Painting Persephone

Why Persephone? Why now?

47 years ago I was adopted. When I was 27 I finally met my birth mother who I am now very close to. In the past year she has been fighting pancreatic cancer and so I feel a deep desire to dive deeply into the well with her by exploring the longest running mother/daughter myth there is; the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone.

Sally, Me & Carol ~ Solstice Celebration

I'm interested in the pre-patriarchal version of the myth; the one where Persephone (the daughter) willingly ventures into the Underworld to help lost souls cross over to the Other Side. Her mother (Demeter) agrees to this, but in mourning Persephone, she turns summer into winter and the land becomes barren until Persephone returns in the Spring.

The myth re-enacts the cycle of birth/death/rebirth on a yearly basis; this is a natural part of life, but not one that our society accepts or understands in a conscious way. We are afraid of death and dying and what happens next. I do know that our souls do not die. Part of my work as a Creative Soul Guide is to venture into the Other World; the world below and to communicate with the Ancestors. To me, this is one of the most amazing and wondrous discoveries that I have every made.

I had taken a break from mediumship for a few years, but when my birth mom's battle heated up this past year I felt a strong pull to connect again with the departed; partly to reassure myself that yes, our souls do live on, and because I wanted to offer this service and this reassurance to others who are searching for contact from the beyond. I started re-connecting with my own ancestors each morning during meditation where they lovingly surround me. I have always known that we do not die; it's nothing provable or scientific, just a deep feeling of knowing-ness that is hard to explain.

So, when I ventured back into painting my large 4 x 4 foot acrylics on canvas, I knew things had to change, because I had changed. Persephone had entered my life and I was consciously channeling her every morning in conjunction with pulling a Rune. I started the painting in my usual abstract manner, but I had to stop; I was un-satisfied with the process and so I called upon Persephone for help.

It was time to paint in a way I'd never painted before...not from my own ego-self, but allowing Persephone to channel through me. At each step along the way I would stop, hold the Rune and consult with Her; not forcing things, but allowing Her guidance to come through and help me envision what I must do next.

Here are my notes from that session:

To begin I pulled a Rune and called upon Persephone for help. I was told to envision myself in a cave painting on the walls. What would I paint? I would paint, not to serve myself, but Her and so I listened.

Then I painted white gesso over top of what I'd painted earlier, so that only a faint outline remained of a face and two circles.

Then, while holding the Rune I was guided to draw on the canvas with a big, thick piece of lead pencil WITHOUT LOOKING. When I opened my eyes I felt like filling in this shape with light ultramarine blue, but I didn't have enough so I painted it turquoise pearl instead.

And then Her face appeared and She was blood-red.

Next came the black, jagged tears, like wisps of dark ghosts underground (or spears).

This painting is for all the girls and women who are victims of sexual assault, just as Persephone was in the patriarchal version of Her myth. Victims such as 17 year old Rehtaeh Parsons who recently killed herself after being raped and videotaped by 4 young men in Nova Scotia and the 70 victims of sexual assault stemming from a phone prankster who pretended to be a police officer as depicted in the dark and disturbing 2012 movie, Compliance.

And I ask myself, "What can I do? What can we do, as a culture"?

It's time to be truthful. It's time to face Hard Truths about how the denigration of women and the Goddess directly relates to the rape and destruction of this planet. We need to ask ourselves, "How do I contribute to this madness and how can We stop it and stand up for Our Truth as women and Goddess?"

If you are interested in purchasing a Persephone Reading or an Ancestor Reading please click here.

Channeling Persephone: Spring's Rebirth

Kathy Crabbe, Spring, 2002, acrylic on wood, 6 x 8".

It's the New Moon in Aries and it's a powerhouse Moon with six planets in Aries; firepower indeed to kick off the Spring Equinox; so, set your intentions, bless them, then let them go.

Lately, a good friend (an astrologer) and I have been working with the Persephone archetype in various ways, but it wasn't until the other day, after setting up my Persephone altar that I was able to connect with Persephone deeply through channeling. Just in time for the first New Moon of Spring, but first I'd like to share with you the Persephone Myth and NOT the well known patriarchal version which you probably already know.

I do not like or resonate with the standard version of the Persephone myth; it's complicated, negative and depressing. I do resonate with the pre-patriarchal version of Her myth and would like to share it with you. This version was written by ecofeminist philosopher Charlene Spretnak and is based upon the classical scholarship of Jane Ellen Harrison, Louis Farnell, Sir Arthur Evans, and others.

The Myth of Persephone

Demeter and Persephone share the bountiful fields, enjoying the beautiful earth, and watching over the crops together. One day, Persephone asks her mother about the restless spirits of the dead she has seen hovering about their earthly homes. "Is there no one in the underworld to receive the newly dead?" she asks. Demeter explains that she rules over the underworld as well as the upper world, but her more important work is above ground, feeding the living.

Reflecting on the bewilderment and pain she has seen in the ghostly spirits, Persephone replies, "The dead need us, Mother. I will go to them." After trying to persuade Persephone to stay with her, Demeter relents: "Very well...We cannot give only to ourselves. I understand why you must go. Still, you are my daughter, and for every day you remain in the underworld, I will mourn your absence."

Persephone gathers three sheaves of wheat and three poppies, favorite flowers of Demeter, takes the torch that Demeter has prepared for her, and begins her descent down into a deep chasm into the underworld. After a long journey, she comes to a place where many spirits are milling about, moaning. She moves among them, and after preparing an altar, she beckons them to her, saying, "If you come to me, I will initiate you into your new world. You have waxed into the fullness of life, and waned into darkness; may you be renewed in peace and wisdom."

Meanwhile, Demeter has grown sorrowful, her bountiful energies draining from the earth, leaving it barren, with no crops growing to feed the humans. After some months, Persephone decides she will return to the upper world. As she approaches her mother, the flowers of the earth rise up in joyful song, and as Demeter and Persephone run to embrace each other, the birds and animals begin to sing, "Persephone returns, Persephone returns." And as the mother and daughter dance and dance, new growth springs up in the fields, and the humans join in the rejoicing.

Each time Persephone goes back down into the underworld, the mortals share with Demeter the bleak season of her daughter's absence; and as she rejoins her mother in the spring, they are renewed by the signs of Persephone's return.

~ from Reweaving the World: The Emergence of Ecofeminism, edited and with essays by Irene Diamond and Gloria Feman Orenstein.

Channeling Persephone ~ Rebirth

Today, in honour of the New Moon in Aries I created my usual New Moon Circle, and was surprised to find myself a wee bit down (considering all that Aries Firepower in the air), so I called upon Persephone in conjunction with the pulling of a Rune and asked for her help.

Kathy Crabbe, Peace Within Peace Without, 2013, mixed media on paper, 5 x 7”. 

As Persephone and I fly above the earth, she says to me, "See, down there, there are scores of people  dying as they live, but we can't help them because  they are choosing life in death. And you, are you dying?"

Me: No, I'm not, I want to help!

Persephone: Then let's go on. "Print this, and you die," she says with a smile. "You see, dying isn't anything to fear; let it go...let it all go."

Me: But losing someone is.

Persephone: Come, let's continue. What do you see?

Me: I see people living, loving, planting, and dying, really dying.

Persephone: And yes, no cliches from me...I'll keep my mouth zipped. Let's fly on.

We stop and rest.

Persephone: What do you see when you see me?

Me: I see a woman, a goddess, of many-changing hues.

Persephone: Look again, what do you see?

Me: I see Me.

Then, all of a sudden I am She and so completely filled with bliss that my eyes fill up with tears.

Me: "How can I serve?" And I answer my own question: I can paint, with joy and abandon and love and passion and anger and rage and fury; the world. I can share my words and visions, and heal and commiserate and burn with Divine Bliss;

The fire, the water, the air, the earth,

And bless all (that is and is not) for I am reborn.

Blessed Be, and thank you, Per seph onee.

If you are interested in purchasing a Creative Soul Reading please click here.

beauty Queen ~ Fairy Petal's Tale

Kathy Crabbe, beauty Queen, 2013, mixed media on paper, 5 x 7”.

Fairy Petal's Tale

Fairy Petal longed to journey. She dreamt of far-away lands, fresh faces, landscapes and horizons different from her own, but dreaming was all she could do...for now.

Fairy Petal lived in a fairy-tale castle built by hand by her one true love, but even that was not enough to keep her from dreaming. And of course her father, the Faery King was wont to admonish her regularly with the words, "The grass is always greener on the other side, my dear".

And so she stayed and dreamed and pined and pulled Runes like the one for today: "Mannaz".

Mannaz ~ The Self

A correct relationship to yourself is necessary right now, for from it flows all possible correct relationships with others and with the Divine...This is not a time for seeking "credit" for your accomplishments, but rather a time to be content doing a task for the task's sake, which means Be Present and Know Thyself.

And so, resigned to being patient (a most difficult task indeed!) Fairy Petal stayed. Her garden was growing as Spring advanced; large edible greens, flowering hibiscus and yellow roses all a-flower. Her dear beloved, pet dog and handsome cat were by her side, tying her down yet giving her roots and stability too.

One day she would go, with her faery wings and sunflower headdress a-flapping and flying to the tune of Brother Wind. But for today she would care for her-self like the rune advised and be at one and at peace with her surroundings. How grateful and lucky she was, she realized to have this family and this magical place called home.

*** The End ***

From the Daily Magic Series: Words & Pictures to Wish Upon.    (The Rune info above is excerpted and paraphrased from The Book of Runes by Ralph Blum).