Deity of the Day: Mami Wata

I haven’t done a deity of the day post in a while mostly due to how busy I’ve been lately and just haven’t had a deity catch or call my attention lately. Lately however, Mami Wata has been in heavy rotation in terms of me coming across her image every now and then. So I decided to feature her today…..

Mami Wata is one of many African water deities linked with the deep and mysterious depths of the rivers and sea. Spreading throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the world, Mami Wata embodies mermaids, water, snakes and all things beautiful and abundant. Known by many names and characteristics such as Santa Marta la dominadora in the Dominican Republic, La Siren in Haiti, Yemonya in Brazil and many other names and associations throughout the world, she is simply a fierce feminine energy exuding her duality of both seductive beauty and power no matter where or how you may encounter her.

Image Source

Mami Wata represents many things depending on which part of the world and culture is describing her. Like the sea, she is amazingly vast and mysterious and this is what basically sums up Mami Wata. She is often known for representing sexuality, commerce, prosperity, travels, fertility, domination, protection, health and many other manifestations known to emanate from her energy. Despite her associations with a little bit of every other known water goddess, there still seems to be a unique distinction that represents and sets Mami Wata apart from the rest.

She is typically depicted as a mermaid, half human half fish, which represents her knowledge of the known and unknown worlds.

Beauty In Everything

An enticing seductress and snake charmer, she is often seen as a very powerful woman able to take command and mastery over all situations. Her snakes, usually wrapped around her body held up high over her head, are other attributes Mami Wata possesses. Her domination over snakes represents her ability to dominate and master any obstacle. This is one of the most familiar traits for Mami Wata, being able to dominate.

 This domination however does not come from her desire to “tie down” or dominate a person into a capricious relationship or situation as she can be known for throughout parts of the Caribbean. This domineering persona she is often associated with truly comes from her desire to teach self mastery and domination over one self. Having that true knowledge of self and manifesting that self love and assurance are the real mysteries tied to life and this fabulous Deity.

Image Source

Her colors are red and white signifying passion and purity. She is a lover of all things shiny, glittery and regal. Mirrors and combs are her favorite as she loves to admire her image and hair.

She is a wise woman, queen of the oceans, healer and fierce protector. She guards over the secrets of divination and spiritual elevation helping those who put their faith in her overcome fears and take dominion over one self for once.

Sources:

New York Times

Wikipedia

Sacred Waters

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Deity of the Day: Nyx…..Plus My Mini Nyx Haul

Many are familiar with Nyx, the cosmetics line named Nyx that is. However, not many are familiar with Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night. In actuality she is not the goddess of night, but rather she is the night, the mother of darkness itself. It is said that Nyx was born out of chaos and through her we experience grief, deceit, pain, sleep, death, misery, dreams and retribution among other things.

Emilia Paw

“NYX (Nux), Nox or Night personified. Homer (Il. xiv. 259, &c.) calls her the subduer of gods and men, and relates that Zeus himself stood in awe of her. In the ancient cosmogonies Night is one of the very first created beings, for she is described as the daughter of Chaos, and the sister of Erebus, by whom she became the mother of Aether and Hemera. (Hes. Theog. 123, &c.) According to the Orphics (Argon. 14) she was the daughter of Eros. She is further said, without any husband, to have given birth to Moros, the Keres, Thanatos, Hypnos, Dreams, Momus, Oizys, the Hesperides, Moerae, Nemesis, and similar beings. (Hes. Theog. 211, &c.; Cic. de Nat. Deor. iii. 17.) In later poets, with whom she is merely the personification of the darkness of night, she is sometimes described as a winged goddess (Eurip. Orest. 176), and sometimes as riding in a chariot, covered with a dark garment and accompanied by the stars in her course. (Eurip. Ion, 1150; Theocrit. ii. in fin.; Orph. Hymn. 2. 7; Virg. Aen. v. 721; Tibull. ii. 1. 87; Val. Flacc. iii. 211.) Her residence was in the darkness of Hades. (Hes. Theog. 748; Eurip. Orest. 175; Virg. Aen. vi. 390.) A statue of Night, the work of Rhoecus, existed at Ephesus (Paus. x. 38. § 3). On the chest of Cypselus she was represented carrying in her arms the gods of Sleep and Death, as two boys (v. 18. § 1).”

Grant Kinney

Many fear darkness and without wonder, since in the darkness lies the unknown, the uncertain. However, if you take a moment to notice, our entire planet and solar system is surrounded by darkness. When we close our eyes to dream and think we are left with a vast darkness, a magnificent backdrop for our dreams, fantasies and desires.

Chaos is known as the state before creation. For me as a creature of habit and routines I try to avoid disorder at all cost. But at times I have to let chaos reign in my life because when you have everything figured out nothing can be born out of routines. It’s simply done, figured out, created, already formed.  Out of chaos is where new ideas, perceptions and new ways of thinking are born. If we are in constant routine and stagnant energy, there tends to be no room for innovation, creativity and new beginnings in which chaos always tends to force us into.

Nyx is also associated with Nixies, water spirits who with their profound beauty seduce men into their waters. Nixies are also guardians of the night and soul.

drkathytei.com

“Her Nixies were abyssal angels who kept the souls of the dead in an underwater fairyland….” -The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets

As the mother of darkness, Nyx can teach you many things. Her children such as deceit, strife, pain and the many things humans fear and experience, in essence makes you wiser and more attune to your perceived darkness. Experiencing hardships is what helps bring your deepest darkest fear to light by way of confronting and resolving them.

In honor of Nyx I decided to feature my first Nyx Haul I got this summer. Just because night time can be serious doesn’t mean it’s not the time I like to glam up and have the most fun.

These are very good for the price, I have no complaints very pigmented and worth the few bucks.
From left to right: Nyx Round Lipstick in Thalia
3 lip glosses Beige, Tanned, Natural
and
A jumbo eyeshadow pencil in Rust

This gloss is called Beige, a very pretty pink, goes beautifully with Thalia. I like wearing this with a light smokey eye and with my Avon After Glo Blush.

This is the jumbo eyeshadow pencil. I really like this pencil and regret not picking up a few more since they seem so useful and versatile. This color Rust is the same exact color as MAC’s Cranberry shadow I bought earlier this summer. Truly the same exact color, the perfect dupe for cranberry. Again I could have saved a couple of bucks since the consistency and color of the pencil and MAC’S shadow is nearly unnoticeable to me. (looking for that dupe list!)

So what better way to honor Nyx and the night, than to do your makeup for a relaxing night out, makeup in full force…..

More on Nyx

Nyx Sources

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Deity of the day: Sheila Na Gig

Link 

From the looks of it Sheila Na Gig’s pose would seem to be something straight out of a men’s magazine baffling and intriguing many with her extravagant way of display. Sheila Na Gigs are stone carvings of women, with their legs wide open, exhibiting their vaginas. Sheila Na Gig to this day, can still be found in many conservative churches and even castles throughout Ireland and England having a variety of theories as to what was her ultimate meaning and use.

Link

You just can’t simply dismiss her as having her legs open, they are open for a reason which has many scholars and anthropologist alike trying to figure out the ultimate meaning to her poses. This is truly an amazing sight considering most of these stone carvings have been found in churches. Although most have been defaced, all throughout the British Isles, there are many Sheela Na Gigs and opinions as to her origins and uses still around. One of the theories as to why Sheela Na Gigs have been in churches is that they were perhaps a symbol and reminder to followers as to the dangers and sins associated with lust. However many associated the female form as an amulet for protection from evil forces as well as luck charms. Throughout many cultures the images of vaginas were used mostly to represent life, death and regeneration.

From The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, by Barbara G. Walker

“Sheila-Na-Gig figures appeared all over old Irish churches before the 16th century. Many were still in place during the 19th century, but Victorian prudery defaced or destroyed large numbers of them. Some have been found buried near the churches they once embellished.”

“Sheila-Na-gig figures closely resembled the yonic statues of Kali which still appear at the doorways of Hindu temples, where visitors lick a finger and touch the yoni “for luck.” Some of the older figures have deep holes worn in their yonis from much touching.”

 “Celts generally protected doorways with some female-genital fetish, which is why they settled on the horseshoe, classic Omega-sign of the Kalika. In India it stood for the feminine cosmos within which Shiva ever performed his creative sexual dance, although he was assimilated to the Kalika and given her title of Destroyer.”

“Derivation of the term sheila-na-gig is obscure. It meant something like “vulva-woman.” Gig or giggie meant female genitals and may have been related to the Irish “jig,” from French gigue, in pre-Christian times an orgiastic dance. In ancient Erech a gig seems to have been a holy yoni; the sacred harlots of the temple were known as nu-gig.”

This last quote on the origins of the word Gig is very interesting to me because on the show Family Guy Quagmire loves to say “giggidy” especially when he is is some sexual pursuit.

I’m sure it would be hard for many to believe that women are sacred and not just sexual objects. I believe that Sheila Na Gigs represents the fact that being a woman is part of truly knowing yourself. Not just the physical aspect of you, but rather the whole, which ultimately manifests itself on to the physical. Many neglect their sacred selves and lose themselves in the world of criticisms and so called established rules. Sheila Na Gig shows that a woman is not just a hole, but perhaps she is the embodiment of the planet, cosmos and reality we call life. Reminding her believers where they came from, where they can discover true divinity of one self and the world .

Kilpeck sheila

For more images and history concerning Sheila Na Gig check these links out:

Sheela Na Gig Project

Sheela Etton

Fethard

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Deity of the Day: Earth Goddess

Pachamama

Since last month most celebrated, acknowledged or heard about mother earth on “earth day” and this month most celebrate mother’s day, I found it appropriate to feature mother earth, mothers and all the other beautiful things that can come from them.

She is the night sky, the stars, the sunset, the flowing rivers and ravaging sea, the waterfalls, the molten lava to expand her land, and she is  in each and every man, woman, and child existing throughout the beautiful dawn of each day. She nurtures and imbues us with her beauty, her grains, her animals, her air, her fire, as well as teaches and speaks to us anytime and anywhere through her eruptions, her shakings, her floodings, her rain, her shine, all throughout the earth, no questions asked.

In every form of mythology, culture, or religion across the entire planet you will find an earth goddess being represented in one form or the other. In Greek mythology she is known as Gaia, Hinduism it’s Diti, in Roman mythology she is known as Terra, The Ashanti people of Ghana, call her “Asase ya” as well as “Ki” in Sumerian mythology. All in all, there is an earth mother that many revere and at times through her crone like ways fear.

Gaia

Before Christianity, Islam and many more current religions, many ancient cultures throughout the entire planet revered and worshiped the earth, woman. Matrilineal societies were not uncommon throughout many cultures. It was truly  a way of life especially throughout ancient Africa and the Americas. In mostly all ancient and prehistoric cultures god was worshipped and known to be a woman, the one who sustains creation, mother earth.

“It has been affirmed that in all countries from the Euphrates to the Adriatic, the chief divinity was at first in woman form.” -The Woman’s Dictionary of Sacred Symbols and Objects by Barbara G. Walker

Isis breast feeding Horus

“Earth has been the universal Goddess mother at the fountain head of all mythologies. Herodotus pointed out that all known names of the earth were female. There has never been a father earth. As the gypsies put it the earth is our mother the secret of life comes from the ground. The Ashanti say the earth is the mother of all….”

“Apache Indians said all creatures were born from the earth in the beginning ,”just like a child being born from it’s mother. The place of emergence is the womb of the earth. Classical writers said the earth produces all things, and takes them back into herself. Thus the earth goddess is the beginning and end of all life on earth.”

“Reverence for the earth as a living mother was characteristic of pre patriarchal societies, which seemed to understand more clearly the importance of preserving their environment than later, male dominated civilizations did.”

cbands

So the words MaMa, Mami or simply MA is not only the earth name we give our mothers but it is  rich in history and meaning. 

“The Hebrew letters mem, meaning water and Aleph constituted one more version of the world’s primary syllable, MA, which stood for divine maternity,cosmic birth, nurture and the female wisdom principle in most of the world’s languages.” -The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects

“MA was the name of the great Goddess of coman, MA was the amulet representing Isis’s fountains of nourishing fluid MA was the primal deep,the world womb, MA was the death-rebirth syllable of the Persians, MA was the spirit of intelligence,hichin hindu belief first bound together all the elements to make coherent forms.

In nearly all languages MAMA means mothers breast.”

Many feminine names has been given to the earth. Continents: Asia, Africa, Europe were named after manifestations of the goddess. Countries bore the name of female ancestors Libya, Russia, Anatolia, Scotland, Ireland…” -The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and secrets

Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect.

-Chief Seattle, 1854

marcabru

The acknowledgment of the earth should also be synonymous with the reverence of woman. The respect for woman and her most important counterpart, Man is the most important aspect of our existence. Each woman is truly the physical embodiment of the divine earth. To many woman is almost godly, to some she is the only source of life the planet is familiar with and the earth is where her children are brought into, to experience great sorrows and joys, which lead you to become stronger and more appreciative of her offerings.

Upper Paleolithic Venus figurines

 The (womb)man is through which the earth manifests her beauty and her everlasting desire to connect with her children.

Honor the sacred.

Honor the Earth, our Mother.

Honor the Elders.

Honor all with whom we

share the Earth:-

Four-leggeds, two-leggeds,

winged ones,

Swimmers, crawlers,

plant and rock people.

Walk in balance and beauty.

-Native American Elder

(artsconnected.org)

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Deity of the Day: Ganesha

Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu deities perhaps second to Kali. Ganesha is considered as the deity that represents wealth, materialism, knowledge and destroys all things evil and obstacles in your life that may be holding you back. Ganesha is depicted with an elephant head in which there are several stories as to how his head came about. Before any prayers or ritual Ganesha is prayed to and acknowledged before the start of any ritual to ensure prosperity in whichever endeavor the devotee wishes to undertake.

Most paintings of Ganesha depict Ganesha with many symbols relating mostly to the elements of the earth, such as the ego, pride, material gains etc. Which makes sense since Ganesha also rules over the root chakra which is primarily based on the material world, or earth rather. Not only does Ganesha destroys all obstacles but he also places them on your path to teach you lessons and of course remind you that earth is a school and you can’t leave it without learning.

The photos depicting Ganesha are elaborate and with a lot of symbolism. He is celebrated between August and September and his color is red. Ganesha likes to be offered sesame seeds as well as pomegranates and of course all things sweet will also suffice. His favorite plants are the lotus and waterlilies. It is great to work with Ganesha when you are at the threshold of a new life or any start in life for that matter such as moving, new job etc. Ganesha can also be used to work in matters of literature, intelligence,wisdom and all things beneficial to your self realization.

Symbolism of Ganesha (more info on Ganesha)

This is my small altar dedicated to Ganesha. I just printed out a picture of Ganesha and taped it. When I turned 16 my mother gave me this small iron statue of Ganesha so I also placed it on the altar along with pretty things and pink candles. Ganesha really likes red but pink also serves it’s purpose. Ganesha rules over success, obstacles and all things that may hinder you from your true spiritual self. Also Ganesha is attributed with success which is obvious because if you can master your worldly desires everything falls into place.

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