We are in a seasonal time of year: the days are shorter, the nights longer, and nature finds its way to slumber and rest. Living in a place where these changes are barely perceptible, I still crave the change.
Years ago, I was introduced to a new perspective on the story of Persephone, told to give meaning to this time of year. I learned it as a young woman through Maureen Murdock’s The Heroine’s Journey. This version disrupts the classic narrative in a refreshing way. Rather than being dragged into the underworld by Hades, Persephone chooses to descend into the darkness. She is coming of age, seeking autonomy, and yearning to see the world beyond her small paradise. Her descent is a story of courage and truth.
This empowered story inspires me, and it resonates across my client groups, whether educational leaders, individuals on a personal journey toward wellness, or groups with whom I sit in meditation. The leading benefit they find in our time together is intentional space to be present, reflect, discern, or be still. I consistently hear a yearning to slow down, to turn down the noise of external messages, to put down the phone and the endless streaming, and to feel more connected to self and others.
This time of year offers that opportunity, and yet we almost need to be countercultural to seize it. The end of the year brings deadlines, holiday to-do lists, travel plans and parties. Much of this, many of us won’t give up, and many of us would never want to. Still, we can find balance in the midst of it all. But like Persephone in this new story, we must choose, and choose decidedly.
The key is intention. Given the reality of our schedules, we may need to put this time on our calendars. It doesn’t need to be a huge overhaul: 10 minutes over morning coffee, or 15 minutes before bed listening quietly to your favorite music. Let the frequency match the reality of this season, too. You might commit to doing this once, or make it a weekly practice. Mark the time with something meaningful that highlights your intention: light a candle, put on music, find a special place to sit, or sip your favorite tea. Whatever you choose, make it your own.
“Move at the speed of trust.”
In her descent, Persephone learns to sit with the shadow world, to understand the complexities of suffering and grief, and the ways in which they are essential to our wholeness. It is so easy to turn away from our struggles, to fear our shadows. In a world that promises to fix everything, strives for perfection, and leaves little time for simply sitting with discomfort, it is easy not only to avoid darker times but to miss the profound growth and wisdom that come from slowing down, dropping in, and reflecting.
Stillness allows what is ready to be seen to emerge. This might be wonder and gratitude, or a shadow emotion or buried grief. It may also be a sense of mystery in the unknown. Notice patterns of thought rather than taking them as absolute truths. Let yourself sit with emotions, knowing they are a natural part of human experience; they need not consume or overwhelm you. Taking time to sit with both joy and discomfort strengthens resolve and resilience. Not knowing opens us to curiosity and deeper understanding. Be patient with the process, and make sure you have support if you need it. As Leslie Booker says, “Move at the speed of trust.”
Darkness is so often seen as the absence of light, something to be feared or overcome. This season, consider the quiet darkness an invitation into greater clarity. Despite the pull to do more, move faster and consume, look for ways to meet that invitation with intention. Seek moments of stillness that offer deeper insight. Below the noise, there is a place in each of us that holds wisdom and allows us to re-emerge into the world more whole.
In the myth, Persephone re-emerges in the spring with a deeper understanding of herself, able to reconnect with the world from a place of greater compassion and love. Recognizing the importance of her descent, she eats the pomegranate seeds in ceremony, committing to return to the underworld each year as a fundamental part of life’s cycle. So, too, this season reminds us that these pauses are essential, a part of our own growth and expansion.
For reflection:
Where and when can you find time to slow down, pause, connect or reflect?
What commitment can you make to yourself to honor this choice?
Link to Persephone’s Story Guided Meditation.
