"I've loved you from afar, and I need you."
She cries out, but thankfully no one hears. Once in your realm, you will have time to woo her, to capture her heart.
And so begins a journey to love with your one and only. Yes, you will have to convince her to stay, and sometimes that means being less than honest, for sometimes a little deception in the name of love is done with all good intentions.
Later, Hermes arrives. "Demeter is causing havoc. Please, Lord Hades, have pity on the earth. Allow Persephone to return to her mother. If she hasn't eaten of the food of the underworld, then she should be allowed to return."
"But I love her." It's your only defense. In the time she's been with you, she seems to share your feelings.
That night you go to her. "It's your choice, you can return to the world, to your mother."
The pain of decision brings tears to her eyes. Not for all the realms would you see her hurting.
She weeps. "What should I do? I love you, but my mother needs me."
With that you have your answer. Persephone must have a reason to stay with you, and you will do what must be done, with or without her consent.
You feed her the pomegranate, promising she can return to her mother. In fact, the way is paved so she can spend some time with you and some time with her mother. Not the best of worlds, but during the cold winter she can warm your bed, and in the spring she returns to the world to help her mother.
Persephone and Hades found enduring love through a compromise. In the myth, Hades often gets a bum rap. He's the conqueror and some call it rape. Yet afterward, when Persephone is queen of his realm, she is never portrayed as sad or upset. She glories in her role, and her feminine emotions soften the dark lord. In other myths she helps Hades to see the necessity of mercy at times.
In delving deeper, we can capture an essence of the myth which is not at first apparent. If he didn't love her, why would he have gone to such lengths to keep her? On one hand it is clear he took advantage of her, but on the other hand, she doesn't suffer in his realm, she's lifted to queen and reigns beside him.
The story becomes a metaphor for a person to accept both the light and dark of their personalities and by integrating the dualities, they can find a passionate, enduring love.
Have you made a compromise for love? If not, what compromise would you make for love? Share in the comments below.
Journey to the UnderWorld--
Unknown to Kory, she's the goddess Persephone. Seeking a singing career in Vegas, she meets mysterious nightclub owner Deven, who reveals to her the forbidden passions of The UnderWorld.