Lady Persephone - Tumblr Posts

I was absolutely blessed by the spirits this day! I wanted to do something special for the full moon, so I meditated and opened myself up to the spirits and gods for a while. Long story short, during this meditation Lord Hades and Lady Persephone made their presences known and identified themselves as my guardians.

I’ve never felt such power as I did in that moment, and I am truly humbled by their presence and interest in my life. I’ve always felt pulled to these two more than any other gods, and was super interested in them as a very young child. It’s an incredible feeling to realize now that all this time, they were signs of the God’s and goddess’s presence

I am thrilled for my practice to take a turn for the devotional, and to see what the journeys lay ahead with My Lord and Lady

August 20, 2024

I have some ideas for some bigger concepts I’d like to write about, but for today I’ll stick with my perception of Lord Hades and Lady Persephone at this moment in my life.

Lady Persephone has intrigued me for as long as I could remember. I was taught Greek mythology at a young age in school, and I remember being instantly drawn to this figure who was only mentioned in passing at the time. All my teachers taught me was that she was abducted and ate the fruit of the underworld, so she has to go back every year, and thus we get the seasons. Even at a young age I could tell there was more to the story than that, for both Hades and Persephone. As I grew older, I did more research and have always held certain preconceived notions about them, some of which have changed since my spiritual encounters with them:

My first encounter was with Persephone, and I immediately got the sense that her age changes with the seasons. As it is the start of fall now, she appeared to me as a young woman with light brown, braided hair in her late teens/early twenties. Such joy radiates from her, you can feel her smile moreso than see it on her physical form. But this is not all there is to her. I have found that if I begin to think of her too much as a young, innocent figure, she sends me warnings, such as sending a bird to fly into my car. She is an incredibly gifted and powerful force, and her strength increases even more when she and her husband both seek something or desire to send a message. She’s a figure of duality-the all powerful queen of death and the joyful spirit of life.

What has intrigued me the most with Hades is how he has appeared to me during meditations (where I have most of my direct spiritual encounters). Unlike Persephone, the aspect of Hades I have been working (and will continue to work) with has appeared to me as a figure made entirely of shadow. I can’t make anything out about his physical appearance - as opposed to Persephone who has a distinct physical form - but I get the distinct feeling that he is male. My intuition tells me that he does have a physical form he can take, but is waiting for me to give more to him before showing me. This is perfectly fair and reasonable in my opinion, as I have been doing much more work on connecting to Persephone than to him. Mostly that was out of me being intimidated by him, but now that I know they are both present in my life, I must work to honor both of them equally, as they reign.

August 21, 2024

One of the biggest things that has struck me so far is how little we have remaining from history when it comes to how Hades and Persephone were worshipped. I understand that worshipping Him was a bit taboo, but I’m surprised that I’ve struggled to find evidence of Her being worshiped in isolation from other gods. She’s usually with Demeter.

It seems to me that, other than in a few regions outside of Greece proper, Persephone was mainly worshipped in relation to her Spring aspect, not her role as Queen of the Underworld. I hope I can serve both aspects of her so she’s not limited in any capacity

I feel an urge to give them more of what they have historically been overlooked for: recognition and veneration. Of course there are some stereotypical elements that are associated with them, such as the pomegranate, but I’d like to find ways of acknowledging and praising them that are a bit more individual, tuned to my personal relationship with each of them, as those relationships develop. I think I’m getting stuck in my head and overthinking my struggle to come up with ideas of what to put on their altars, and am overthinking it.

With not as much historical evidence of practices and rituals as other gods may have, I’m going to rely a lot on my intuition and what I gleam from my interactions with them to guide me in what ways are best to venerate Them. I’d love to hear any suggestions you all have or any practices you’ve had experience with that are related! What actions/offerings do you think are appropriate here? I do have a background in history (not much Greek, though), so I do hope in my continued research I’ll find a practice or offering with historical precedence that I can adapt to todays world!

Another thing that’s been on my mind a lot today is that it’s important to me that Lord Hades and Lady Persephone know that I’m seeking to cultivate connections with both of them individually, and not just viewing them as a unit. This is probably just my anxieties flaring up a little in my mind. I’m just in awe that two beings with such power have connected with me, and I want to make sure I do everything “right,” but that’s not really how a practice like this works. There aren’t a set of rules already established for me, especially none set for the 21st century. I need to listen to my gut in my craft, and my gut tells me to focus a lot right now on each of Them as individual gods. Perhaps this means a break from reading about the two of them together and more time meditating on one of them at a time.

Are there any other Hades and Persephone worshippers/people who work with them out there who’d like to chat? I’d love to make some friends with a similar interest in the spiritual!

August 26, 2024

I’m really thankful and grateful to Lord Hades and Lady Persephone for their supporting presence with me over the past few days. I’ve been really drained with a lot going on at work and in my personal life, and today when I sat down to do my morning tarot with them a message came through loud and clear: take care of yourself.

It’s really wonderful to get the affirmation that I’m not imagining it, that they do really care about me and want me to focus on my wellbeing, even if that means spending less time creating more elaborate rituals to celebrate them.

When reading historic texts about the ancient worship of the gods, sometimes it can feel a bit impersonal. But I believe the gods give us what we need, if we ask and work for it. And Hades and Persephone knew I needed some support and permission to relax.

The gods know us all as individuals and care for us as our unique needs call for it, and I just think that’s so beautiful

Lavender Fields Forever - Provence, France.

August 28, 2024

One of the biggest things I’m struggling with right now is getting the courage to do the hard things that need to be done. I have a really unhealthy friendship that I know I need to let go of, especially in the spirit of the waning moon. Messages have been coming through in my divination sessions (mainly tarot at the moment) from the spirits that encourage me to do what’s healthiest for myself and cut ties with this person; during my meditations Lord Hades and Lady Persephone have echoed these same messages.

I know it’s something I need to do, for my sake and the other person’s, and it’ll be the best in the long run. But this other person is in a position of power and authority in my life, and I’m scared of her getting angry and retaliating.

I know that I have the support I need from others to catch me if I fall, but I need to make that first step and cut ties with him on my own.

Today, I pray for the courage to take steps towards slowly distancing myself from her and other negative forces in my life, and protection over any emotional harm they may send my way. I pray for patience from the spirits on my part, and hope they are understanding if it takes me a long time to grow in the way I need to

🏛Hellenic cheat sheets🏛

In construction

Here are some cheat sheets with general information about the Greek Gods which you might find useful in worship but not only!

There is plenty of information I did not include. These are just simple cheat sheets. I could not fit everything in there but this might come in handy if you’re just starting out or want to get to know the Hellenic Gods.

For more information about them, I highly recommend you check out the websites or books I listed in sources!

PSA: Some of the things listed in offerings and associations section are more modern, thus could be regarded as UPGs/SPGs

⚡ The Olympians ⚡

Zeus

Hera

Poseidon

Demeter

Athena

Apollo

Artemis

Ares

Hephaestus

Aphrodite

Hermes

Hestia

Dionysus

Mount Olympus - Home of the Gods

Hyperborea

🦴The Underworld🦴

Hades

Persephone

Hekate

Hypnos

Thanatos

Erinyes

House of Hades & the Afterlife

🌱 Minor deities & daimones 💫

Nemesis

Eris

Phobos & Deimos - bonus info

Eros

Nike

Asklepios

Pan

Iris

Hebe

Priapus

Amphitrite

Aristaios

Thetis

Tyche

Mousai [Muses]

Moirai [Fates]

Charites [Graces]

Anemoi [The Winds]

🌾 Titan & Primordial Gods 🌌

Helios

Selene

Hekate

Eos

Leto

Themis

Rhea

Cronus

Nyx

Gaia

👑 Heroes & deified mortals ⚔

Achilles

Heracles

Asklepios

Ganymede

Dioskouroi

Adonis

Hyacinthus

If you like my content consider supporting me on: https://ko-fi.com/screeching0wlet

♛✿ᴘᴇʀsᴇᴘʜᴏɴᴇ • 𝙌ᴜᴇᴇɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇss ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, ɢʀᴀɪɴ, sᴘʀɪɴɢ, ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs, ғᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ & ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ✿♛

Dark Persephone Moodboard

worshipping the chthonic gods

first, a note on cthonic vs ouranic: the line between these gods is one that is not really as stark as it can be portrayed. many gods have both ouranic and chthonic aspects, and neither make them any more "good" or "bad" than the other. chthonic gods are not evil gods, at least no more than any ouranic god. all deities have the capability of doing good and evil, but are largely ambivalent in nature. the advice listed below is not set in stone, simply provided as gentle guidance. if you have suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments/reblogs! :)

LIBATIONS/OFFERINGS

In Ancient Greece it was very common for offerings to the chthonic gods to be given in the form of libation--a drink (or any liquid) poured into the ground. Physical offerings, like food, were often burned in their entirety to ash or left to rot, instead of being partially shared by the offeror. Incense was not as commonly used since the smoke travels upwards, towards the heavens.

I suggest disposing of/keeping ashes and rotted food outside or burying them, seeing as chthonic sometimes refers to "-of the earth." This would be similar to how curse tablets were treated in Ancient Greece, as Hermes, messenger of the gods, would deliver them unto their underworld-ly receiver from there.

If you can't do that, consider pouring your libations down the sink or flushing them down the toilet (ONLY do this with water-based liquids, oil and honey will clog up your sink in no time flat). It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Common libations include: coffee, blood (animal or your own, we'll get to that at the end), honey (instead of wine), milk

Common offerings include: meat, barley/grain, oil, cheese

In many cases, prayers to ouranic deities are directed upwards, into the sky or delivered unto the wind by voice, song, or some sort of poem. In the case of the chthonic gods, we should be directing them downwards, towards the underworld where they reside. This may include extending your hands with palms facing down, putting your head down, or just imagining your prayers being sent below. The only exceptions to this may be Persephone, who resides in the heavens for half of the year, and Hermes, who can be considered both ouranic and chthonic.

PRAYER

Other recommendations I can make are: light a candle, even if you're not going to use it for pyromancy; light some incense (I do this for focus and cleansing, not so much for the deity); and perform it at night. It's not mandatory, of course, to perform your prayers at night, it's just that in antiquity ouranic activities (festivals, prayer, etc.) were done during the day and often directly enshrouded in sunlight. We can assume, therefore, that a chthonic prayer or festival should occur during the night, especially if being directed towards Hekate or Nyx.

ALTARS/SHRINES

In Ancient Greece, temples to the ouranic gods were constructed so that their doorways would directly face the sun, thus illuminating the inside (and often the main statue(s), too). We can assume, then, that our chthonic altars/shrines should be located somewhere out of the direct sunlight. This can be in a dark spot, like a closet or isolated room--or it can just simply be in a corner furthest from the sun's rays.

Again, there may be some exceptions to this: Hermes, under his ouranic epithet(s), Persephone, for her time in the heavens, and Hekate, for her association with the moon.

DIVINATION

For the most part divination with the chthonic gods is conducted in much the same way as with the ouranic. Of course, when calling upon these deities you'll want to face towards the ground, and perhaps even conduct these sessions in partial darkness. Again, maybe you could light a candle or even pour a libation before a really big reading.

I mostly use pendulums and tarot, but I've been experimenting with meditation and have had some luck. What works for ouranic deities should work just as good for chthonic, you just might have to shift your approach a little.

Some good tarot spreads for working with chthonic deities:

"Fork in the Road" spread-- for Hermes or Hekate

"The Tower" spread-- for Hermes or Hades

"The Self Exploration" spread-- for any

"The Bat" spread-- for Hades or Persephone

EXTRAS

--Consider offering blood if you're able! Animal blood that is sourced from ethical farms is neither morally reprehensible or illegal and can be sourced from a variety of places. Offering your own blood is also a possibility, but for this I would not recommend more than a pinprick. There are limits to how much pain you should be incurring on yourself for your deities. If you have to check your blood sugar often, maybe you can soak up excess blood with some cotton and bury it outside. Make sure to always clean your wounds properly and do not engage in this behavior for the purpose of self-mutilation. That, I can assure you, your deities would not appreciate. Don't be stupid.

--Snakes are commonly associated with almost all chthonic deities, or just the Underworld in general. We see this the most with Hermes, who is pictured with two snakes wrapped around his caduceus. The god Asclepius is also pictured with a staff with a snake on it, but only has one. Asclepius is the god of medicine, and (before being deified) was killed by Zeus for making people practically immortal.

--Chthonic deities are the best places to turn to for spirit work, protective, and baneful magic. You're looking to contact a spirit? Turn to Hades. You're looking for protection against spirits/demons? Turn to Hekate or Hermes. You're looking to cast a curse? Turn to Persephone or Hekate.

It’s been a really trying morning, and I’ve been dealing with a lot of tumultuous emotions, so I sad down and meditated, envisioning myself meeting with Persephone. I spent some time there with her just venting a bit and crying, and she was such a supportive force. She gave me all the space I needed to get my feelings out and helped me work through them. Afterwards, I had such a clear mindset and was able to deal with my emotions more rationally.

Moral of the story: your deities care about you and many of them love to have personal connections. Even through sharing bits of your mundane life, you can open yourself up to be vulnerable with them, and strengthen your relationship. And when you really trust and believe in them, they can give you such immense help

🌱 Subtle Persephone Worship 🍂

Take a walk/drive through an area with lots of falling leaves during the Fall

Step in dry leaves to hear that satisfying crunch

Start a garden; tend to plants within your space

Pick flowers (not from other people's gardens!!!)

Make flower crowns

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have a stuffed animal pig, rooster/hen, snake, or dog

Have imagery of spring, flowers, fall, winter, or pomegranates around

Eat pomegranate seeds or drink pomegranate juice

Learn to let go of shitty people, if able; assert your personal boundaries

Take a hike/walk in nature; visit a nature preserve

Honor your ancestors; learn about your family history

Keep family heirlooms; hold onto to objects given to by loved ones who've passed on

Become comfortable with change; take new risks and go outside your comfort zone

Make a list of goals at the end of each month; these goals are for the month ahead

Find simple joys in your day to day; make a list of things that you enjoy

Spend time with pets and loved ones; show appreciation for them

Volunteer at animal or homeless shelters

Support children-focused or environmental preservation organizations

Show yourself the same love you give to others

Practice standing up for yourself

During the winter, make yourself cozy; drink something warm, watch a favorite movie, curl up in a fuzzy blanket, etc.

Do spring-cleaning; keep your space clean

Donate things like blankets and coats to homeless shelters at the start of winter or fall

Cook a warm meal for someone in need, especially when it's cold out

Collect animal bones (thank the animal's spirit; I think that's just respectful)

Remember to regularly go outside/get some fresh air; take frequent breaks from technology throughout the day

Wear flowery perfumes/colognes

Have flowery scents for body wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

Take a self-care bath/shower

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I might add more down the line! For the time being, this is my list of ways to discreetly worship Persephone. Take care, and I hope this helps! 💚

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

for lady Persephone

This is my first offering for lady persephone

The Dread Queen, herself: Lady Persephone <3

Things have been very difficult lately. In the spirit of the new moon, I cut off an unhealthy relationship in my life. Even though it’s for the best for all parties involved, I’m having to deal with a lot of anger and resentment from the other person involved.

This has also been trying because, despite how unhealthy our relationship was, this person was my closest and really only friend. Even though I’ve spent most of my life alone, it terrifies me, and I doubt every little step that I take. I also am terrified of them trying to hurt me for leaving the relationship when they didn’t want to let me go.

I thank Persephone for her guidance and support that led me to this decision, and I humbly ask that Hades give me the strength and wisdom to live independently and solitarily

TW: vague mention of suicide

I got really drunk tonight and slipped up and made a tasteless joke about offing myself (I used to be really bad about making these kinds of jokes, but I’ve been working on not saying them, especially since I’ve started working with Hades and Persephone). My hair suddenly got caught on my chair and it was lightly pulled, something that has never happened in the months and months I’ve had this chair. My gut tells me that was one of them warning me not to make those jokes anymore, which is perfectly understandable! I deeply regret my actions and, once I’m sober, will meditate and convey my apologies to Them.

I love creating elaborate, personal rituals for the gods but there’s also something so divine and beautiful about making magick out of the mundane.

Washing away stale energy in the shower

Brushing my teeth with mint toothpaste for Hades while praying to Him and asking for guidance in speaking the truth

Wearing pomegranate lip balm for Persephone and asking Her to keep the words I say just and fair

Stirring a sigil into my morning coffee for focus and energy

It’s just such an incredible reminder that the gods are everywhere in our lives, that everything is touched by them. And that makes every little mundane part of life so much more meaningful to me