Image by Veronica Allison
Towards the end of summer, the heat is relentless, keeping its grip on the land. Crisp, brittle small Oak leaves scatter across the dry earth floor. Dry grass lays against the ground, too limp to stand tall under the prickly Juniper trees, Fallen branches find homes resting on each other as Oak branches twist and bend above, reaching out and up towards the light. White limestone boulders hunch below, leaning together as if sharing secrets. Just beneath the crumbling dirt, mycelial threads burrow, ever deeper, creating connection amongst the roots. A meadow of taller grasses wave in the breeze, heat long ago parched their greenness to light brown. At the edge of the forest of Oak and Juniper, the air is cooler, not much, but enough to create a sense of relief, a sanctuary of sorts between boulders and trunks, the ground, though still warm, was not burning….
Here is where Persephone walked as curiosity drew her to the coolness, she slid down between boulders and found herself in a cave, lit from above through tiny holes in the rocks. The further she walked, the cooler and damper it became; moss started showing herself, gradually at first, becoming more lush the deeper Persephone traveled. Water appeared from a rocky hole in the cave, cascading into a pool. Furry mycelial tendrils lined the earthen walls. Persephone marveled at the scene around her; feeling a bit afraid but unable to curb her curiosity she continued on, following the water which now flowed as a stream. Salamanders suddenly appeared, slipping in and out of the water. At some point, Persephone joined them, sliding in and out of the cool wetness as a way to travel ever deeper. A warm glow revealed itself just ahead, or so Persephone thought. She explored on and on, into the Underworld, for she now knew that’s where she was.
Around a sloping corner, Persephone came upon a fire next to the stream that had turned into a river the deeper it went. The fire cast an eerie light on the walls around her, showing just how porous the cave rocks were. This was a refuge and possibly, she realized a place of becoming. Out of the shadows of rocks and fire, her name was being called. She was mesmerized and knew she had work to do here. Who was calling her? She knew this cool and stark, beautiful and deep, unknown place was going to be home for a while before returning to the sprouts and flowers, the buds and blooms and her mother in the Skyworld.
Tired from her journey, Persephone dropped to her knees in front of the fire, surrendering to what came next, all the while knowing she carried within her the ability to stand in the discomfort needed to bring forth growth and change she was sure this experience was going to bring her.
Persephone’s time in the Underworld was filled with courage and love and despair and laughter. Hades became her lover with whom she shared such polarized passion, that the Underworld never knew if rage or desire would be flowing. The mycelium taught Persephone to always seek connection and the waters taught Persephone ease of movement. Baubo, whose earthy bawdiness, full of mirth and irreverence, taught Persephone not to abandon herself or be too serious as she navigated the dark watery crevasses of the Underworld. Persephone’s adventures led her to the depths of her own watery crevasses and tangled soul, to shadow and ancestral secrets that gifted her the sight to see clearly. When she discovered the pomegranate seeds that, by eating them, would open the door to the Skyworld again, she knew she was ready to walk in her power in both worlds.
Persephone walks out of the Underworld having negotiated her own future. With the help of the Ancestors and the Underworld beings, Persephone comes dressed in bluebonnets, she comes adorned with bright orange blanket flowers, traipses amongst plants and animals through the forest, out into the meadow, returning to central Texas, bringing the hummingbirds and bats and pollinators to greet her mother.