On September 16, 2025, I’ve volunteered to perform a Fall Equinox ritual for Virtual Fire Proto-Grove, ADF. I’m going to do a ritual that I’ve been doing for several years called Persephone’s Descent—Her return to the Underworld, back to her Beloved Hades.
On this ritual, I go/take attendees into Gaia’s Womb—a cave system that leads down to the Underworld. Either we following a stream of blood down or we’re taken by Bee/Melissae into a hive built into the entrance of the cave. From the entrance, we’re guided by Bee to wherever the Withering Persephone is waiting for us. She’s usually sitting by a fire, although there are times when She’s standing and we slowly walk and talk with Her.
In the spring, Persephone Ascends to earth as Kore, with flowers and life in every step, usually taking the form of a fawn or a Doe. Sometimes as an anthropomorphic White-Tailed Doe.
In the Fall, Kore Descends to the Underworld as the Withering Persephone, with decay and death in every step. She takes the form as a Half Living Human Woman or Doe and a Half Dead Doe, sometimes anthropomorphized, sometimes not.
In times past, I’ve walked with Persephone all the way down to a door, where Hekate stands with a Torch and a Key in hand. On the other side of the door, waiting, is a magnificent and eerie Skeletal Stag—Hades.
But for this journey, when I guide others, we don’t usually go that far down. Most people generally aren’t ready to go that deep.
Wherever we do meet the Withering Doe, attendees spend some time with her for a message or just to experience the journey. Then we say our thanks and return to the surface.
The last ritual that I did with Virtual Fire on August 13 for Honeysweet, was supposed to focus on joy and gratitude, and yet the messages that Austeja delivered were the same that most of the Gods have been delivering to our grove, and not just through me: Doom and Hope, with an emphasis on community and working together through the darkness.
It’s hard to be joyful with messages of Doom, even with Hope at the end. For the Fall Equinox ritual, I’m hoping to focus more on joy than Doom’n’Hope. Although walking with the Withering Doe can be heavy. With death often comes grief. But the journey can also bring great healing and joy. From decay comes life as we see from the great Sacred Wheel of Life.
Of course, it all depends on what Persephone wants for the ritual.
So I asked and had a little vision. Half living human, Half rotting doe. In a cave with bright honey dripping down around us. She had bright pink and purple flowers in Her hair. This wasn’t a vision of Doom or Grief.
I started going through a couple of Molly Remer’s devotionals and another book called Queen of the Sacred Way: A Devotional Anthology in Honor of Persephone for inspiration and insight.
In Stephanie Sommers poem Maiden of Seasons (pg iii of Queen of the Sacred Way), the last line is, "A moment without sorrow." That's what I wanted for this next ritual. A moment without sorrow, without scolding attendees, and without giving the same warnings and messages that we’ve been hearing since the election. A break, a moment. Something bright and inspirational just for a moment.
Then in K.S. Roy’s Hymn to Persephone (pg 174 of Queen of the Sacred Way), in the third stanza:
“She leads us on our journey,
Along the road she knows so well,
Taking our souls with her
Into the light of rebirth,
And the hope of new beginnings,
Granting us our chance to strive,
To earn our place in the Blessed Isles.”
Descending into the Underworld in the Fall, into death, into rest. Reemerging in the Spring, renewed, recharged, and ready to get shit done. That cycle of death into life into death into life. The ritual writing wheels in my head started churning. I looked through Molly Remer’s Goddess Devotional and Walking with Persephone for more ideas, and wasn’t disappointed. I found some prayers that I may include in the next ritual.
Using the Biddy Tarot (a deck that Persephone has claimed in my spiritual practice), I asked Her what She’d like the focus of the Fall Equinox to be this year.
I heard Her answer:
“hope through darkness, light through the gloom
healing
self-care
lots of talk of community, but many of you are also alone or introverted. I don't expect those uncomfortable to suddenly change. You all need self care, too
good advice
come sit with me
cave of honey
gaia’s womb”
The cards that I pulled were:
King of Wands - Reversed - High Expectations “of your fellow man”.
The Tower - Upheaval and Awakening
6 of Swords - Reversed - Personal Transition.
America in a nutshell, right? (Well, not just America.)
She’s given me a guide to work with for The Working part. I’ll go on more trances with Persephone, as I tend to do when writing rituals for whatever entity I’m focusing on for it.
I’m not sure that a possession will happen, but Persephone will be giving the Omen regardless.
I’m feeling good about this one.
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Trust in Sunna. Trust in Joy. Follow the Bees…
~ Priestess Foxlyn
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