YEMAYA – HER MYSTERIES AND ATTRIBUTES

Anyone that has ever contemplated the ocean has at some point been owed by its beauty and power.  The ocean, giver of life and fountain of nourishment, can also be extremely frightening and dangerous.  It is the same with Yemaya, Goddess of the sea and Mother of all the Orichas.  Like all Mothers she is loving and protector of her children but she can also be sever and frightful.

There are many stories or Patakis about Yemaya and just as many paths.  One thing that most of the stories agree with is that Yemaya is the Mother of the Orichas and the giver of life.  In some of the stories she was married to Obatala while in others she was the wife of Babalu Aye.  She lives in the bottom of the Sea and is considered one of the most powerful goddesses in the Yoruba religion.

The ATTRIBUTES of Yemaya go with the characteristics of the Goddess.  Each of her tools has a special symbolism:

The Anchor and Life Saver -  The Children of Yemaya enjoy the protection of their mother throughout their lives.  These attributes represent the security and support that she offers them in their life path.

The Key – This attribute reminds her followers that Yemaya possesses the Key to the Secrets of the Oceans.  She holds the key to the Origin of life.  She is willing to share her knowledge and wisdom with her children as they earn it.  But she can also take it away.

The Oars and Wheel – A symbol of the control that Yemaya offers her children to overcome life circumstances. Also, a reminder that with her help, her children will be capable of steering their way through life.

The Bangles – Represent the Riches of the Ocean that Yemaya is capable of sharing with her Children and followers.

The Mermaid – Symbolizes the feminine power of the Ocean to give life and guard the secret of its origins.  Most Yoruba traditions symbolize Yemaya as a beautiful and enchanting Mermaid.

This attributes are kept in the Sopera that can be any shade of blue and white and can be adorned with silver or gold.  Her necklace is made up of clear and blue beads and the image of Yemaya is represented by a mermaid.

A fierce protector of her children she is a powerful witch.  Yemaya can be generous and noble but her children take great care not to offend her because, like the ocean she represents, her strong temperament knows no boundaries. 

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Yemaya – Misterios y Atributos 

Toda persona que ha visto el mar en algún momento se ha quedado extasiada ante su belleza y su poder.  El mar, dador de vida y fuente de sustento, también  puede ser temible y extremadamente peligroso.  De la misma manera Yemaya, la Diosa del Mar es considerada la Madre de todos los Orichas  y como madre es amorosa y protectora de sus hijos pero puede ser severa y temible. Hay muchos Patakis o Historias sobre Yemaya así como una gran cantidad de caminos. Todas las historias están de acuerdo en que ella es la madre primera.  Yemaya era la esposa de Obbatala en unos caminos y en otros aparece como la mujer de Babalu Aye.  Vive en el fondo del mar y se le considera la madre del mundo.  Es una de las Diosas más importantes en la Religión Yoruba ya que de ella nace la vida. 

Los ATRIBUTOS DE YEMAYA van con las características de la Diosa.  Sus herramientas tienen el siguiente significado:

El Sol y La luna -  Representan la dualidad de las energías de los cosmos.  El sol representa la luz y la luna la oscuridad ya que una no puede existir sin la otra. 

El Ancla y el Salvavidas – Los hijos de Yemaya disfrutan de la protección de su madre a través de sus vidas.  Estos atributos representan la seguridad y el apoyo que ella le brinda en  su paso por la vida. 

La Llave– Representa la llave que abre los secretos profundos que guarda el mar.  Recuerda a sus seguidores que Yemaya es la Sabia protectora de estos secretos y los comparte con sus hijos y seguidores a medida que estos se los ganen. 

Los Remos – Representan el control que Yemaya le brinda a sus hijos sobre las situaciones que se presentan en la vida. 

Las Pulseras – Representan los tesoros escondidos en el fondo del mar.  Ellas simbolizan la riqueza espiritual que Yemaya comparte con sus seguidores. La Llave  - Con este atributo Yemaya recuerda a sus seguidores que ella tiene el poder de entregar sabiduría así como de retirarla.   

La Sirena –Simboliza la parte femenina de el mar el cual da la vida y guarda el secreto de su origen.  Esta es la imagen que se usa tradicionalmente para representar a Yemaya.

Estos Atributos se guardan en la sopera de Yemaya la cual es de un color azul y puede estar adornada en plateado o dorado. 

 El Collar de Yemaya se confecciona de cuentas transparentes y azules.  La imagen de Yemaya la representa una sirena. Yemaya es fieramente protectora de sus hijos.  Es una bruja temible y poderosa pero a la vez generosa y noble.  Sus seguidores se cuidan de no ofenderla pues, al igual que el mar al que representa, su temperamento no reconoce barreras.

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CHANGO AND SAINT BARBARA  A POWERFUL STORY AND RITUAL 

Diva says:

   His perfect physical beauty represents virility.  He was blessed from birth with the intuition required for divination.  His name in Yoruba means war.  Chango is one of the most popular Orichas.  He is the king of fertility, wealthy, fun, wise, loves music but he is also irritable.  Chango is the God of thunder and lightning. 

In one of the stories that surrounds Chango he went to war disguised as Oya his lover.  Oya came out to fight next to him and proclaimed that “Chango and Oya together would always be invincible.”  It is believed that is how the syncretism with Saint Barbara was born.

Chango had many lovers and many problems because of their constant fighting and jealousy.  Having been crowned King of the Earth by his father Obatala he also had many enemies.  One day Chango tired of it all and went to the forest looking for refuge and peace.  His lovers and enemies looked for him in vain and believed he had died but Chango in his wisdom proclaimed, “I’m not dead and never will be but now that my wives think I’m dead they have stopped their fighting and jealousy and my enemies have forgotten their rancor.  Therefore I will ascend to heaven and from there I will govern.  My voice will be the ray of lightning ad I will take care of my own.”  And so he did.

Today many of his followers honor him with ceremonies that include dancing and music and Chango in turn takes care of them.  His tools are made of wood and his spirit lives in beautiful, ornate wood bateas that are placed in altars.  His colors are red and white and are represented in necklaces and macutos that are worn and carried for protection. 

Those who love Chango and Saint Barbara honor and invoke their power through many different types of rituals.  Below I bring you a Spiritual Bath that is an offering to their presence and a prayer for their blessings:

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt the sugar until it becomes caramelized
2. Stick the 4 cinnamon sticks in the apple and pour the caramelized sugar on top
3. Sprinkle the apple with the caramelized sugar with gold glitter
4. In a bowl mix 4 teaspoons of each of the perfumes mentioned above
5. Place the 4 rose’s  petals in the perfume mixture
6. Light the red candle and place it in the middle of your altar
7. On one side of the candle place the apple and on the other side place the perfume mixture with the roses.
8. Say the following prayer:  Oh powerful Chango, it has never been said that you have turned away anyone that has come to you in faith to ask for your help. Today I come to you powerful Saint Barbara/Chango to empower this bath in your name so that prosperity, love and attraction  shine in my life just like your Ray of lightning light up the Sky.  I ask you humbly in the name of  the powerful creator. Amen
9. Bathe - You are now ready to take your bath and do the final rinse with the perfumes.  After the candle is finished take the apple and bury it somewhere in your backyard or in a potted plant.   

Don’t forget to do it with Divina Fe (Divine Faith). 

Be safe, be well, and BE YOUR OWN,

DIVA

 Diva Says:

The Santa Muerte or Holy Death is also known as Santisima Muerte and she is the beloved Saint of death who’s origins date to Pre Hispanic Mexico.  Her feast day, celebrated on November 1st, is known as Dia de los Muertos and is  widely observed in Mexico.  La Huesuda, The Bony One, or La Niña, The Young Girl as she is known to some took her current form around 1965.  She is represented as a  grim reaper image and may carry an owl which is one of the animals associated with  the Lord of the Dead .  Some statues depict the Santa Muerte as a reaper with the scythe holding scales and a crystal ball, while in others she carries the scales and a crystal ball only.  Also, she is sometimes depicted holding a globe of the world and an hour glass.

 the Santa Muerte is used in many different types of Spiritual works.  To name just a few she is often invoked for prosperity, business success, protection, justice, healing and of course - Love. 

Setting up the Altar for Spiritual Works

1. Pick the Statue and candle - A Statue of the Santisima Muerte can be in various colors depending on the type of petition you have.  Here are some of the most popular Ones:

4.  No spiritual ritual to the Santa Muerte is complete without a Herbal baths.  The herbs favored by her include: Camphor, Basil, Rue, Rosemary or mint.

As always, I remind you that Faith is the driving force of all miracles. Only with Divina Fe (Divine Faith) can we obtain the blessings and miracles we seek in our prayers and spiritual works. 

Be well, be safe and be your own,

Diva

Diva Says:

So much has been written about Angels and Archangels and I must say I have read most of it.  My fascination with Angels dates back to the time I had an encounter with one of them.  Of course, when it happened, I had no idea that I had actually seen an Angel but I found out soon enough.  

The story is really very simple and has no great drama to it.  I was not in any particular form of distress.  There was no imminent danger surrounding me.  As a matter of fact it was just early morning and I was getting ready to go to work when I realized I had left my shoes in the car (bad habit of driving with my shoes off).  I went to get them and out flew a huge ball of light.  Literally.  It was a ball and it shined like a beacon.  It came out of the passenger side and it went up, and up like big bird of light until it dissapeared in the brightness of the day.  Wow!  My eyes followed it in awe.

I went in the house and sat for for 2 minutes thinking about it and then dismissed it when I saw the time and realized I was running late for work.  A few days went by and I would think on and off about my flying ball of light without a clue of what it could have been.  Only thing I was certain of was that, yep! I’d seen it.

That weekend I had a childhood friend visiting me from NY and she showed up bearing gifts.  She presented me with a nice big book - the kind you put in a coffee table for pretty (not really for reads) and it was called the Angel Book.  Ok.  I thanked her and placed it in my living room without another thought.  A few days after she left I opened it, just because it was there, and the very first page described how Angels sometime choose to appear to people.  Big Flying Balls of Light!!  Hello! Knock knock! 

Ok.  So I had seen an Angel.  Why?  What did it mean?  Was there a message there for me?  Well I decided there was a message and I was not going to let my Angel down.  I started picking up every single book on Angels I could find.  And, I did find some good ones.  I learned that Angels appear to people in many forms and for many reasons but they always have to make a very big effort to be seen by the human eye.  See, Angels vibrate at a very high frequency and in order to be seen, they must slow down their frequency enormously which requires a great amount of effort on their part.

The more I read about Angels the more fascinated I became.  Slowly, through reading, meditation and prayer, I started realizing the message my Angel had for me.  It was so simple.  Slow down and smell the coffee.  I started meditating more, praying more, becoming more of the spiritual being I was supposed to be.  I learned to work with my Angel.  It is so easy to keep him near and happy.   All I have to do is ask him to stay with me and thank him every day for the sweet Company.

September 29th celebrates the Feast of St. Michael I want to make sure I pay tribute to that Powerful Archangel on that day and thank him for the wonderful work he does for mankind.  By celebrating  St Michael, the Prince of Angels, I am also celebrating my very special Angel who made such a big effort to give me a glimpse of his beauty so that I could find mine.

Be safe, be well, and be your own,

Diva