Inspired by the return of leaves, warm winds and the color of flowers, I turned to the Greek Gods for inspiration in a recent Spring card exchange.
I looked at the story of Demeter & Persephone and came up with this:
The story of Demeter and Persephone goes as follows:
Far from Demeter she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus, to be a trap for the bloom-like girl—a marvelous, radiant flower. The meadow was a thing of awe to see: from its root grew a hundred blooms and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands; but the wide-pathed earth yawned, and Hades sprang out upon her. He caught her up reluctant on his golden chariot and bore her away lamenting.
And so long as Persephone yet beheld earth and starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and the rays of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and the tribes of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great heart for all her trouble. . . . and the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.
Bitter pain seized Demeter's heart, and she rent the covering upon her divine hair with her dear hands: her dark cloak she cast down from both her shoulders and sped, like a wild-bird, over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no one would tell her the truth, neither god nor mortal man; and of the birds of omen none came with true news for her. Then for nine days queenly Demeter wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her the news.
... and all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to dark-cloaked Demeter, rich-haired Rhea, to bring her to join the families of the gods. Swiftly she rushed down from the peaks of Olympus and came to the plain of Rharus, rich, fertile corn-land once, but then in no way fruitful, for it lay idle and utterly leafless.
Then bright-coiffed Rhea said to Demeter, "Come, my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus calls you to join the families of the gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods. But come, my child, obey, and be not too angry with dark-clouded Zeus; but rather increase forthwith the fruit that gives men life."
Demeter did not refuse but straightaway made fruit to spring up from the rich lands, so that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers. Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries.
And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, lady, giver of gifts, bringer of seasons, Queen Demeter, be gracious, you and your daughter the beautiful Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering food and drink. For now we will always remember you.
For me, I think of my mother and family who are in California. I miss them and hope to spend time with them in the future. Happy Mother's day, Mom! And welcome to Spring, again.
I looked at the story of Demeter & Persephone and came up with this:
The story of Demeter and Persephone goes as follows:
Far from Demeter she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus, to be a trap for the bloom-like girl—a marvelous, radiant flower. The meadow was a thing of awe to see: from its root grew a hundred blooms and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands; but the wide-pathed earth yawned, and Hades sprang out upon her. He caught her up reluctant on his golden chariot and bore her away lamenting.
And so long as Persephone yet beheld earth and starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and the rays of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and the tribes of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great heart for all her trouble. . . . and the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.
Bitter pain seized Demeter's heart, and she rent the covering upon her divine hair with her dear hands: her dark cloak she cast down from both her shoulders and sped, like a wild-bird, over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no one would tell her the truth, neither god nor mortal man; and of the birds of omen none came with true news for her. Then for nine days queenly Demeter wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her the news.
... and all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to dark-cloaked Demeter, rich-haired Rhea, to bring her to join the families of the gods. Swiftly she rushed down from the peaks of Olympus and came to the plain of Rharus, rich, fertile corn-land once, but then in no way fruitful, for it lay idle and utterly leafless.
Then bright-coiffed Rhea said to Demeter, "Come, my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus calls you to join the families of the gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods. But come, my child, obey, and be not too angry with dark-clouded Zeus; but rather increase forthwith the fruit that gives men life."
Demeter did not refuse but straightaway made fruit to spring up from the rich lands, so that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers. Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries.
And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, lady, giver of gifts, bringer of seasons, Queen Demeter, be gracious, you and your daughter the beautiful Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering food and drink. For now we will always remember you.
For me, I think of my mother and family who are in California. I miss them and hope to spend time with them in the future. Happy Mother's day, Mom! And welcome to Spring, again.
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