WELCOME TO OUR NEW IDEA

We thought this was an idea whose time had come. Our aim is to present spiritual ideas that lift us all up toward peace, love, hope, joy, abundance and enlightenment.

We are looking for articles so if you would like to contribute, please send your articles to  goddessandmoon@bellsouth.net. They need to  be less than 1000 words. Pictures are welcome.
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We welcome fall and the day of perfect balance between light and dark and the bountiful harvest that is yet to come. Blessings on you all!
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Fall Equinox September 22nd

We stand now in the moment where winter begins. The days grow shorter; the nights grow longer and there is a certain chill in the air. In ancient times food would be gathered and stored against the deprivations of the cold months. In many cultures there were stories that explained why there is winter. It seems approximate to tell the story of  Demeter, Persephone and Hades.

Once when the world was new; the gods lived on Mt. Olympus and watched over humankind.  The earth was beautiful like a garden. Trees and vines bore luscious fruit, the rivers were sweet, pure water. No one knew deprivation. Humans worshipped us and we provided for them. All was well.

Demeter had the most beautiful daughter that was ever born to god or man, her name was Persephone. Every day Demeter and Persephone would break fast together and then Persepohne would wander the earth.  Everywhere she placed her feet, flowers would spring from the ground. She was good and kind and sweet and so lovely. She was safe in her wanderings for who would wish to harm such a perfect creature. So, her mother never worried about her.  Persephone was always home on Mt. Olympus before bright Helios left the sky and Selene took up her nightly duties.

But one night she did not come home. Helios disappeared and Selene appeared in the night sky and she had not returned. Still Demeter did not worry; Persephone was after all a goddess grown and could well take care of herself. But, a mother's heart always knows worry. Demeter waited and waited and still there was no sign of her. Finally she threw on a cloak and went in search of her daughter. Demeter called and searched, 'Persephone, Persephone! Child where are you!"  No answering call came to her ears and truly her heart began to beat faster with worry. She tried to calm herself but as she went farther and farther and still had no sign of her daughter, she began to fear that some harm had befallen her precious child.

As she searched in vain, she did not tend to my duties as Goddess of earth and protector of all things that bloomed and grew. She hardly noticed where green things began to wither, the rains ceased to fall, the winds grew cold, white flakes of snow fell and humans and animals grew weak and finally barren and many died. So consumed with fear and terror was Demeter that she did not see. She wrapped my cloak tighter around herself and searched on. Nor did she hear the pleas of the suffering humans as they cried out in despair to the gods of Mt. Olympus. She was deaf to them. Her ears could only hear the voice of her lost child, and that she did not hear.

But their pleas did not fall on totally deaf ears, Zeus heard. Finally when he could stand the cries no longer he sought Demeter out and demanded to know what the problem was. He informed her that humans and animals and the very earth itself was dying. Was she deaf that she did not hear the cries of the humans and the animals that were suffering? But Demeter told him that she did not care for the lives of humans or animals or even the earth. She only cared for the life of her child. Zeus demanded that Demeter stop the madness and get her reason back. He told her that she could not let all things die because her heart was heavy. Demeter informed her that until her child was found and was safe at home again, all green things would die. Humans and animal would become barren and finally die as well. The earth itself would grow colder and colder until it too died under a blanket of ice and snow. Zeus pleaded with her not to do this terrible thing! But it was done.

Finally in her wanderings Demeter came upon a shepherd who was shivering in the cold night tending a few sheep on a hill. She asked him if he had seen Persephone who was lost to me. The man told that his brother, the swineherd, came home with a strange tale, so strange in fact that almost no one believed him. He claimed that he was tending his pigs on a warm afternoon. Across the meadow he saw a beautiful woman, so beautiful in fact that he knew at once that it was Persephone. Suddenly there came a rumbling from the earth that threw the man from his feet. The earth opened up and a black chariot pulled by six huge black horses came out of the hole. The man who drove the chariot was dressed all in black and he drove across the field toward the maiden. At first the swineherd thought the man would run the girl down, as he never slowed his pace. But as he came along side of her, the driver reached out one arm and scoped her into the chariot. The maiden screamed, but the driver paid that no mind. He simply turned the team and drove back into the hold from whence he came. The hole closed behind him and all was quite again.

Demeter knew at once that Hades the Lord of the Underworld had stolen her daughter and she had a fit as only a goddess could have! Even Zeus heard her screaming for Hades. So he sent to Hermes, the messenger of the gods to deliver a message to Hades; Hades must return Persephone to her mother before worse befell the earth then had already happened.

Off Hermes went and delivered the message to Hades telling him that Hades needed to return Persephone to Mt.Olympus because Demeter was making too much trouble. Hades only laughed and refused to return Persephone, he did say that he was willing to speak to Demeter and would try and make her see reason. So off he went to the meeting and took Persephone with him. the meeting did not go well, Persephone was horrified that the earth was covered in ice and snow because her mother had neglected her duties. Persephone claimed that she had been quite well in the realm of Hades and it was a very beautiful land and worse yet she claimed that she loved Hades. Demeter had a fit and accused Hades of being many despicable things. Hades claimed that he loved the beautiful Persephone as well and wished for her to rule his kingdom with him.

When Demeter tried to take Persephone Hades informed the Mother that Persephone could not come because while she was in his realm, she had eaten six pomegranate seeds, willing and so she was bound to the Underworld. Demeter made threats but finally and agreement was reached when Zeus intervened and declared that since   Persephone had eaten of the pomegranate she was tied to the Underworld. But he also realized that if she remained with Hades year round that the earth would suffer. Since she had eaten only six seeds Zeus decided that Persephone would return to Mt. Olympus with Demeter, but only for six months. In that time the earth would put forth flower and fruit, humans and animals would multiply and all would be well. But at the end of that time, he declared that she would go to the Underworld and rule with Hades. In that season, the earth would grow cold, and be covered in white. Humans and animals would suffer, but they would learn that in the goods months they must work hard and collect food so that they might survive the coming cold time. And so it was, a compromise, not something that the gods are every good at, but they knew better than to argue with Zeus. He always gets his way, well almost always. 

So now we stand at the sad time when Persephone must leave us and the earth goes into mourning. Before she goes it is time to harvest the bounty of the earth and feast and commune with each other. Have heart, in a very short time she will return and the earth will again become green and fertile. Remember that she is never far away from you.

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