Since today is the Spring Equinox, I thought I’d retell one of my favorite myths for this season: The story of Persephone and her mother Demeter (and Hades, but she’s more important!).
As the days grow longer and winter’s chill begins to thaw, my thoughts to renewal, rebirth, and the beauty of spring. Across cultures and time periods, stories of spring’s return are abundant, but few are as enduring as the Greek myth of Persephone, the goddess whose journey between worlds gives us the changing seasons.
In Greek mythology, Persephone’s story begins in the vibrant fields of Earth, where she roams freely as the beloved daughter of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. Their mother/daughter bond was close, and together they ensured the land flourished, bringing life to crops and flowers, allowing humankind to thrive. But one day while Persephone was walking in a field of jonquils alone, her beauty caught the eye of Hades, the god of the Underworld. Desperate to make her his queen, Hades abducts Persephone and carries her into his dark kingdom. When Demeter discovers her daughter is missing, her grief is so profound that she abandons her duties, causing the earth to wither. Without her, the land becomes barren—marking the arrival of the first winter.
For months, Demeter searched for Persephone, refusing to allow anything to grow. The suffering of humankind did not go unnoticed, and soon Zeus, king of the gods, got annoyed and intervened. He ordered Hades to return Persephone to the surface so that balance could be restored. But there was a catch—before Persephone left, Hades tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds, binding her to the Underworld for part of each year. Frustrated, Zeus came up with a compromise: for six months, Persephone would live on Earth with her mother, Demeter, bringing the spring and summer’s warmth, beauty, and life. For the other half of the year, she would return to the Underworld as Hades’ queen, and Demeter’s sorrow would once again cause the earth to plunge into winter’s cold embrace.
The myth of Persephone is more than just an explanation for the changing seasons. It’s a tale of growth, transformation, and the cycle of life. Like Persephone, we all experience periods of darkness, challenges, and loss. But the promise of spring—of renewal and new beginnings—reminds us that light and life will always return. And I’m feeling all these emotions right now as I work on multiple projects and abandoned others. In writing romance, I often think about Persephone’s journey, especially the balance between light and dark, love and loss. Her myth holds deep emotional resonance as it reflects the universal truth that life is not static. We are constantly shifting, evolving, and moving through our own seasons of joy and struggle. And just like the goddess of spring, we find strength in embracing these changes and trusting that love and light will return.
Since today is the Spring Equinox, Persephone’s story offers a reminder that after the cold and quiet of winter, we can emerge stronger and more resilient. It’s a chance to reflect on our own journeys, to honor the seasons of life we’ve passed through, and to look forward to the beauty that awaits us just around the corner.
