Life's Daughter/Death's Bride

by Kathie Carlson

While picking flowers, a young woman is abducted away from the familiar world of her mother to the ghostly underworld of Hades. This splitting of Mother and Daughter is the crux of the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, a tale that holds as much meaning for us today as it did in ancient times. The story of how Demeter's daughter becomes Persephone, Queen of the Dead, and is ransomed back from death by her mother depicts profound psychological transformations. Writing from the perspectives of Jungian psychology and goddess spirituality, Kathie Carlson examines the deep reverberations of this myth in both ancient religion and the inner lives and relationships of contemporary men and women. Included in her discussion are: The Mother-Daughter archetype as feminine self Hades as shadow in men and animus in women The plight of women who "live the myth backwards" The Mystery path of Demeter Richly illustrated with dreams, insights, and relational dynamics drawn from psychotherapy clients, this book will appeal to both layperson and professional, and to anyone interested in myth, goddess-centered religion, or Jungian psychology.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Psychology

251 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 1997

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

She does a wonderful job explaining the origins of the demeter-persephone myth and setting up the historical backstory of agricultural societies but misses the early god/goddess conflict and resolution that leads to a pantheon with a diverse masculine-feminine spectrum.

[Dominique · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I thought this book was interesting, it was not as helpful as I hoped it would be. And Hades is a horny bastard just like his brothers; this book really liked to point that out.