Demeter, Despoina & Persephone (aka we are family..)

[troll maiden]

My own understanding is formed largely via UPG but is informed also through accounts of encounters with her in her Queen form. I interpret the Rape of Persephone as Hades not gaining Demeter's approval rather than coercion or unwillingness on Persephone's part.

I find this idea interesting - the thought that it was Demeter being an overly protective mother who disapproves of her daughter's relationship. It's certainly a different take on the story, which is always a good thing.

My own husband is an older man who I met remotely, who lived on the other side of the country, who was everything I was not and who I married and joined with despite not an insignificant amount of opposition and drama that has melted into a comfortable respect of my role in his life (and his mine) and that we are here to stay. When considering Persephone I cannot ignore the feelings I have towards my husband, and I feel that same warmth and draw to Hades as well, as I imagine Persephone loves her husband. It's felt well received and while Hades is not a soft deity per se, I don't find him difficult. Hades is one you can be comfortable around in your grief and misery, your "worst" really and its ok.

Sounds like you've gone through quite a bit of drama. I can see though the circumstances how you've come up with your own UPG- there's a fair few parallels there. I think Hades loved Persephone and that she felt a degree of affection and warmth back. I do need to read more into their relationship though to get a better understanding of it. Hades sounds like a very strong kinda guy- maybe not a good shoulder to cry on but a rock to cling to when you feel yourself going adrift.

You're mileage may vary! I based that on the idea that most people are uncomfortable with death and honoring her you really can't be. I think her energy is very transformative, especially when utilized alongside trauma (like a death) so I have high hopes for your journey!

I know I will struggle to work with her darker aspect at the moment. I'm still processing the grief, and still have moments where I break down in tears. But I want to be able to feel strong enough to keep going; I want to be able to remember him without feeling like I want to emotionally shut down and disappear. I started my journey today by offering her some fruit.

[troll maiden]

I agree on the water. Whether it is Hekate (her grandmother Eurybia, goddess over the mastery of the sea) or a daughter of Demeter and Poseidon, then water feels central. It both bring life to soil and carry away the passing of time - brings with it the new and carries away the old.

Oh cool, I don't know much about Eurybia so I'll have a look at that link later. So it could have been a cult that focused on renewal and fertility. If it was a deity of water that bore the title 'Despoina' maybe the cult had an emphasis on cleansing and purification, or a great respect for the power of water. Purely conjecture of course.

Sure, though one could say we do archeology within our thoughts, finding bits and pieces to see how they fit together. And I think it is starting to make a lot of sense; at least in my head.

I like the idea of mental archaeology - putting different bits of evidence together and seeing if they fit together in a logical way. Plus it's a good excuse to hum the Indiana Jones' theme song. :p

I think any being can be wooed if it is done the right way; it is up to the suitor to find just the way to spark the connection. Though some deities are probably easier to woo than others Being yourself and living life to the fullest (just the way you see it done) would be my suggestion and let those gods and goddesses that feel the connection take part and let the others be... that is how I used to do it when I worked with kids, and as soon as new kids saw how much fun the other kids had it they were won over without any effort at all

Hmmm I can imagine some deities can be quite stubborn. Ah I see- it's like a friend who's reluctant to dance at a club; poking them saying 'awww come on, it's fun~' will get you ignored, but if you leave them be and let them see how much fun everyone else is having fun they'll get up and join in...but only if they like the song. ^__^

My connection with Persephone is dualistic in a way, as both the blossoming flower and the dark keeper of secrets. With that said she is not one I have spend a lot of time with, at least not consciously in this lifetime of mine here in a human body on Earth. The last year has mostly been spend with the Olympian Muses, especially Kalliope has been around a lot (sometimes hanging out on the edge of my thoughts).

That's a very evocative thought; makes me think of beautiful flower, that's not quite in full bloom. One part of it is basking in the radiance of the sun, yet the rest is reaching deep within the earth, drawing up the nutrients it needs to fully blossom. I don't know a great deal about the Muses, what are they like to work with?

[Fionnbharr]

Oh cool, I don't know much about Eurybia so I'll have a look at that link later. So it could have been a cult that focused on renewal and fertility. If it was a deity of water that bore the title 'Despoina' maybe the cult had an emphasis on cleansing and purification, or a great respect for the power of water. Purely conjecture of course.

I like the idea of mental archaeology - putting different bits of evidence together and seeing if they fit together in a logical way. Plus it's a good excuse to hum the Indiana Jones' theme song. :p

Hmmm I can imagine some deities can be quite stubborn. Ah I see- it's like a friend who's reluctant to dance at a club; poking them saying 'awww come on, it's fun~' will get you ignored, but if you leave them be and let them see how much fun everyone else is having fun they'll get up and join in...but only if they like the song. ^__^

That's a very evocative thought; makes me think of beautiful flower, that's not quite in full bloom. One part of it is basking in the radiance of the sun, yet the rest is reaching deep within the earth, drawing up the nutrients it needs to fully blossom.

That sounds agreeable: the renewal, fertility, cleansing and purification with water as the central element. Maybe death was seen as the ultimate cleansing and purification? So in the spring when life blossoms they celebrate renewal and fertility until fall comes and bring upon "death" and they see that period of time as a time of cleansing and purification following the cycle of the year (or else Demeter would not make much sense). If nothing else it makes a good cult of Hekate and Demeter one could follow Though my year cycle follows more the planet Mercury (it is just insane how strange Mercury in retrograde can be) than the cycle of life.

Don't know why I hum the theme to Star Wars :S Maybe I see it as more of a exploration of the space within than digging through my thoughts :O

I think that is a good image for what Persephone is good at. Help you to be solid rooted deep in the ground in order to fully blossom And yes it is about not annoying them, but showing them what they miss out on.

I don't know a great deal about the Muses, what are they like to work with?

I would not say that I work with the muses, I would more say that we are companions on each others path. Some days they intertwine, some days they don't. The muses are like this creative awe inspiring energy, supportive and beautiful. Each with their own unique quirks/traits

A friend of mine described two of the muses this way after I had introduced them to her: I went to my castle (the place in my mind where I open my spirit gate when they don't come around by their own or that I don't call on them) as I opened the door Euterpe was there, she was with someone called Calliope. I first thought it was someone called Cassiopeia but then I realized it wasn't her. The first woman was more proud and strong willed than the second, like she could achieve anything if she intended to, she had some kind of dark hair. The second was more I don't know, with the heart of a child, pure light energy, the kind of person you can totally see running after a butterfly ahah. I thought I would find Urania not them ahah, but the one who said she was Euterpe, said that maybe
Urania will not need to come (as I finally listened to them I guess ahah). The message was something along theses lines : It's about finding the harmony that enable one to create ones life masterpiece. You need to find the right note, the right word combination that permit you to do of a normal piece of work, a masterpiece. Everything is already inside each person and one should use this creative energy flow that one use in art and such in every area of ones life and like that do of ones life what the person want it to be, a personal masterpiece. Follow the road, your truth, your light, your heart, whatever you wanna call it, not just in a certain area, but all the time.

One day I went to my friends castle to speak to her. I met Kalliope there and then thought I would also find Euterpe there, however it was Ourania. She turned around and got the biggest smile on her face and jumped in my arms with a warm welcome, it kind of took me by surprise Hope that gives some kind of answer, I just think they are absolutely adorable

[Aeronis]

I've been working with Demeter for the last few months and it's been great, it just feels like a natural fit. Which is great, granted I need to put more effort in, but She's very patient...luckily for me :whis:

However recently, and I mean really recently I've started to read up about Persephone and Despoina. I guess it just seems like a natural progression as Persephone and Demeter's myth are so firmly linked together. As for Despoina, well I guess I find her interesting as there is scant information on her.

Which leads me nicely to my question; who works with Persephone and/or Despoina? What are they like to work with?

Also, on a slightly related note has anyone found themselves drawn to deities that are connected to a deity they already worship? E.g siblings, consorts, offspring etc... If so what drew you to them?

 
I've recently started working with Persephone a lot. For me, she's always been the goddess of sacrifice (mind if I use Roman names?). Some myths say that Proserpine was held in the underworld because she accidentally ate those pomegranate seeds, or was forced to. Proserpine was raised by the goddess of the harvest, she was raised as a goddess, and I think there was no way she could not have known about the loophole of eating in the underworld.

 My take on the myth, is that Proserpine was, for the first time, offered a choice. She took the hard choice because there have to be sixth cold months of death, and six warm months of life. She knew this, and it was her choice to remain by Pluto's side.

What she's teaching me now though, is that there is a limit to that kindness. You can't fix the world's problems, and sometimes you have to live for yourself, and make the choices that are best for you. That might mean making a big change (like leaving home for the first time), change being something I've always been afraid of.

In the past I've worked with Ceres, and I enjoy working with her, as I'm always more attracted to harvest deities. I also revere Pluto, but I've never really worked with him on a personal level before.