Persephone Deity - Tumblr Posts

I plan on filling out the form tomorrow! I hope I can be of much help for your Bachelor's Thesis! <3

CALLING ALL DEVOTEES OF HADES AND/OR PERSEPHONE

Hello!

I am a student at Stockholm University conducting a small study to gather information for my bachelor thesis. The form is directed at worshpiiers of Persephone and Hades and mostly focuses on how you experience the deities and their relationship to one another. Concerning the study it mostly focuses on how neo-pagans here on tumblr approach their deities and what sources they consider valueble for their spirituality/religion. Filling the form could take anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour depending on how many of the qustions choose to answer and how much you write in the free form questions, it can also be completed anonomously.

If you are interested, please take the form! I would also appreciate it if you could reblog this post and spread it. Also, if you think this subject sounds interesting feel free to shoot me an ask/dm as I’m always down to talk about it :)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaABS2H3RpxcljWovHBcFluxE9TJoMal0bHXb79djSrJrg8Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

Don't know what to give to your deities? Make them a zine!

Hi I’ve been practicing Paganism in some form since I was very young. I’m pretty eclectic [baring closed traditions] and I’m new to the Hellenic space. I worked with Hecate for a couple years, but very individually. Every tradition is different and we have to start from the beginning, or so for me. I’m looking for ways to start to build a relationship with Poseidon and Hades, probably Persephone. I don’t see much about them. I love research and reading EVERYthing but I don’t know where to start 😅 thank you for your time and if you can help me 😌

Hello, I apologize as I did not see this before.

A wonderful way to start with any deity is to read their myths, and find out more about them. Hesiod and Homer are both wonderful places to start. There are also the Orphic hymns. Researching epithets and reading others’ anecdotes can also really help in starting out! I’m unsure if this is the best resource to recommend but a lot of people recommended this to me starting out and it’s helped so far—there is also Theoi.com.

A good starting book I recommend is Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS. It only really covers household and household adjacent Gods/epithets, but it’s great building blocks for the act of worship itself, and it has baseline deity associations (though I do not remember Lady Persephone being in there).

A good baseline for starting a relationship with a deity is to just start it! Once you have some good foundation in information, just go ahead and start worshipping. Your relationship with Them will build up over time. Each little present you give Them and every word you say to Them will bring you closer.

For me personally, I always start off with candles in associated colors/scents. For Lord Poseidon, a blue candle or a candle that has an ocean-like or earth-y scent would be good. For Lady Persephone, a pink/red candle, or one scented like flowers or pomegranates. For Lord Hades, a black or green candle would be good too. If you live in the US, the dollar store and Walmart have pillar and taper candles for a good price! If you can’t use candles but would still like something like that, the fake/LED candles do just fine!

Other things you could do is give Them bits of food you make, write letters and burn them (be careful!), or offer flowers and plants. They also like acts done in Their name (singing, volunteering at places in Their domain, running around outside).

I really hope this was helpful and gives you what you were looking for, and it wasn’t too long-winded.

I got a lovely little pink flower candle that smells like lavender for Lady Persephone yesterday. I wish to welcome Her back with a few nice things for Her. I’ve never been an active worshipper of Her, but I really enjoy to honor Her this way!

I’m realizing that I want this blog to be a way for me to record my experiences and connections with the Gods (that aren’t too personal) and provide a space for those who are curious/just starting out/have questions be able to ask things. Of course, I am no expert on everything, and my opinions/answers are not law, but I’ve been around this block a few times and absolutely want to help where I can. I started with no one to ask questions to in my religious journey, and I want to give a place to ask what may be viewed as ‘stupid’ questions (when it comes to something like a religion, there are no stupid questions, unless you’re intentionally being disrespectful), or confused questions, or interested questions, or what have you.

Okay, okay. Rant over. But this blog is just a personal place to put things about my experiences and thoughts (to an extent), and I am happy to have it.

I’m trying to make a tag for all my stuff, and it should be under ‘corvid thoughts’. I’ve never really used Tumblr so I hope that’s a thing I can do.

About the Greek Gods doing shitty things in myths

First of all I have to say that I see the gods as representations of something bigger that we cannot comprehend otherwise. I believe they shape themselves in a way that we need.

Hera is the Goddess of marriage. Of course women who were cheated on would tell their stories through her. Ancient Greece was patriarchal. Of course the stories portrayed her as overly jealous, punishing other women instead of her husband. Zeus is a high male authority figure. Of course he is going to sleep with lots of women and boys in myths. Getting away with rape? Cheating on his wife? Doesn't sound that surprising to me.

The abduction of Persephone is about the changing of the seasons and how mothers feel when they are separated from their mothers through marriage. How common was it to get the girl's consent when she's getting married? Probably just an arrangement between fathers. Hell, how old were the girls?

The myths are reflections of the Greeks, not the gods. Gods are the characters of the stories. I do believe that the Greeks communicated with them through divination. I do believe that their religions were real. But we shouldn't forget that written texts can be messed with for political or social reasons. These are not holy books. We need to consider them carefully.

🌱 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

a tip for beginners since it worried me when i first started: its important to note that while there are deities that are heavily connected to each other, you’re not obligated to work with both of them.

many people speak on specifically married deities (ex: hades & persephone, zeus & hera, odin & frigg). a lot of people refer to them as a “package deal” since they are heavily entwined. but it’s important for those just starting out, this does not mean you have to work with both.

as someone who works with hades, some of my offerings to him are related to persephone but i don’t worship her. in fact, when i had the opportunity to meet her and ask, she smiled and said, “you’re not mine”. we both mutually understood that we didn’t have a connection to one another but we have mutual respect and kindness for one another.

the “package deal” part is where i offer my coffee that is too sweet for hades so he said he’ll hand it to persephone instead. which is the cutest fucking thing btw omg

this is all just in an effort to say, please do not worry about having to work with two deities rather than one. don’t get overwhelmed.

Hymns/prayers for the Dead

I’ve never really considered reading/ writing hymns for the dead because I guess I never “needed” them, but with the tragic events going on the world right now, multiple gen-c-des and atrocities, I’ve felt moved to write these. Like I said in my last prayer post, keep speaking up, b0yc0tting, and keep praying! You can technically apply these prayers with any dead, but I had the m@rtyrs of Su-dan, Con- go, Ethiopia, and Pale - stine (breaking them up on purpose) in mind, as well as anyone else who have lost their lives due to the terrible events going on in this world and from their oppression. Also, sorry for any spelling or grammar errors.

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We call to Hermes Kαταιβάτης (he who leads souls down to the underworld), guider of souls. Immortal guide, lover of humankind, you take special care of us when we leave this earth, and your involvement shows the Gods’ love of humankind, as there is a God with us every step of the way, even after our deaths. Gracious God, during these times we ask for your grace, and for you to take extra care of the souls that find their way past the river Styx. Everyday now, thousands of people die from acts of cruelty from oppressors emboldened by hubris. We ask you to treat these souls with added care, especially those of children, taken from life too early, while you escort them to the dread queen's home or wherever their final resting place may lie. Charm them with your wand and bless their heavy eyelids, bringing them a peaceful end for their final rest. Oh Lord, guider of mortals, grant a sacred end to those who lived the best they could.

(Greek pronunciation: Kah-teh-vah-tiis(ees))

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To the Savior of the dead and the noble queen herself, we call to you! Dread Persephone and shadowy Hades, though you may not take every soul into your wide walls, you watch over the dead nonetheless, those who wander your fields of flowers. We thank you for your mercy towards our souls, notably of the most restless ones. We ask that they can find joy in the afterlife, especially those who were robbed of it. Not only do you take in these souls, Lovely Persephone, you exact justice on their behalf, with your kindly attendants, or daughters in some ways, the Erinyes, especially during these harrowing times. All we ask is for justice and a peaceful afterlife for the many martyred people of all the atrocities going on. We thank you, Hades and fair-tressed Persephone!

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“Fear the prayers of the oppressed.” I heard that today and I thought it fit. The Gods are with us and the oppressed during these times 🤲 They hear every prayer and they are outraged as we are. Keep up every action and don’t forget about our fellow humans suffering and don’t stop fighting!! No act of oppression goes past them and they hear everything. It’s been almost a year for Su-Dan, almost 6 months, 160+ days for Pale - stine, and years for Con-go. The Gods count each day and count each person who say and do nothing. I just want add some of my favorite excerpts that get me through these hard times and reminds me that the Gods care (which we already knew, but yknow).

“The gods are not blind to men with blood upon their hands. In the end the black (kelainai) Erinyes bring to obscurity that one who has prospered in unrighteousness and wear down his fortunes by reverse.” - Aeschylus, “Agamemnon”

“Hear, Tisiphone, Allekte, noble Megaira, revered goddesses whose Bacchic cries resound. Nocturnal and clandestine, you live deep down in the dank cave by the sacred water of the Styx. Men's unholy designs do incur your anger; rabid and arrogant, you howl over Necessity's dictates, clothed in animal skins, you cause the deep pains of retribution.” - (First part of) Orphic hymn 69

“Hear me and be gracious, 0 renowned Eumenides, O pure daughters of the great Chthonic Zeus and of lovely Persephone, fair-tressed maiden. Over the lives of impious mortals you keep a careful eye, in charge of Necessity, you punish the unjust.”

(First part of) Orphic hymn 70

“For whoever knows the right and is ready to speak it, far-seeing Zeus gives him prosperity…” - Hesiod “Work and days”

“You princes, mark well this punishment you also; for the deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who oppress their fellows with crooked judgements, and reck not the anger of the gods. For upon the bounteous earth Zeus has thrice ten thousand spirits, watchers of mortal men, and these keep watch on judgements and deeds of wrong as they roam, clothed in mist, all over the earth. And there is virgin Justice, the daughter of Zeus, who is honoured and reverenced among the gods who dwell on Olympus, and whenever anyone hurts her with lying slander, she sits beside her father, Zeus the son of Cronos, and tells him of men's wicked heart, until the people pay for the mad folly of their princes who, evilly minded, pervert judgement and give sentence crookedly.” - Hesiod “Works and Days”