The two stories of Haides I like most are the one of him abducting Persephone and the one where he and his wife are moved by the hero Orpheus.
The abduction I take to be consensual since when interpreting the story she seems happy to marry him and I have not read in any interpretating her struggling or trying to run away from him. When looking at all the men who tried to court Persephone, her mother Demeter turned them all away. Didn't matter if it were Chilvarous Ares or Jesterly Hermes. So if her mother were so dead set against her dating or getting married then what other choice was there to be had? I think Demeter was a good mother but over protective at the same time. She needed to be able to love and have a life of her own. Haides is said to be a kind ruler so I believe he genuinely loves her and makes her happy.
With the hero Orpheus, both Haides and Persephone are so very moved by his love for his wife. It is so easy to be moved by his love when you two are so very much in love yourselves right? The very fact that they felt compassion for these humans enough to give a test where he might be able to get his wife back in the first place was wonderful. Him failing and looking back is his fault, not theirs. Remembering they are not supposed to let the living come down or the dead leave in the first place. Cerberus guards the gates for this very reason. Both stories are so very sweet and showcase great compassion which are the sort of sappy stories I love to see!
I agree! With Haides and Persephone being in a consensual relationship, not only because of how I interpret writings, but because I always get a very good sense when I think of Haides and have always thought of him as very kind.
Thank you so much for sharing Syren, it's really nice to hear in other peoples words and makes me want to re-read a bit!
He's a sly one who will always get the upper hand no matter what you do, I'd suggest from personal experience that you don't try to make contact with him, it can get quite hairy if you do.
That is your UPG. Many of us think he is a good guy whom is a fair ruler and gone out of his way to save his wife. Both of what I have said is supported by the Hellenic text and not simply my own opinions though I do very much agree with them. It would seem that you are confusing Haides with the Christian concept of the devil, which he is not.
That is still your unverified personal gnosis. Many have shared their own dogma/gnosis and it is quite collective that Haides is not how you are describing. As Yomi mentioned, there are even Hellenic texts that suggest otherwise against your statements. All which really seems like a gross insinuation of a dark, khthonic "underground" deity. The way you project your experiences or opinions matters, especially since many here work with a variety of deities and ther experiences and collaborative sharing of them is to aid others in their own deity work and overall spiritual endeavours.
