Persephone: A Quick Witch's Guide to the Goddess of Spring & Queen of the Underworld
Daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest and Zeus, god of the sky. Persephone was also called Kore or The Maiden as Demeter and nymphs tried to protected their precious goddess of flowers. Depending on the story, she was either abducted or lured by Hades into the underworld or be his bride. In many stories she is told to be picking narcissus flowers on her way to the underworld. She is eventually returned from the Underworld. But because she consumed fruit of Hades, pomegranate seeds, she was now bound to return and spend part of the year as the queen of the underworld.
Persephone had two children, Melione, goddess of ghosts and nightmares. And Zagreus, who is the child of Zeus (her father, but disguised as a snake). Hera, Zeus’s wife, was so upset she got the titans to attack Zagreus but his heart was saved so Zeus had another kid with another goddess, Semele, somehow using the heart of Zagreus and birthed Dionysus… woof, that was a lot. And that’s not what this post is about either. Back to Persephone!
Persephone’s is the story of the seasons. When she is in the underworld, we experience winter, the blossoming plants die from the lack of her presence and the despair of her mother that she is in the underworld. When she returns, we get blossoming spring growth.
While many of the retellings like Lore Olympus tell her and Hades as more of a love story, much of the originals variations are tales abduction, of being talked into something we don’t want, of accepting an unfortunate fate. And Persephone may make the most of it as the queen of the underworld, but she is also one that can be turned to in times where you may need to negotiate new terms or gather the strength to get out of a situation that doesn’t serve you.
Persephone is also a goddess of duality. Maybe it’s the gemini in my astrology chart talking but her being the goddess of spring AND queen of the underworld, this stark contrast, it really speaks to me. You CAN be both!
To honor Persephone is to honor the seasons. To work with persephone is to work with life and death, renewal, your own dualities, shadow side, and growth.
Spend time outside. Go to see spring flowers, admire and compliment her work.
If it’s winter, taking care of house plants can be a devotional act. Maintaining natural elements indoors while she is away.
Gardening of any kind
The time between seasons, especially the start of spring and during the last harvests of fall seem to be the most frequently she is mentioned or celebrated. Thesmophoria is celebrated in October as the time Persephone returns to the Underworld.
I felt called to talk about Persephone now, right after my posts about working on a more nature-based cycle. Winter is a time for reflection and stillness, and I am taking a note from Persephone to work on my shadow side. I got swindled into the shadow work journal from TikTok shop like so many others but you can also find shadow work journaling prompts just a quick google or Pinterest search or even TikTok search bar away.
Symbolism and offerings for Persephone include:
Flowers, especially narcissus flowers
Most plants really, especially blossoming ones hu
Torches
Deer don’t offer deer but maybe deer symbolism
Vanilla or vanilla scented things
Dainty floral scented things
Floral teas
Pomegranates or pomegranate seeds
Apples, fresh or dried, or apple seeds