Dear Friends,
I’ve been working with Persephone through this transition to winter in New York. She arrived seemingly out of nowhere in November and has been with me steadily for over a month. I believe she’s arrived to help me understand the darkness of this time of year, but also to usher me through the challenging transition I’m experiencing in the menopause portal. I’ve clung to her hand, her gown, her feet at times. I’ve identified with her so fully I could speak for her. I’ve been the Queen of the Underworld, and I’ve been among the living dead. I’ve been in the descent and I’ve been in the ascent. Her wisdom, as it turns out (I’d wrongly typecast her as an abducted maiden, a victim) is experienced, wisened, wonderful. She is a rare shaman who can walk between worlds, the daughter of two gods of Olympus, ageless, timeless, as patient as the Earth herself. Her great gift to me in these times has been acceptance, letting go, and feeling steady—facile—in the darkness. Perhaps, she has different lessons to offer in the Springtime? We shall see.
She showed up in my Coming Home meditation a week ago as we sat together and traveled to the Underworld to meet her. It was a healing and invigorating journey, but the highlight for me came as I started to draw the group together to leave. Persephone looked at me in that way that says, “Aren’t you forgetting something?” And suddenly I realized I’d forgotten to make an offering! We’d forgotten to honor her sacrifices, her wisdom, her guidance, her medicine! I was abashed, ashamed. And then I realized humanity has forgotten to honor her. We’re always forgetting to honor this particular archetypal energy. We made an offering then and I felt such LOVE. That was all she needed, for us to recognize her work on our behalf.
I knew that day that I needed to make an actual offering, too, and I realized I’d just bought a pomegranate the day before. I took the fruit to the creek by my house and released it along with prayers of gratitude and requests for mercy. I also began to compose a poem in my head/heart. When I sat down to write it, something interesting happened. It came out in rhymed couplets! The muse was insistent even though I tend to prefer free verse and feel constrained by rhyming. But, this time I could ONLY write in this rhythm. It felt like a song as it came through, or a temple hymn, and I realized that the earliest plays were written in rhymed couplets. I can’t help but wonder if this Greek goddess wanted her “hymn” in this particular form. Perhaps the Mysteries of Eleusis were composed in rhymed couplets? I do believe that’s the case and if so, I feel honored to offer this humble poem in a form that pleases the goddess. I hope your own journeys to the underworld this winter are restful, prosperous and fertile.
With love,
Schuyler
Persephone Descending (A Hymn in Rhymed Couplets) December 2023 Schuyler Brown Tonight the sun disappeared too soon It should have been late afternoon. My heart sank into a familiar depression Another night of this harsh lesson: All the light you know is ending… Persephone, are you still descending? My eyes were open, yet could not see The darkness, it enveloped me. The flatness of the earth, alarming Erased all that’s good and charming. Winter comes with icy fingers Grasping hold of whatever lingers. Quiet now, and fully sleeping Trees and creatures, for the season. My body like a microcosm Resting on the Mother’s bosom. The seasons change, the time has come Maiden, Mother, now the Crone. Bound hand and mouth by fate’s cruel string Familiar and yet, not comforting Where, I beg, is this going? When will I be in the knowing? “When you are seated on your throne Don’t you know that time moves on?” I hear a voice from beyond Queen of Underworld’s holy song! A special breath upon her lips Immortal presence, driest wit. “I’ve seen it all–above, below I know the way the seasons go… I know the fear of death you hold I know the way you hate the cold I know the way you think it’s sound To push the dead back underground Out of sight, out of mind Don’t you think you’re being unkind? Beneath the dirt, below your feet Do you think it has geography? The Underworld is not a space But, substrate of this time and place The dead they are in a sense alive Living right before your eyes. The dead are with us all the time They’re in my heart, they’re in my mind. They are my people half the year And you’re the others I hold dear. Between the both, I have the whole I would not change it for the world. My movement is an offering To bring you winter, summer, spring. To bring the harvest, to rest the plants To let the cycles do their dance. Words of wisdom I would impart, Acceptance of the way things are. I am the energy of cycles, completion, The ability to thrive in any season. Who else spans such emotional range From celebration to grief through change? Queen of incubation, of germination, Percolation, blossoming and decomposition. I am the energy of seeing through the dark Flitting through shadows, soaring like a hawk. Restorer of equilibrium and balance Destroyer of reticence and malice. Queen of rest and restoration, Silence, loss, emancipation. Limitations you choose not to see, I do not have that luxury. Desire for eternal youth Is the road to nowhere, I have proof! The earth is consistent, you have to say Matter will eventually decay. I leave you now with this wisdom: Do not resist the change of season. The farther down you’re willing to go The more your spirit can upwards grow. Do not be afraid of the dark, the crone You will never, could not be, alone.” Round and round, the myth it rings Stories told to comfort beings. Through this epic time of of loss Through this epoch of The Cross. Acceptance of the bitter ends, A way to finally make amends. Not eternal as we’ve been told, Not so ancient, not so old, Conditions set, must be obeyed Limitations are the only way Honor what we cannot change Duty-bound by karmic chains. I shudder to think how long its been That we humans have forgotten… What this time of year is for To say farewell, to rest, to mourn. The projects that still need completion The end of things for at least a season. From crown to roots and roots to crown What goes up must go down. For maidens they cannot be queen There is a time for everything Is this the way it will always be? Who will rescue Persephone? Hades doesn’t like to cross, Hades always counts his loss. Hades charmed by Orpheus’ lyre, Even Hades has desire. For spring, for birth, for life, for love For everything that thrives above! That’s why he stole a maiden fair And took the flowers from her hair. Replacing them with precious gems Adorning her with a diadem. Queen of all that is below Queen of ice and wind and snow... With heavy heart Hades knows the way Time will take all things away. His ultimate expression of grief the loss of his love is our relief. A sacrifice of such infinite worth Could shift the axis of the earth. Hades’ greatness is his vow to stay Allowing Persephone to get away. We need not rot beneath the earth When we come to know our true worth. Every beginning feels like an end, Persphone, will you ascend? Patience for a brighter day Kindle flames to light our way. The darkness never seems to end Until the spring when life begins. Through acceptance fate is sealed Can something new be revealed? Persephone may be the way We’ve marked conditions we have today. But, Earth we know her revolutions Moving through massive evolutions. As this era comes to a close We must honor all our heroes. We can’t forget what they have done The battles lost, the battles won. Dust off the altars, scrub the niche Make the offerings, fry the fish. Burn the incense, candles lit Bring back the singing, chanting bit. Remember now, before they’re gone The story of how we suffered long. For eating of the fruits of earth And forgetting the divinity of our birth. For stories that have sustained us so Are sometimes reluctant to go. And will look for reasons to persist Long after their usefulness. The only way to wipe the slate Is to commit ourselves to integrate. In my body, in my heart Persephone has played a part. Persephone I honor you tonight I see your darkness and your light. I see the way you sacrifice I see the way you paid a price. Gratitude is my main intent ‘Thank you’ hardly seems sufficient. A miracle, a shining star It feels as though it’s not so far. The sun and moon together cast A light so luminous, the past Cannot escape what’s now in view A portal of a golden hue. A new world waiting, a threshold gate Notice now before it’s too late! A tremor starts to shake the ground The Universe it makes a sound... Announcement from an angel’s lips The launching of a thousand ships. A tidal wave, a thunder clap Cerberus wakes in Hades’ lap. A song, the music of the spheres Breaks the silence, breaks through fears. Cosmic frequency, distant drum Evoking colors beyond our spectrum. Among the stars and constellations There’s no such thing as sovereign nations. If we could see beyond our shores We’d know the Universe is holding more. Intelligences we cannot fathom Are always making something happen. For millennia she performed her duty And now a light of staggering beauty. The timing’s tricky with anointment You might wait eons for that appointment. A wave that rocks the couple’s thrones Even archetypes want to go home. Patience learned from Earth herself Collecting dust upon the shelf. Evolution makes a stunning leap Persephone is finally free! Tearful goodbyes, this time for good This time she rejects the offer of food. Until that time has come to be, May we be guided by Persephone. Immortal Daughter of Divinity! Earth and Sky, harvest and lightning. Receive this offering, may you be free Some things can only be said with poetry. ~ * ~
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