Persephone Descent Into Underworld

[Ayleth]

Myths are not literal narratives of historical events but encode divine spiritual truths and essential teachings. Myths exist to illustrate ultimate realities and what the Initiate is supposed to do to enlighten themselves in the context of their spiritual processes. The myth of Persephone's descent into the underworld is sometimes known as the myth of the initiate in Eleusian Mysteries.

Any Greek myth can and must be understood by its different layers: we have the ‘direct’ meaning and symbolism of the myth, the psychological perspective (usually to deal with confrontation, then self-discovery of some kind) and occult view (the most mysterious and powerful perspective that the myth offers).

Persephone, daughter of Demeter was abducted by Hades, God of the underworld, to become his queen. Demeter's grief caused the earth's fertility to decline. Eventually, a deal was reached: Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades and part with Demeter, this is explaining of the seasons, her return heralding spring and her descent marking autumn and winter.

Symbolic meaning: Persephone, daughter of Demeter, embodies the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The literal interpretation is grounded in agricultural cycles: her abduction by Hades, ruler of the underworld, symbolizes the death of nature in autumn and winter, while her return to Demeter signifies nature's rebirth and renewal in spring. This cycle is vividly clear to civilizations, who are dependent on agricultural seasons for survival.

Psychological perspective: Psychologically, Persephone’s descent into the underworld symbolizes the human journey into the subconscious. Each individual must eventually confront their hidden fears, suppressed memories, and unexplored potentials, represented by Hades and the underworld. Persephone’s resistance and initial struggle represent the natural human tendency of resistance to the unknown. However, it is precisely this journey through discomfort and “darkness” that leads to personal growth and the realization of previously untapped powers. Her eventual return to the surface world signifies the emergence from the subconscious, equipped with deeper wisdom and newfound strength, transforming the individual into someone who now offers profound gifts (the arrival of spring) to the conscious world.

From an occult perspective, Persephone is the feminine enticing force symbolized by her title, "Kore, the Maiden." The magnetic quality here refers not simply to femininity or innocence but rather to the power of attraction, specifically related to psychic and spiritual energies. This “force” can be understood by the drive of magnetic qualities: to attract, to be united, you can think of the magnetic pull.

According to the teachings from Temple of Zeus, psychic energy enters through the higher chakras, descending through the crown chakra, where it enters the pineal gland in the brain. The magnetic qualities of the crown chakra, this is what attracts psychic energy so then it is put into function in our bodies. The qualities of magnetic force are needed in the underworld (base chakra) so that the initiate can understand how to attract and manifest the counterpart - the material world (the living, this is the arrival of spring).

The cyclical nature of her underworld presence illustrates the rhythm essential to effective spiritual practice. Disruptions or imbalances (Demeter’s grief) can pinpoint that vulnerability in spiritual practice result in weakened manifestation capabilities. The rhythmic descent and ascent symbolize the essential balance and cyclic nature of spiritual energy flow.

Demeter significance in the story is very very important as well, see High Priest words about our Goddess Inanna

The depth of her mysteries is extensive, and the importance of these mysteries was the “Descent into the Underworld”, which the Goddess Demeter’s most famous allegory is related to. The underworld, is symbolic of the astral plane and realms of the dead, but also of the re-connection of the soul with one’s spiritual powers.

In this myth, Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, descends into the underworld to finally get saved and brought to her mother again. The Myth of the “Descent”, also famous in Sumerian and Ugaritic history of Astarte. This story was called “Astarte’s Descent Into the Underworld”, and is the restoration of the Fallen Serpent Power [Fertility Power] and re-uniting this power with the Divine Mother or Demeter [the head of the spiritual practitioner].

When this spiritual process is completed, “Spring”, the Greek word of this being “Aneksis” which means “Opening” does occur, and the person finally opens up their spiritual faculties which allow the person to go back and forth into the “Realm of the Dead” or the Astral Plane and the physical world. The spring and blossoming of the soul happens, as the Chakras are also commonly in all Pagan Traditions depicted as flowers, and then one finally blossoms and returns to the “Divine Mother” or Demeter.

Persephone is required to revisit the underworld realm after eating the 6 seeds given by Hades. We know that number 6, as a symbol represents the material & spiritual, connection, karmic, marriage, macrocosmic/microcosmic, cleanliness, virginity. If you want a deeper understanding, see the significance of number 9 too: finish, the ultimate point, the image, perfection, "the end", coming to closure, the birth/death, power, capstone, peak, completion.

We know that a woman’s pregnancy lasts for nine months, after which the child is born. This seed-to-life journey is also mirrored in the pomegranate’s own three-phase cycle of flowering and fruiting. Pomegranates are a fruit filled with many seeds, deep red in color, and traditionally associated with fertility and renewal.

You can see how Persephone’s act of eating six pomegranate seeds marks the beginning of the cycle (descent, ascent, nurturing); consuming these seeds initiates a rhythmic descent into the underworld symbolizing a stage that links the spiritual and material planes through habitual spiritual practice and purification. This also mirrors the cyclical nature of the female body, the menstrual cycle, which itself reflects phases of death, rebirth, and transformation.

On a more spiritual level, the number 6 is two times three, and has to do with applied spirituality, and meditation. But applying it on a habitual way, such as daily. This, over time, generates the positive effects, starting from the negative cleansing of bad energies at first, but ending in the positive cleansed states. - High Priest Hooded Cobra

Re-read High Priestess Lydia Sermon about Menstruation and Spirituality.

There is more to menstruation that just the physical. There are certain spiritual practices to be done during ovulation and menstruation.

Integration with Hecate's Triple Aspect
Persephone's transformation aligns with the triple aspect of Hecate: Maiden, Mother, and Crone, each stage encoding a meaning:

• Maiden (Kore): Represents spiritual potential and purity.

• Mother (Queen Persephone): Denotes mature realization, active spiritual power, and effective manifestation, the realization of spiritual potential.

• Crone: Symbolizes wisdom, culmination, and integration of spiritual truths in personal and community life.

Persephone identity as the Maiden is strongly related to her mother, Demeter. Her life represented the untouched and vibrant potential of springtime. Note here for word potential: this means she is not manifested into her full power. Only after the "abduction", struggle with the self and image of world (seen in the ongoing sorrow and longing to go back) she becomes a queen in right.

Persephone's journey is not a “loss of innocence” like some false claims. This is an essential transformative growth from passive spiritual potential to mature, active spiritual authority. It represents the necessary balance of receptive and active energies crucial for spiritual maturity; after you are spiritually purified you then go into practice, maturity of your own being and what you want to manifest in the world. Persephone’s ascension to that of a Queen symbolizes mastery over both spiritual and earthly realms, emphasizing the essential rhythm and balance of material and spiritual life, required for true empowerment.

Bibliography:

The chakras - Temple of Zeus
The Myth Of Prometheus – Explained, High Priest Hooded Cobra - Temple of Zeus
Menstruation and Spirituality, High Priestess Lydia - Temple of Zeus
Numerology - "The Core Meanings Of Basic Numbers" 1-10, High Priest Hooded Cobra - Temple of Zeus

Made for Zevism Youtube Channel.

 

[Ayleth]

I forgot to add the artwork before submitting:

 

[Matt.TheEnvoyOfSol]

Beautiful post Ayleth.

I would also like to add. That the mythos of these stories are of divine nature reaching into the essence of all things, It is imperative to understand them in all levels.

Thank you for the added wisdom

 

[HPS Lydia]

Wonderful post, Ayleth!

However, it is precisely this journey through discomfort and “darkness” that leads to personal growth and the realization of previously untapped powers. Her eventual return to the surface world signifies the emergence from the subconscious, equipped with deeper wisdom and newfound strength, transforming the individual into someone who now offers profound gifts (the arrival of spring) to the conscious world.

This was especially insightful. One cannot offer gifts to others or to the world at large unless we have first discovered ourselves on a deep level and become capable of giving. Someone at odds with their own self is not able to truly give to the world.

Persephone's journey is not a “loss of innocence” like some false claims. This is an essential transformative growth from passive spiritual potential to mature, active spiritual authority. It represents the necessary balance of receptive and active energies crucial for spiritual maturity; after you are spiritually purified you then go into practice, maturity of your own being and what you want to manifest in the world. Persephone’s ascension to that of a Queen symbolizes mastery over both spiritual and earthly realms, emphasizing the essential rhythm and balance of material and spiritual life, required for true empowerment.

A lesson to all.

 

[Astrid]

Thank you dear Sister Ayleth, you have such talent! This post came at a very crucial time for me, I have read over it a few times and have much more studying to do! We are all Temple of Zeus Initiates on the transformative journey for spiritual maturity

 

[MWENE NYAGA]

Thank you, Ayleth, for this beautiful post and added wisdom.

 

[Persephone]

When I was a child, a friend told me: "you remind me of Persephone. From now on I will call you that, my Persephone" I didn't even know who she was.

I was too young but I started looking and I fell in love with her.

I have always used this nickname as if it were my name, my identity; now I understand why!

Thank you Ayleth for the wonderful work and to all those who participated. I was moved to see the video and read this explanation.

I believe that this name did not come to me by chance... and now I have confirmation!