This post is beautiful, firstly. I listened on my afternoon walk, then read it on my computer afterward, replete with the images that welcome me. I was struck when I heard equipoise in the context of equinox. And I experienced the narrative of Persephone anew. I had not grokked the symbolism with the seasonal polarities in quite the way I do today.
Then I ate an apple! Listening first has its blessings!
Thanks Renée! Curious, how did you listen to this? Do you have a program that reads to you? And I love that you used the word "grokked"! I love this word, haven't heard it for awhile, so I am glad you "grokked" the Mabon season allegories in new ways while have a good crunch on an apple!
I did my own mabon tarot spread yesterday and pulled a card, and my tarot reversals book directly cited the Persephone cycle-that she guides the souls to the underground in the autumn and out in the spring. This was one of the three gifts of Mabon my guide directed me to acknowledge.
I was going to keep this reading in my journal but since it seems to be lining up, with both this and other synchronicities, I think I will post it this morning.
Sorry, correction and clarification-I pulled the hermit reversed. “The hidden Persephone”, leading the souls to the underworld in the winter , and into rebirth in the spring.
Sorry, my sleepy brain mixed that one up a bit and I pulled out my journal.
I love how your reading mirrored this season/time so perfectly with Persephone/the reversed Hermit. That is a powerful message to carry you into autumn! May this underworld journey reveal what is needed and heal any sore wounds of the soul and heart that are calling for it.
In my Mabon reading I got that I need to focus on the element of this season, water. And I received the Justice card as well, using the Witch Sisters Tarot. Here she is the Morrigan. This will be a big time for me of letting go. Opening to new perspectives within the darkness.
The witch sister deck! That one is intense and gorgeous. I am hoping to get that one from my recently passed bf’s things when I go down there early oct (I gave it to her as a gift shortly before passing). I am going to post that huge Mabon write up today. I did prep, new altar, and a Mabon meditation/candle last night to observe the day.
I love this celebration of the turn of the season Julie. It feels like it’s such an important one to reflect on what has passed, to what we have released, lost, are grieving and what new spaces are we creating.
Yes Louise, truly a potent time. There is a lot converging right now. A pausing in the leaving and entering. Many emotions, feelings of grief and joy, anger and peace, holding and releasing all at the same time. I find power and creativity being with both, where one does not cancel the other out. Equinox blessings to you Louise. ❤
Thank for this wonderful post! We celebrated last night with a fire outside, watching the harvest moon rise golden and huge in the sky.
It's all about the apples here too with juice being made, chutnies bubbling on the stove and apples being baked into cakes with my granddaughter.
However a time for deep reflection and letting go as my dear mum passed away eight weeks ago and now my father is in hospital having had a stroke. A time of transition for our family as we navigate all this...
Oh that is a lot going on. And it's just like this time of year, the balance of birth and death, so it is with joy and grief. Sounds like an amazing celebration! Was that the same night as the rising lunar eclipse? Oh and apple chutney, gosh that sounds delicious. Mostly I am feeling into the passing. So sorry to hear about your mum. Such a precious, sacred and tender time. There is something about a parent passing away... And that also depends on the relationship. Since you used the word "dear" I lean towards our parents as anchors. For me it was like the cord was cut and I was left drifting, till I learned to sail away on my own. Blessings for your family around this time. To your father for whatever healing is needed. And for all of you, a loving embrace of care. ❤
My dear Julie, I do love to read these posts of yours...as you cross one threshold I too cross another. As the days gets darker for you, the days are getting lighter for me. To share the liminal space...that moment in time when we are both lifting our feet up and crossing over and at that moment in the lifting of our feet we are there, together, maybe holding hands, maybe hugging, maybe just smiling at each other, and then, we cross over and parallel lives are intertwined once again.
In honour of the paths that we cross and the sharing that happens.
I thought about you while I was writing this post. That common threshold where I am leaving summer and entering autumn. And you are leaving winter and entering spring. Pausing at that threshold for some moments where time goes liminal. A co-mingling where we get to meet face to face. Embracing each other within precious moments. Love to you Sam!!! ❤
6 months above, 6 months below...Demeter creates the cycle of the year. But what do you think is the time Persephone departs for the underworld? This time which begins the dark half of the year? Seems like that would be appropriate. 'Resurrection' associated with the spring equinox? One thing I don't know or have not seen is how Persephone feels about being wed to the lord of the underworld. She doesn't return kicking and screaming ;) .
Love your questions and thoughts Shellie! It seems the main response to them is, who knows! Myth seems to be all about the story changing, new insights for the times are carried into it. And it is Greek Mythology, created around this ancient culture. For me though, I don't like that Persephone was abducted. Another story about men determining women's lives. Yet there other renditions of Persephone falling in love with Hades and going with him willingly to the underworld. And yes she doesn't come back kicking and screaming as you said. I see it as she comes to enjoy the underworld and being queen of the dark. I find the underworld a powerful place. Just like in the story of Inanna. A time of transformation and resurrection.
Thank you! There must be some symbolism in the eating of the pomegranate seeds. Yes, abducting and forcing a marriage is a very old example of patriarchal behavior towards women.
Regarding the seeds, according to the myth, it is by eating the pomegranate seeds that Persephone becomes bound to the underworld. The magic that keeps her there. It is Zeus that allows her to spend six months above ground and six months below ground. Because we can't have the earth in constant decay. Demeter needs to see her daughter, and spring needs to happen.
Yes...I know that but there is a symbolism to the pomegranate seeds. I'll see if I can find that anywhere. like you said...Some myths mention her falling in love with Hades. and I think there is a sexual link to the pomegranate. If I find anything, I'll letyou know. Yes...Demeter is the goddess of the Grains and so is connected to our agricultural cycles.
Yes, I see! From my understanding pomegranates represent fertility, feminine power, birth and death, and the cycles of menstruation. Would love to hear if you discover other meanings.
Julie,
This post is beautiful, firstly. I listened on my afternoon walk, then read it on my computer afterward, replete with the images that welcome me. I was struck when I heard equipoise in the context of equinox. And I experienced the narrative of Persephone anew. I had not grokked the symbolism with the seasonal polarities in quite the way I do today.
Then I ate an apple! Listening first has its blessings!
Thanks Renée! Curious, how did you listen to this? Do you have a program that reads to you? And I love that you used the word "grokked"! I love this word, haven't heard it for awhile, so I am glad you "grokked" the Mabon season allegories in new ways while have a good crunch on an apple!
I did my own mabon tarot spread yesterday and pulled a card, and my tarot reversals book directly cited the Persephone cycle-that she guides the souls to the underground in the autumn and out in the spring. This was one of the three gifts of Mabon my guide directed me to acknowledge.
I was going to keep this reading in my journal but since it seems to be lining up, with both this and other synchronicities, I think I will post it this morning.
Sorry, correction and clarification-I pulled the hermit reversed. “The hidden Persephone”, leading the souls to the underworld in the winter , and into rebirth in the spring.
Sorry, my sleepy brain mixed that one up a bit and I pulled out my journal.
I love how your reading mirrored this season/time so perfectly with Persephone/the reversed Hermit. That is a powerful message to carry you into autumn! May this underworld journey reveal what is needed and heal any sore wounds of the soul and heart that are calling for it.
In my Mabon reading I got that I need to focus on the element of this season, water. And I received the Justice card as well, using the Witch Sisters Tarot. Here she is the Morrigan. This will be a big time for me of letting go. Opening to new perspectives within the darkness.
The witch sister deck! That one is intense and gorgeous. I am hoping to get that one from my recently passed bf’s things when I go down there early oct (I gave it to her as a gift shortly before passing). I am going to post that huge Mabon write up today. I did prep, new altar, and a Mabon meditation/candle last night to observe the day.
Love the themes of letting go into wilting and dying right now. So needed for me after a busy summer! Thank you for this beautiful article, Julie!
Thanks Allysha! Yes there is something about wilting, fading and dying away that gives permission to simply, let go. To relinquish the tight grip. ❤
I love this celebration of the turn of the season Julie. It feels like it’s such an important one to reflect on what has passed, to what we have released, lost, are grieving and what new spaces are we creating.
Yes Louise, truly a potent time. There is a lot converging right now. A pausing in the leaving and entering. Many emotions, feelings of grief and joy, anger and peace, holding and releasing all at the same time. I find power and creativity being with both, where one does not cancel the other out. Equinox blessings to you Louise. ❤
Thank for this wonderful post! We celebrated last night with a fire outside, watching the harvest moon rise golden and huge in the sky.
It's all about the apples here too with juice being made, chutnies bubbling on the stove and apples being baked into cakes with my granddaughter.
However a time for deep reflection and letting go as my dear mum passed away eight weeks ago and now my father is in hospital having had a stroke. A time of transition for our family as we navigate all this...
Oh that is a lot going on. And it's just like this time of year, the balance of birth and death, so it is with joy and grief. Sounds like an amazing celebration! Was that the same night as the rising lunar eclipse? Oh and apple chutney, gosh that sounds delicious. Mostly I am feeling into the passing. So sorry to hear about your mum. Such a precious, sacred and tender time. There is something about a parent passing away... And that also depends on the relationship. Since you used the word "dear" I lean towards our parents as anchors. For me it was like the cord was cut and I was left drifting, till I learned to sail away on my own. Blessings for your family around this time. To your father for whatever healing is needed. And for all of you, a loving embrace of care. ❤
My dear Julie, I do love to read these posts of yours...as you cross one threshold I too cross another. As the days gets darker for you, the days are getting lighter for me. To share the liminal space...that moment in time when we are both lifting our feet up and crossing over and at that moment in the lifting of our feet we are there, together, maybe holding hands, maybe hugging, maybe just smiling at each other, and then, we cross over and parallel lives are intertwined once again.
In honour of the paths that we cross and the sharing that happens.
Much love xxx
I thought about you while I was writing this post. That common threshold where I am leaving summer and entering autumn. And you are leaving winter and entering spring. Pausing at that threshold for some moments where time goes liminal. A co-mingling where we get to meet face to face. Embracing each other within precious moments. Love to you Sam!!! ❤
Marking the cycles of life and nature feels right while we're in this place and time. Lovely piece. Thank you.
Thanks D.C!
6 months above, 6 months below...Demeter creates the cycle of the year. But what do you think is the time Persephone departs for the underworld? This time which begins the dark half of the year? Seems like that would be appropriate. 'Resurrection' associated with the spring equinox? One thing I don't know or have not seen is how Persephone feels about being wed to the lord of the underworld. She doesn't return kicking and screaming ;) .
Love your questions and thoughts Shellie! It seems the main response to them is, who knows! Myth seems to be all about the story changing, new insights for the times are carried into it. And it is Greek Mythology, created around this ancient culture. For me though, I don't like that Persephone was abducted. Another story about men determining women's lives. Yet there other renditions of Persephone falling in love with Hades and going with him willingly to the underworld. And yes she doesn't come back kicking and screaming as you said. I see it as she comes to enjoy the underworld and being queen of the dark. I find the underworld a powerful place. Just like in the story of Inanna. A time of transformation and resurrection.
Thank you! There must be some symbolism in the eating of the pomegranate seeds. Yes, abducting and forcing a marriage is a very old example of patriarchal behavior towards women.
Regarding the seeds, according to the myth, it is by eating the pomegranate seeds that Persephone becomes bound to the underworld. The magic that keeps her there. It is Zeus that allows her to spend six months above ground and six months below ground. Because we can't have the earth in constant decay. Demeter needs to see her daughter, and spring needs to happen.
Yes...I know that but there is a symbolism to the pomegranate seeds. I'll see if I can find that anywhere. like you said...Some myths mention her falling in love with Hades. and I think there is a sexual link to the pomegranate. If I find anything, I'll letyou know. Yes...Demeter is the goddess of the Grains and so is connected to our agricultural cycles.
Yes, I see! From my understanding pomegranates represent fertility, feminine power, birth and death, and the cycles of menstruation. Would love to hear if you discover other meanings.
Last paragraph. https://www.norakovats.com/blog/2020/3/10/the-pomegranate
Thanks Shellie - this was great!