This Summer in The Wild Creative we have leaned into Baubo – the belly goddess.
The story in a nutshell . . .
In the ancient story, the grieving goddess Demeter wanders the earth searching for her lost daughter Persephone who has been abducted. Consumed by sorrow, she withdraws from the world, and nothing anyone says or does can lift her despair.
Then she comes to Eleusis where Baubo and her husband Dysaules receive her as their guest.
Baubo is an earthy, wise woman whose gift is not solemn advice but irreverent, life-affirming humour. She offers Demeter a drink known as kykeon but she refuses it. She has no appetite and will not eat or drink.
Then through an unexpected act of bold playfulness, Baubo lifts her clothing and exposes her nakedness to Demeter. This startling act breaks the spell of grief just enough to make Demeter laugh. In that single moment, the frozen heart begins to thaw, reminding us that healing often starts with the smallest crack in sorrow. Demeter, renewed by laughter, accepts food and drink and is then able to continue her search to eventually be reunited with Persephone.
When I first read her story, something clicked
I felt a deep resonance with her plight. I think I often find the humour in life, I’ve often used joy as an anchor for trickier times and I also love a big belly laugh.
But then I felt something else.
I felt irked.
I had heard of Hades and Persepherone, I’d heard of Demeter (I live in a house with bookshelves of various renditions of Greek mythology, as well as Percy Jackson).
But something REALLY irked me, how had I lived 48 years and not learned of Baubo?
How had I met The Ugly Ducking, but never the Belly Goddess?
Demeter was able to navigate the most barren grief through female friendship – how had I been taught instead that women could bitch, be harmful and ultimately not to trust?
I would have traded the Ugly Duckling a million times for Baubo.
I feel like this story carries such important messages for us, important messages about grief and loss and despair, and powerful messages about female friendship. Of laughter, of our bodies and about how we find our way through the barren times.
And so, as part of our rhythm of winding our way through Women Who Run with the Wolves in The Wild Creative, there will be an opportunity to meet Baubo at regular junctures. Three months of stories – one month to integrate, or a Baubo month, you choose. There will also be an invitation to sculpture your own Baubo – and for those that live close, an invitation at Moon Room ❤️