A Spring Invocation of Persephone

My own spiritual work is focused on the ways and lore of the Pagan Gaels - the Celtic peoples of Ireland and Scotland. However I have worked ritual in a number of formats over the years, in many cases writing eclectic and modern pieces that mix-and-match mythic elements. Most notable for that are rites I created for the Winterstar Symposiums. These were events promoted by A.C.E., the folks who do Starwood, and held in a resort setting with cabins and hotel meeting rooms. Every year the Saturday night "Multi-media ritual" transformed the hotel ballroom into a temple of light, color and sound. Rites done there included ecstatic wildness by Bate Cabal, Walk-through symbolic and interactive labyrinths, and, occasionally, actual circle-style ritual.

Usually scheduled in mid-February, one year the event was held later than usual, on Spring Equinox weekend. I wrote and directed the rite, and for that unusual crowd wrote an unusual rite. In the middle of it is this invocation to the Winter Queen (who transformed into the Spring Maiden in the rites climactic mystery). It is plainly a call to Persephone, though the name is unmentioned. 

The Equinoxes have no particular Celtic context - there is blessed little lore or mythic content available to fit them into a Gaelic calendar. Our own local Grove (which does a variety of ethnic Pagan rites in addition to our core Gaelic work) is celebrating Equinox in Hellenic fashion this weekend. Looking through old material I thought this invocation was fitting, and so I offer it here.

(I have an announcement coming about the fate of this blog, readers, so watch this space...)

An Invocation of Persephone

• The Green Earth is a Goddess, this we know

By ancient lore and by our own heart’s eye

In winter she abides beneath the land

The Underworld her home, and she its queen

• For in the Dawn-time she was wedded true

To that dark power of the Underworld

A maiden she, she went into the earth

There to be crowned, and reign among the dead

• The Gods of Earth were loathe that she should stay

Away from light and life, from warmth and weal

For with her gone, the land lay still and gray

Cold winter banning blossom, bud and fruit

• So by their wit they struck a bargain fair

Twixt life and death, between the dark and light

When sun and shadow are together joined

The Goddess goes from one world to the next.

• Now see her, seekers, in your vision eye

Upon her throne, deep in the wide world’s root

Her power keeps the Flame of Life alive

Preserved, like pomegranate seeds, for spring

• For there, in her deep realm, lie riches great

The force that makes seed spring lies in her hand

From last year’s death she makes the stuff of life

That new good may spring forth from old and gone

• We call you now, Great Goddess, we who seek,

We bring you gifts, hear us, we ask you now,

Flowers we bring, that you remember spring

And rise from your cold throne into the world.

• We stand with star and sun within our souls

And offer incense, that our prayers may rise

Unto your spirit, come to us, we cry

Garbed in your winter pallor though you be.

• For you are Death’s Queen still, who keeps the Dead

Rise now among us, Goddess, hear our call

In wonder, awe and wisdom, love and dread

We offer fire, now come into our hall!