We’ve all heard the story of Persephone—the helpless maiden dragged away into the darkness against her will. But what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? What if Persephone wasn’t a poor damsel in distress, kidnapped by a mustache-twirling bad guy, but a woman who chose to step into the shadows and embrace her power as a queen? Imagine if, instead of being taken, Persephone took control of her destiny and transformed her fate into something amazing?
Let’s take a quick look at the original tale and then reimagine this ancient myth to reveal the strength and resilience woven into Persephone’s path.
In the classic tale, Persephone and her mother, Demeter—the goddess of agriculture—were inseparable, their bond as deep as the roots of the earth itself. Together, they made the world blossom, filling it with life and abundance. But suddenly, their happy home was shattered when Hades, the shady god of the Underworld, set his sights on Persephone, forcing her to come with him and become his wife.
Demeter's heart broke at the loss of her daughter, and in her grief, she searched everywhere for her beloved daughter. Her sorrow cast a dark shadow over the land, transforming it into a desolate wasteland where crops withered and famine raged. The other gods were alarmed by what was happening, so they turned to Zeus for help. Zeus urged Hades to return Persephone to her mother, realizing that their bond was essential to the harmony of the world.
Hades reluctantly agreed to let Persephone go, but he slyly offered her the seeds of a pomegranate, knowing that once she ate them, she would be bound to the Underworld and to him. So, Persephone found herself torn between two worlds, and the cycle of seasons began. When Persephone returned to the surface, she brought with her the vibrant blooms of spring and the warmth of summer. But, during her time in the Underworld, the earth plunged into the chill of autumn and winter.
This classic version of Persephone gives us a peek into the male-dominated world of ancient times. In this story, Hades kidnaps Persephone, symbolizing just how much power men held over women back then. Women were at the mercy of men’s choices and whims.
In that patriarchal society, marriages were often arranged without even asking the woman's opinion, and that’s what happened to Persephone. Hades decides to marry her without considering her wishes at all.
Now, what if Persephone’s story took place in a more enlightened time? What if she had the power to choose her path in life instead of being pushed into a decision by others? With these thoughts in mind, I decided to reimagine her story.
Once upon a time, the world enjoyed a never-ending summer. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, had a gorgeous daughter named Persephone. While Demeter took care of the fertile lands of the earth, Persephone, the embodiment of spring, made flowers bloom wherever she stepped.
Meanwhile, Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, often watched the world above from his shadowy domain. When he noticed Persephone, he was drawn to her vibrancy and grace. He invited her to visit his realm so he could get to know her better and show her how beautiful the Underworld could be.
One day, not long after Persephone had agreed to visit Hades in the Underworld, she spent an afternoon in a meadow enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Then, a unique narcissus flower, which Persephone had never seen before, caught her eye. As she reached out to touch it, a gateway to the Underworld opened. This startled her at first, but then she realized the world beyond was beautiful and fascinating. Glittering caverns filled with precious gems, tranquil lakes that mirrored the stars, and friendly spirits who longed for company lay ahead of her.
Hades approached Persephone carefully and explained how much he respected and admired her and the life she brought to the world. Hades and Persephone spent time getting to know each other. Hades showed her the wonders of the Underworld, and Persephone shared stories of the world above.
As the days passed, Persephone realized she had grown to love both the Underworld and Hades. But she missed the world above, especially her mother. Understanding her inner turmoil, Hades offered her a pomegranate. He said that by eating some of its seeds, she would become a bridge between the two worlds, traveling between life and death, between Demeter and Hades.
Persephone chose to eat the seeds, thinking it would help her embrace both parts of her new life. But her decision had consequences. Demeter was devastated by her daughter's prolonged absence each year, which led to the birth of winter, a time of cold and barrenness. When Persephone eventually returned to the surface, she brought spring with her, and the cycle of seasons began, reflecting her movement between the realms.
Over time, Persephone transformed. No longer simply the maiden of spring, she also became the Queen of the Underworld. She ruled alongside Hades as an equal, bringing compassion and renewal to the spirits of the dead.
Persephone embraced the two sides of herself–she could be both the radiant Goddess of Spring and the benevolent Queen of the Underworld. She found balance in her double nature, like the balance between life and death, joy and sorrow, summer and winter.
Persephone's reimagined story pushes back against the old-fashioned patriarchal themes of the original. It shows how important it is that Persephone and Hades respect and understand each other in their relationship. Persephone is a strong, empowered woman who embraces her independence to shape her destiny instead of letting others influence her.
Reimagining this classic tale really brings its timeless lessons to life in a way that feels relevant to us today.
By putting these age-old stories into a modern context, we can easily tap into their wisdom to help us grow and reach our full potential. Plus, these updated stories make it so much easier for us to connect with the deities they feature, allowing their journeys to feel relatable and accessible in our own lives.
When I began my journey as a witch, I felt pretty uncomfortable with the idea of gods and goddesses. Coming from a Southern Baptist family, all of this goddess stuff seemed completely foreign to me. But the more I dive into myths and folklore, the more I understand the value of these stories.
I’m still not in a place where I work personally with deities; I have some solidly ingrained religious dogma to wade through before I can do that. But I do feel a real connection to Persephone. Her story, especially in more modern retellings, really resonates with me.
Though my transformation came much later in life than Persephone’s, my realization that I could create my own personal path toward spirituality, self-reliance, self-love, wisdom, and growth was life-changing for me. I spent almost 40 years trying to stuff myself into a little box—the box of what kind of woman I should be, what my dreams should be, what my career should be, and what my spirituality should be. All of this caused a lot of anxiety and depression, and blocked me from figuring out who I was. I felt lost and had no idea what I really wanted. As I learned more about witchcraft, I began to reclaim the power that I had allowed societal, religious, and family expectations to pretty much control. I was the spring maiden, finally realizing what a powerful queen I could be.
So, Persephone and her story are near and dear to my heart. The lessons her story teaches us have been so consequential to my witchy path that I created a whole collection of magickal tools and rituals (The Sovereign Queen Collection) to help me better understand her lessons. I’ll tell you more about this collection in the posts to come, but in the meantime, you can explore the lessons Persephone teaches us in this post:
The Author: Lisa Norris
Hi, I'm Lisa, the of The Carnelian Cauldron. My witchy practice is centered around intentionality, intuition, connection with the elements, and an appreciation of the beauty of nature and all of its inhabitants. I’m not an expert in all things witchy, but I am a life-long learner who can’t wait to share what I’ve learned so far with you.
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