©Selina Fenech
http://www.selinafenech.com
See also Persephone
Demeter / Ceres
Greek
/ Roman
Demeter is a Mother goddess, Goddess of the Biosphere. She is not the earth itself, but she does command its fertility as well as the weather, and she is the patroness of agriculture.
The yearly cycle of
seasons are taken so much for granted nowadays, but in ancient times it
became a matter of life and death - if the summer crops wasn't plentiful
enough winter promised to bring famine without recourse. Therefore, the
goddess responsible for this cycle would be important and, indeed, and
Demeter was.
Once upon a time,
the land was warm and fertile year-round. Then Hades, Lord of the Underworld,
kidnapped Demeter's daughter Persephone. In mourning, Demeter withdrew
her presence from the world, throwing it into eternal winter. The effect
was so catastrophic that Zeus himself negotiated for Persephone's freedom.
In the end, Persephone agreed to spend half the year with her mother and
half the year with Hades. She descends in autumn and returns in spring,
and the seasons are dictated by Demeter's alternating despair and joy.
Demeter can be appealed
to in regards to dealing with one's children, especially when their safety
is involved. She can also help you deal with grief, reminding you that
even the most painful moments will eventually be replaced by those of
happiness.
Goddess of Transformation
- The transformations of Demeter are less dramatic than those of other
deities such as Hecate. These are gradual yet enduring changes, brought
on by time and patience.
The Sabbat of Ostara, while not historically theirs, is frequently dedicated
to Demeter and Persephone as the latter emerges from the Underworld and
life returns again to the earth.
As Demeter is a goddess of the land, proper offerings to her are natural - raw wool, honeycombs, and fruits. Cakes and other prepared foods are not considered traditionally acceptable.
