PERSEPHONE

So far, we have looked at

Medusa- Where we are learning to establish boundaries, reclaim our power after being betrayed or shamed, not making ourselves small for others

Pallas-Athena-Where we are developing wisdom, strategy and problem-solving.  This is where we use our insight to navigate life’s rules towards our higher purpose.

These Goddess archetypes are asking us to look at how do we protect our space, our sovereignty and clarity.  They are providing protection, but we must make sure that the foundation is truly solid. 

In order to do that, Persephone asks us to look at what is beneath the surface.

Who is Persephone?

Persephone asks us to go into the shadow and confront what is difficult.  She understands the importance of facing the darkness in order to step into the light.

Personally, I feel a strong affinity with Persephone.  In my own chart she sits in my 6th house asking me to face the shadows in my day-to-day life, health, and daily work.  Challenging me to look at patterns that are shaping my life that I need to let go of. While that descent isn’t always easy, the willingness to step into the dark creates opportunities for genuine growth and new possibilities. I was even gifted a Persephone Goddess doll pictured below

Where she shows up for us is where we are being asked to trust life’s transitions. To go into the unknown and re-emerge with greater clarity and understanding. Where you are being asked to step out of a passive, victim mentality and step into your own power.

Understanding her myth.

Like the previous Goddesses Persephone’s myth has changed drastically to support the narrative of a patriarchal society that wants to push forth the belief of the feminine being weaker than the masculine.

The true power here is understanding how both the masculine and feminine work together and support each other!

The more commonly known Greek-Hellenistic telling of Persephone’s myth is that she is the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of harvest/earth) and is known as “the maiden”.  Hades falls in love with her and with help of Zeus she is abducted into the underworld to become Hades’ bride.  Being distraught with grief at the loss of her daughter, Demeter is no longer bringing forth the harvest and the earth becomes barren.  It is determined that Persephone cannot stay in the underworld and needs to be returned to Demeter.  However, Hades convinces her to eat food from the underworld, a pomegranate tying her to him.  Making it so she must return to the underworld.  This creates the cycles of the seasons.  During winter and fall when the earth becomes dormant is when she is in the underworld with Hades and Demeter is in mourning.  When she re-emerges to be with her, we have Spring and Summer and earth is vibrant again. 

In this myth we see her being desirable by two separate and opposing forces/deities.  Demeter is the visible, abundant realm and Hades the invisible, subterranean dormant realm.   But Demeter’s abundance cannot exist without Hades’ quiet giving the earth time to rest.   Persephone shows us that it is about merging the two.  It is not about always staying in the light or the dark. 

In this myth Persephone is the daughter and she is the bride.   She is desirable to both.    She is described by her roles and what she represents to others.  But who is Persephone?  Where is her independence, and what does she desire?

That question can be uncomfortable -because so many of us have spent parts of our lives living based on the expectations of others.  

This is about learning to change the narrative- moving beyond a victim mentality and returning to her original myth of a powerful goddess.

In her original telling Persephone is not simply a maiden who is tricked into the underworld.  Instead, she is the sovereign queen of the underworld, ruling the realm.  Known as Despoina- the Mistress or the Sovereign.  She possessed her own agency to move between both worlds on her own accord.  Controlling both realms naturally.  The descent under and then back up is her own cycle.  She is not bound to go back and forth based on others desires- her mom and her husband.  But instead makes the trip on her will.

Going down into the underworld to claim her title as Queen and returns to the light with Wisdom that an only be gained through her willingness to face the dark and go into the unknown. 

She is not a victim. She is not being controlled by others.  She is not consumed by the darkness, nor does she refuse to address the more difficulty, shadow side.  She understands how to merge the two.

Looking at her from the two separate lenses of the Greek- Hellenistic telling and the Original Myth.

When we are operating from the Greek telling we become the victim.  It is our circumstances that place us in the situation.  It is because of the decisions that others have made- We become powerless, trapped in roles and identities.  We either get completely engulfed and lost in our grief, wallowing, distraught, or completely ignore it all together.

When operating from the original myth we are empowered to sit in the uncomfortable moments.  Knowing that they don’t control us.  Knowing that they are not forever and are preparing us to step back into the light with greater clarity

Persephone is reminding us to not just assume that we are always operating from empowerment.  We must be willing to look at ourselves and go into the shadow, and face what is hard to look at. Considering are we playing the victim or are we taking responsibility?

Working With Persephone in Your Chart.

So, how do we work with Persephone in our own lives?  Knowing where Persephone is in your own chart provides clarity on how you are meant to manage her dynamic of descent and rebirth and what area of life this is prevalent.

Interestingly Persephone is currently traveling along with Medusa in the sign of Taurus.  Creating boundaries and protection with Persephone’s decent.  Taurus is where we are holding on to what we desire and value.  It is taking the time to smell the roses, enjoy the pleasures of life.  But Taurus can be stubborn, holding on to things that we have already outgrown simply because it feels safe.  Having Medusa and Persephone here right now asks us to look at what we are stubbornly holding onto- reminding us that we can protect our peace, and our boundaries while still releasing what has run its course.

Interested in understanding how this dynamic shows up in your own life? Let’s look at where Persephone sits in your chart and what she is asking of you to claim your own power.

https://www.jessicamorleyastrology.com/services

Jess