“The daughter of Leto and Zeus, and the twin of Apollo. Artemis is the goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals, and fertility (she became a goddess of fertility and childbirth mainly in cities). She was often depicted with the crescent of the moon above her forehead and was sometimes identified with Selene (goddess of the moon). Artemis was one of the Olympians and a virgin goddess. Her main vocation was to roam mountain forests and uncultivated land with her nymphs in attendance hunting for lions, panthers, hinds and stags. Contradictory to the later, she helped in protecting and seeing to their well-being, also their safety and reproduction. She was armed with a bow and arrows which were made by Hephaestus and the Cyclopes.” -Source

Recently I’ve been into all things containing arrows, be it arrow necklace charms, arrow printed scarves, stationary and I even caught myself doodling arrows in my note pad.  I thought to myself perhaps my subconscious was trying to tell me something as it subtly loves to do.  I’m a highly driven person with a million and one ideas fleeting throughout my mind.  It can be hard at times when trying to find direction for those thoughts and ideas and ground them to fruition.

Alas, I came across Artemis as I like to find the “deeper” or rather, esoteric meaning to my surroundings and more specifically symbols that are a part of my everyday life.   At least to me everything has meaning and arrows have always served as a symbol for direction.  It is a universally understood symbol for “go that way” or “this way.  Artemis’s main tool is known as the bow and arrow. It represents control of the hunt, eye on the prize.  Eventually arrows became a symbol of war associated with Mars and thus released from its original matriarchal roots.  Nonetheless, the energy of Artemis can be utilized to enhance drive, ambition and focus to your endeavors.  Every painting or picture I see of Artemis, I see a focused woman with her intent fully scoped and ready for the kill per se.  Focusing on your target and accomplishing what you set out for.

In honor of this productive yet beautiful goddess, I bought a set of arrow charms on Etsy and will be adding them to some directional and goal charms for late summer early fall this year.  In the mean time I will continue to work on energizing my goals with this deity’s ambition driven energy.

I’ve always been intrigued by Hindu gods and goddesses mainly because the images of many Hindu deities are rather elaborate and very interesting to look at. As a child the multiple eyes, legs and with all due respect, but even the freakish tongues would keep me wondering. It wasn’t until my teens did I start to further inquire about these interesting images.

Although Laxmi is mostly known to endow her followers with riches and most material aspects, she is most notably revered to help enhance spirituality within as well. I find that I prefer to meditate to Hindu deities because most of the images are buried in symbols and each one can be perceived differently by everyone. It also helps your mind focus on the colors, images and what focus on what the symbols mean to you personally.

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.

Sources:

New York Times

Wikipedia

Sacred Waters

Link

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.”

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 .

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

Sheela Na Gig Project

Sheela Etton

Fethard

Oshun is the African Yoruba deity that governs over rivers, love, beauty, children and everything one may consider sweet, sensual and of course fun. She is that drive and sweetness that lead many to do what they love because without love and peace how can you set out to do anything with passion?

Her color is the many ranges of yellow and gold and of course copper. The number associated with Oshun is five and honey is her specialty. Many flock to oshun for issues involving infertility, love and health. The river is where you would go to bring her your offerings or just simply speak to her about anything and everything.

Oshun’s ambiance consists of beautifully decorated things such as mirrors, anything peacock, sunflowers and cakes. Sensuous aromas also are her favorite and helps those who admire her almost exude her same aura.

Oshun loves music and parties where she can laugh, mingle and become the center of attention with her sweet and sensual ways.

A yellow candles is also an intimate way in which you can offer and speak to her. Placing a yellow candle surrounded with a few of her favorite things like honey and sunflowers is a simple way in which you can tap into Oshun’s divine energy.

A facial mask I like to use in honor of beautiful oshun is a sunflower seed oil , honey mask with one drop of chamomile essential oil for a soothing soft dewy complexion which leaves you exuding oshuns sensuality and confidence.