For nearly two thousand years, from around 1600 BCE to 392 CE, the Eleusinian Mysteries were held in honor of Demeter and Persephone. The initiation rituals symbolized Persephone’s abduction by Hades, King of the Underworld, and the threefold journey that followed. As I understand it, the initiation unfolded in three primary phases: The Descent, The Search, and The Ascent.

The Descent represents Persephone’s loss as she is taken from the world of the living and drawn into the dark realms of the Underworld. The Search reflects Demeter’s grief and desperate quest to find her daughter, a journey marked by profound sorrow, a devastating drought, and countless trials along the way. And then, finally, there is The Ascent, which symbolizes Persephone’s return from the Underworld and her reunion with Demeter. It is the return of life, the rejuvenation of the earth, and the restoration of balance. Through completing this ritual, initiates were believed to gain passage to a blessed place in the Afterlife.

Throughout my own life, I’ve experienced my own cycles of Descent, Search, and Ascent. I have descended into the darkest corners of my psyche, my heart, and my soul. I have searched relentlessly for a way to rise back into the light. And each time I’ve ascended, I’ve come back with a deeper understanding of who I am. Over time, I’ve learned that these Descent phases were not only inevitable—they were essential. They gave me an opportunity to confront my darkest aspects, to understand why they were there, and ultimately to heal them.

When I finally found the courage to dive into the deepest, darkest waters of my soul—sitting at the very bottom and listening to the stories those depths had to tell—I began to understand. I began to learn forgiveness in places where only resentment once dwelled. I heard the quiet cries that, on the surface, had taken form as vicious snarls. I allowed myself to teach myself how to release the old wounds, how to heal the fractured parts of me. I learned to seek out the lessons hidden within my shadows, the wisdom that resided in these forgotten corners of my being. This, for me, is The Search.

Through The Descent and The Search, a path is carved for Light to enter—light that illuminates, heals, and soothes the darkness within. In The Ascent, I emerge more whole. I return with greater understanding, more peace, and a clearer vision of the path ahead.

The final phase of the Eleusinian Mysteries—the part that may feel disheartening to some—is, in my view, one of profound beauty. It’s a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of our journey.

Just before Persephone ascended from the Underworld, Hades tricked her into eating a handful of pomegranate seeds, binding her to the Underworld for eternity. As a result, she would return there each year for one month per consumed pomegranate seed, corresponding with the changing seasons. I find this myth to be a brilliant illustration of the cyclical nature of life. We live in a world where traumas, challenges, and wounds are inevitable—where shadows accumulate and we “die” to one version of ourselves, only to later reflower and bloom in new forms.

And so, we too must return to our own Underworlds. We must revisit those shadowy places within ourselves, to listen, to clear, and to learn. We must Search and, through this journey, rise again. Life, with all its heartbreak and beauty, is a never-ending cycle of descent, learning, and ascent.