations: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/post/174794576611/honorthegods-hades-and-persephone-side

Persephone/Proserpina

Small devotional acts.

Persephone

In Greek mythology, Persephone, also called Kore, "the maiden", is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is the queen of the Underworld, & partner to Hades, the god of the underworld. She is the personification of vegetation, which shoots forth in spring and withdraws into the earth after harvest; hence, she is also associated with spring as well as the fertility of vegetation.

Hymn to Persephone

By Primrose/ @nightshadeandroses

The sweetest words are those spoken

In hushed whispers.

With lips trembling, flickering

Candle-light casting shadows across the wall,

The air is thick with incense that

Fills my lungs with floral smoke and my mind with

Visions of asphodel.

Some say a Witch bows to none and yet

I feel most powerful on my knees before the 

Altar, lucid yet intoxicated,

Drunk off of the Divine,

And her name spilling forth like

Pomegranate wine.

Love is too shallow of a word.

Mouth agape, the air grows still.

Agape, devotion, pure

Joy fills the air like

Incense.

Sweet to the smell, and pleasing to the sight,

Delighting in her presence as prayers pour forth:

Lyrical libations that sing praises to the

Vernal Queen Persephone.

(Italic section quoted directly from the Orphic hymns)

If you enjoy my writing on Witchcraft and Spirituality, please consider supporting me at patreon.com/nightshadeandroses or ko-fi.com/nightshadeandroses!

Mother, don’t you understand? I made Hades run towards me. He saw my bones underneath, and offered me half his kingdom. Do you really think I ate the fruit u n w i l l i n g l y ?

hello! these are some things ive picked from the internet, things i do, ideas, and more! some ideas are mine, some are not.

things to correspond with her

general: spring, wreaths of flowers in hair, torch, reeds, waterfalls, rivers, and springs, skulls, flowers, blood, plants, shadows, dogs, crowns, flower crowns

colors: purple (esp dark purple and brighter purples like lilac, lavender and pastel), black, blood red, dark red, pastel blue, burgundy, grey, yellow and magenta

favorite people: widows

astrology sign: virgo

trees: willow, black poplar, pomegranate

plants: parsley, narcissus, lily, ivy, lily of the valley, oriental lily, maidenhair fern, daisy and lavender

perfumes/scents: floral scents, especially narcissus, hyacinth, and almonds, vanilla and bergamot

animals: bats, ram, parrots and all talking birds, monkeys, rabbits, cats, lions

gems and metals: crystal, quartz, agate, black onyx, pink tourmaline, sapphire, obsidian, mercury, coral, and jasper

(these are based off of MY personal relationship with her. yours may be different than mine.)

offerings to make to her:

skulls/bones, grain or wheat, black crystals, flowers i picked, anything pomegranate, fruit, flower or plant related, candles or FAKE candles, sweet things, comfort foods (soups, teas)

altar decorations:

flowers/flower petals, (snow/water) globes, music boxes, flower crowns, crystals, stones, feathers, bones, candles or FAKE candles, knick knacks

ways to bond with her:

meditate with her

write her love notes (only if you plan on being romantic with her), letters, poetry, songs

sing to her music that she likes

making flower crowns/wreaths, giving them to her or wearing them in her honor

taking walks

being barefoot more often (especially outside (please be careful!!))

flower picking

taking baths

spending time with animals

singing

dancing

dressing up (especially in leather, lace, flowy clothes or anything in her color correspondents)

sharing food or drinks with her

having personal moments

opening up to her, pour out your feelings!

devotional acts:

honor the dead

walking barefoor through grass/fields (be careful!!!!!)

leave flowers at graves

wearing floral or fruity scented perfumes/sprays

practing self love

buy roses or grow a rose bush

pick flowers

spells that correlate with her:

love

comfort

peace

relationships

relaxtion

family

self care

self love

confidence

strength

beauty/glamours

passionate or emotional spells in general

(& many, many, many more unlisted things!!)

MC’s Persephone Devotional Tips

**This is based off of my relationship with Persephone and may be different from person to person.** 

Activities:

Offerings:

Altar Decorations:

Colors:

Spells:

Animals:

Scents:

===================

**Compiled from my personal Grimoire and personal experiences**

DO NOT REPOST. Reblogging is fine.

Created: 3/3/2019

Posted: 3/3/2019

Praying for My Soul to Bloom

Athena,

Guide my mind into the open flames of change. Allow my old leaves to float away from my open hands.

Artemis,

Show me my way into the wilderness of thought, into the abysmal green lands that frighten. Let your creatures walk with me. 

Aphrodite, 

My soul searches for me, the body it carries is lost in an ocean of doubt. Wash my self-hatred from my throat. 

Hera,

Butterfly wings pull me up into the evergreen trees, because you are a believer in hearts overcoming themselves. 

Persephone, 

Darkness isn’t always a terror, a rotten thing. It binds and comforts, allows for introspection. Grow signs along my path. 

Demeter, 

She knows I walk the path of the unmade. I have much to do, but I am not broken. 

Hecate,

The wisp of wind exhales from my lips as newness is drawn into me. Love me through my transformation. 

Hestia, 

Watch as I stumble into a new welcoming place. The walk is uncomfortable, but you are holding my hand.