Hades and Persephone Renew their Wedding Vows

Artwork provided by Sandara in  devianart;  http://sandara.deviantart.com/art/hades-and-persephone-1-91425066

That's right folks!  Hades and Persephone, the Nether Realm's hottest couple have just announced that they are renewing their wedding vows on Halloween.  Can you imagine a better time for these crazy love birds to do that?  This is the biggest news from the Greek gods since Zeus and Hera's divorce.  Some of us saw their divorce coming while others (not me) were very surprised.  No one was surprised by the confirmation of Persephone and Hades continuing love. 

The story of how Hades met Persephone is well known to all.  Hades saw Persephone wading in a fresh spring and immediately fell in love.  He quickly kidnapped her and she became a bride by abduction which was legal back in those days.  Hades also had Zeus' (Persephone's dad) permission to marry her.  Demeter was very angry when she found out Hades had taken her daughter and made her his queen.  But there is a part of the story that she didn't know.

Persephone was falling in love too.  At first, she didn't know what to make of Hades, then she saw that he was a sad, broken and lonely man who needed some feminine light in his life.  He was also very kind to her.  He never pushed her to sleep with him, he tried to do little things to make her feel at home and he gave her space when she needed it.  She noticed all of this and it touched her heart.  One day she told him that she loved him and wanted to stay with him forever.  According to legend, if you eat anything in the underworld you do stay there forever.  Hades offered her a pomegranate and Persephone willingly ate it. 

Upon hearing the news that her daughter had eaten there, Demeter demanded that Zeus return her daughter to her or else she would destroy all crops and the world would be nothing but a wasteland.  She wasn't kidding and when Zeus did not go back on his promise to Hades, the world became more and more barren.  Times were very hard for humans and mystics alike.  Zeus relented and ordered Hermes to go to the Underworld and retrieve Persephone.  However, Hermes was caught and brought before Hades to explain himself. 

Hermes told both Persephone and Hades everything that was happening because of Demeter's anger.   They all agreed that the best thing for everyone was that Persephone stay above ground for six months but the remaining six months she stay with Hades.  Demeter and Zeus agreed to this and the arrangement has continued since then.

Back to the present, Hades and Persephone are going to have an actual ceremony to celebrate their love. 

"The thing is, I always felt bad that Persephone and I never really had a wedding ceremony."  Hades explains, "She has brought so much beauty, kindness and vitality into the Underworld and to me that I want to do this for her. "

Persephone's work to make the Underworld a beautiful place makes a big difference to those who have passed on.  Not to mention the beauty she brings when she comes back to the surface.  What she does makes a difference to everyone in the world.  She is the epitome of charity, congeniality and lightness.

"It's been a long time and finally getting both of my parents' blessings, Hades and I decided that it was time to celebrate the thousands of beautiful years we've had together."  Persephone states, "It will be a wonderous night."

It is romantic isn't it?  After all these years, these two immortals are still holding strong and holding hands.  It's their story that is my favorite of all the Greek Myths.   To have an actual ceremony for their union is something special.  The celebration is for the Greek Gods and Goddesses only.  It was important to the couple that they keep the party private.  Fortunately, there is a way to celebrate it with them.  If you do this correctly, the Greek Gods and Goddesses will bless you with good luck.

You must wear a white flower wreath in your hair (look for things like narcissus, lilies and daisies because they are Persephone's favorite flowers).  Make a mixture of pomegranate juice, nectarine juice and champagne in equal parts.  At midnight on Halloween, hold your mixed drink up to the stars and give this toast;

"To true love that transcends the tests of time.  May all creatures, mortal and immortal, in the stars, on the ground and under the ground, find the light that only love can bring."

After you say your toast, you may notice some starlight appear before you.  Don't be afraid, it's just the immortals saying "Thank you" for your good wishes.  Drink the rest of your cocktail and feel free to have your favorite food with it.  Lets face it, you are blessed by the gods. 

The Mother of Dragons vs The Goddess of Dragons

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After watching the last episode of "Game of Thrones" for this season, I had an interesting idea.  What if our Goddess of Dragons and the "Game's" Mother of Dragons got into a battle?  That is a good question.  Lets take a look at the two of them starting with:



Longmu

Our Goddess of Dragons.  Her name is Longmu.  Her story starts off simple enough;  she was born in 290 BC and the second daughter of Wen Tianrui.  Her home is in the Teng County near the Xi River.  One day she came across a large smooth egg that she initially thought was a stone.  It hatches into five snake-like creatures.  She loves and cares for them until they grow into large dragons.  They turn out to be a luck changer for her since her family is quite a poor one.  These dragons are good swimmers and they help her hunt for fish that feed her family.  Soon, Longmu has her dragons create rain (because in China, they can do this) to end the long suffering drought that plagues her village.

Her fame goes far and wide until it reaches to the ears of the Emporer.  He needs her help and sends out his finest jades and gold to summon her to his palace.  Unfortuneatly, now she is old, frail and unable to travel.  Her dragons (knowing that she can't go) managed to keep her in her village and protect her until she passes away.  The dragons were greatly saddened by her death and in their grief turned into humans.  They became five great scholars until they too vanish.  Since then she has been known as the Goddess of Dragons and makes sure that all of China is well cared for.  She is in the Nether Realm now but that is a different story.

Now, let's look at the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.  Her story is not that simple so I'll try and keep it short.  She and her brother have lived in exile at the estate of Magister Illyrio Mopatis.  She forced to marry Khal Drogo but is given three dragon eggs as a wedding gift.  Luckily, she and her husband learn to love eachother and she becomes pregnant with his child.  This was a happy time cut short when she loses them both.  During her husband's cremation, she walks into the fire where she sets the dragon eggs.  They hatch and they are now her children/protectors.

This artwork belongs to POi!ZU: http://milkandmiso.co/

She loves and cares for her dragons just as any mother would.  As they grew in a few short years, so did her power.  Soon she became a great queen who ruled with compassion, justice and love.   She has big plans for the world, that unfortuneatly not everyone agrees with.  Many try to kill her just as many join forces with her.  Until one of her dragons come to save her and take her away from those who mean her harm.  Her story has yet to end (I'm not sure if it does) but we will know more in future episodes of "Game of Thrones". 

So there you have it.  Two very beautiful, strong and compassionate woman who rule over dragons and lands in their own special way.  Honestly, I don't think either of these woman would get into a battle.  If anything I think they would become allies.  There are too many similarities between the two.  I just named a couple of them.  What do you (the public) think?  Do you think they will be friends?  Do you see the similarities/differences between the two?  Please comment and tell me what you think.