thank you for this wonderful piece, I loved it all but especially was struck by the idea of Persephone eating the pomegranate seeds as the integration of unconscious material, that is so beautiful.
It really struck me too, as one of the key symbols, a catalyst, that really shifts the entire story. That integration is so key for her development, for stepping into a new evolution of self.
I was drawn to Persephone before I even knew her story. I had come upon this beautiful “guide” in a visualization and only after her name was told to me did I learn about her complicated mythology.
I immediately felt akin to her in the sense that although I’m a positive person who is seen as an extrovert, I also have a very real shadow side in which I like to hide and explore. I have often felt as though I live between worlds; in the Liminal.
We all want to pretend that our lives would be perfect if we spent it picking flowers with the fae--but that is not what is given to us. We have to accept the shadow and make the choice to step out into the sunshine despite that fact. Thank you for this lovely article!
How fascinating that you encountered a Persephone figure in a visualization!
I think descending to her realm and meeting the "Persephone within" is deeply important for those who are drawn to a more extraverted way of being. It allows us to encounter that shadow side and see how complex we truly are as individuals.
She is also a wonderful guide for those who exist in the liminal space, which is why I often think of her as a psychopomp - someone who can move between worlds, and help us through it.
Glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for your comment :)
What a rich, illuminating article! Perfectly timed for the descent that winter always is — I'm grateful for the reminder that this oppressive darkness (politically, too) can be extremely fertile and incubating. As an author and screenwriter, archetypes constantly inform my work and Persephone is a key goddess archetype for me (along with Artemis). She runs through my crime novels in both the female victims of male oppression and the outsiderness of the female police, detectives and agents who make a deliberate descent into darkness to catch abusers and killers.
For the first time, I'm writing a novel with a Demeter main character, but there are, as the archetype demands, lots of Persephones she's determined to rescue.
Thanks again for so much to think about and the gorgeous Pre-Raphaelite illustrations!
Hi Alexandra, appreciate your thoughtful comment and sharing.
I'm curious about your writing process - Do you purposefully choose these goddess archetypes to incorporate? Or have you found overtime that they naturally manifested in the characters you wrote? I find this really fascinating! The structures of these figures are so rich and can be used creatively in so many applications.
Hey Alyssa. It’s both! Using archetypes became a deliberate part of my writing process when I read Jean Shinoda Bolen’s fabulous Goddesses in Everywoman, and her lesser but still useful Gods in Everyman. I was very aware of the Greek/Roman pantheon from theater and history at Berkeley, but those books were a real “Well, that explains a LOT!” revelation for me. So helpful in life, too— I know I tend to have friction with Athena-dominant women (always dangerously defending the patriarchy), and I gravitate toward Dionysian men (but married a Poseidon). The pantheon isn’t enough, of course—very heterosexist, for one thing— but I also work a lot with Native American archetypes (Coyote, Trickster, Spider Woman…) and voodoo Loa (Erzulie, Baron Samedi, Maman Brigitte, Papa Legba…), and archetypes from witchcraft. And you mentioned Baba Yaga in your article – she’s a big one for me, too!
I always encourage the writers who take my workshop to become aware of how blockbuster movies and books use archetypes and how they might do that in their own work for deeper writing and commercial success. (Like here: https://youtu.be/UzVcm1rtVsI). It’s an incredible shortcut to creating characters that are psychologically true and universally resonant.
Persephone just found me! She’s conjunct my late mothers sun Leo. Exact opposite my mercury in Aqua 2nd house! This is profound for me as I work with investors (8th) and financing clean solar energy investments (2nd house). I brought home a cherub from my mothers meditation circle overlooking Mt. Lassen and she asked me to name
Her Persephone! And I needed her in my business world RIGHT now! I’m awaiting my Persephone candle and oil from Seth Browders Persephone ritual! Thank you!
thank you for this wonderful piece, I loved it all but especially was struck by the idea of Persephone eating the pomegranate seeds as the integration of unconscious material, that is so beautiful.
It really struck me too, as one of the key symbols, a catalyst, that really shifts the entire story. That integration is so key for her development, for stepping into a new evolution of self.
I was drawn to Persephone before I even knew her story. I had come upon this beautiful “guide” in a visualization and only after her name was told to me did I learn about her complicated mythology.
I immediately felt akin to her in the sense that although I’m a positive person who is seen as an extrovert, I also have a very real shadow side in which I like to hide and explore. I have often felt as though I live between worlds; in the Liminal.
We all want to pretend that our lives would be perfect if we spent it picking flowers with the fae--but that is not what is given to us. We have to accept the shadow and make the choice to step out into the sunshine despite that fact. Thank you for this lovely article!
How fascinating that you encountered a Persephone figure in a visualization!
I think descending to her realm and meeting the "Persephone within" is deeply important for those who are drawn to a more extraverted way of being. It allows us to encounter that shadow side and see how complex we truly are as individuals.
She is also a wonderful guide for those who exist in the liminal space, which is why I often think of her as a psychopomp - someone who can move between worlds, and help us through it.
Glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for your comment :)
Thank you for writing it! I feel as thought Persephone is often left out of things and I loved reading your thoughts. 💕
What a rich, illuminating article! Perfectly timed for the descent that winter always is — I'm grateful for the reminder that this oppressive darkness (politically, too) can be extremely fertile and incubating. As an author and screenwriter, archetypes constantly inform my work and Persephone is a key goddess archetype for me (along with Artemis). She runs through my crime novels in both the female victims of male oppression and the outsiderness of the female police, detectives and agents who make a deliberate descent into darkness to catch abusers and killers.
For the first time, I'm writing a novel with a Demeter main character, but there are, as the archetype demands, lots of Persephones she's determined to rescue.
Thanks again for so much to think about and the gorgeous Pre-Raphaelite illustrations!
Hi Alexandra, appreciate your thoughtful comment and sharing.
I'm curious about your writing process - Do you purposefully choose these goddess archetypes to incorporate? Or have you found overtime that they naturally manifested in the characters you wrote? I find this really fascinating! The structures of these figures are so rich and can be used creatively in so many applications.
Glad you found the article enriching :)
Hey Alyssa. It’s both! Using archetypes became a deliberate part of my writing process when I read Jean Shinoda Bolen’s fabulous Goddesses in Everywoman, and her lesser but still useful Gods in Everyman. I was very aware of the Greek/Roman pantheon from theater and history at Berkeley, but those books were a real “Well, that explains a LOT!” revelation for me. So helpful in life, too— I know I tend to have friction with Athena-dominant women (always dangerously defending the patriarchy), and I gravitate toward Dionysian men (but married a Poseidon). The pantheon isn’t enough, of course—very heterosexist, for one thing— but I also work a lot with Native American archetypes (Coyote, Trickster, Spider Woman…) and voodoo Loa (Erzulie, Baron Samedi, Maman Brigitte, Papa Legba…), and archetypes from witchcraft. And you mentioned Baba Yaga in your article – she’s a big one for me, too!
I always encourage the writers who take my workshop to become aware of how blockbuster movies and books use archetypes and how they might do that in their own work for deeper writing and commercial success. (Like here: https://youtu.be/UzVcm1rtVsI). It’s an incredible shortcut to creating characters that are psychologically true and universally resonant.
We should talk about a joint post or something!
- Alex
Persephone just found me! She’s conjunct my late mothers sun Leo. Exact opposite my mercury in Aqua 2nd house! This is profound for me as I work with investors (8th) and financing clean solar energy investments (2nd house). I brought home a cherub from my mothers meditation circle overlooking Mt. Lassen and she asked me to name
Her Persephone! And I needed her in my business world RIGHT now! I’m awaiting my Persephone candle and oil from Seth Browders Persephone ritual! Thank you!