{"id":13587,"date":"2017-03-01T01:10:28","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T06:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=14259"},"modified":"2017-03-02T08:18:15","modified_gmt":"2017-03-02T13:18:15","slug":"she-who-is-all-the-goddess-of-ten-thousand-names-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2017\/03\/01\/she-who-is-all-the-goddess-of-ten-thousand-names-25\/","title":{"rendered":"She Who is All &#8211; The Goddess of Ten Thousand Names"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Yemaya<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14260\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya1.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya1\" width=\"189\" height=\"267\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i>(Photo Credit: the divinemoon.com)<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i><b>Yey Oma Eja<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i> &#8211; *Mother Whose Children are the Fish&#8221;, or as She is more commonly known, <\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i><b>Yemaya<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>, *Mama Watta*, Mother of Waters, Queen of the Sea, Mother of the Fishes, Ocean Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Lady of the Rain, Daughter of the Sea, Constantly Changing Woman, Creator Mother, Patroness of Witches, Sirena. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i><b>Yemaya<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>. She is known by all of these names and more.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14261\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya2.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya2\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><em>(Photo: Pinterest)<\/em><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>She was originally a River Goddess of the Ogun River in Yoruba. She was a powerful guardian and nature spirit, a Goddess of the African diaspora. When the people of Africa were stolen and brought to lands far away, She came with them, protecting them on their journey, becoming Goddess of the Ocean, on which they unwillingly traveled.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>She was married to Orungan. When she gave birth to 14 Orisha, the breaking of her birth waters caused a great flood on Earth that created the oceans and the Seven Seas. It is said that even as She sleeps, water gushes forth each time she turns over. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>Her first gift to humans was a large shell, in which one would always hear Her voice; to this day, we hold a shell to our ear to hear the ocean which is Her voice.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14262\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya3.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya3\" width=\"120\" height=\"186\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo Credit: <\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span lang=\"zxx\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/lightgrid.ning.com\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>lightgrid.ning.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>She is a Mother Goddess, the Mother of All &#8211; home, fertility, life. She rules the life giving, creative and nurturing forces of the sea. She is the Matron Goddess of pregnant women, and spiritual Mother to all who need Her.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>In Her skirt of seven layers of blue and silver, Yemaya loves to dance. She moves, dips and flows as Her skirt swirls to symbolize the movement of the waves.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>Her symbols include all of the waters of the Earth; the shining Crescent Moon;<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>the fish, dolphins, sea horses, and all the creatures of the sea. Her colors are blue and silver, the colors of the ocean. She loves coral and pearls and aquamarine. Her number is seven. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>She is sometimes depicted as a beautiful mermaid swimming amongst the waves that are Her home.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14263\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya4.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya4\" width=\"165\" height=\"228\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(From The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky; Photo Credit: <\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span lang=\"zxx\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/tarotpassages.com\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>tarotpassages.com<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>Her festival days are February 2, the Summer Solsitce and, in Santeria, on September 7. People dress in blue and silver and flock to the ocean beaches, dance and make offerings. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>Her worship spans the Earth, where She is known by Imanje, Yemanja, Ymoga, Imaga.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>As water is essential to life, so is Yemaya essential to our lives. She teaches us to be flexible in our thoughts and in our lives, to go with the flow of each event and situation that comes our way, to not become attached as things will always change, as the ocean changes, swirling, churning, constantly moving, ebbing and flowing.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>In the Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky, Yemaya symbolizes *Surrender*.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>&#8220;Come with your cares<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come with your woes<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come when life is joyful<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come when life weighs you down<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>comes when you take on too much<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come when you are spread too thin<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come when you are danced out<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>come when you seek renewal<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>all I ask when you come<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>is that you surrender to me<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>mother ocean<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>my watery womb wants to hold you<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>nurture you<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>birth you anew<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>when you let go and give over all to me&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14264\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya5.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya5\" width=\"183\" height=\"275\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo Credit: <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span lang=\"zxx\"><u><a href=\"http:\/\/sacredsource.com\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>sacredsource.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>, <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>where statue<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><i>is available for sale. Disclaimer: I have no connection to Sacred Source as anything but a customer.)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>Ms. Marashinsksy states that Yemaya coming into our life &#8220;signals a time for surrender&#8221;. We give over to Her, asking for guidance, realizing &#8220;that the only way through some situations is surrender and open to something greater&#8221;. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>To worship Her, just travel to the nearest ocean, river, sea or lake. There you will most definitely find Her. Walk into the waves, open yourself to Her and find yourself cleansed, reborn, alive.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>At home, set up an altar with Her image, upon a blue and\/or silver altar cloth. Adorn the altar with sea shells, pearls, sea coral, river stones. Light blue candles and incense reminiscent of the sea. Close your eyes. Breathe and focus on Her. Ask for Her protection and guidance. When you are done, be sure to thank Her for any answers She may have given you.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i><u>Prayer to Yemaya<\/u><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>May Yemaya protect and heal you<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>with the waters of the ocean of life.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>May you never thirst in body or spirit<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>under her protection.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>May the waves, evershifting, remind you<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>that we are beings of change and that,<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>like the water, we are flexible, not hard and set.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>So be it.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"CENTER\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_45312\"  width=\"960\" height=\"720\"  data-origwidth=\"960\" data-origheight=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7w6POosly5E?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=1&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"CENTER\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>May you be blessed and cleansed by the<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>waters of Yemaya.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-14265\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Yemaya6-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Yemaya6\" width=\"680\" height=\"510\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\n\t<\/style>\n<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo Credit: Susan Morgaine. My interpretative<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>sculpture of Yemaya)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yemaya &nbsp; (Photo Credit: the divinemoon.com) &nbsp; &nbsp; Yey Oma Eja &#8211; *Mother Whose Children are the Fish&#8221;, or as She is more commonly known, Yemaya, *Mama Watta*, Mother of Waters, Queen of the Sea, Mother of the Fishes, Ocean Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Lady of the Rain, Daughter of the Sea, Constantly Changing Woman, Creator Mother, Patroness of Witches, Sirena. Yemaya. She is known by all of these names and more. (Photo: Pinterest) She was originally a River Goddess of the Ogun River in Yoruba. She was a powerful guardian and nature spirit, a Goddess of the African diaspora. When the people of Africa were stolen and brought to lands far away, She came with them, protecting them on their journey, becoming Goddess of the Ocean, on which they unwillingly traveled. She was married to Orungan. When she gave birth to 14 Orisha, the breaking of her birth waters caused a great flood on Earth that created the oceans and the Seven Seas. It is said that even as She sleeps, water gushes forth each time she turns over. Her first gift to humans was a large shell, in which one would always hear Her voice; to this day, we hold a shell to our ear to hear the ocean which is Her voice. (Photo Credit: lightgrid.ning.com) She is a Mother Goddess, the Mother of All &#8211; home, fertility, life. She rules the life giving, creative and nurturing forces of the sea. She is the Matron Goddess of pregnant women, and spiritual Mother to all who need Her. In Her skirt of seven layers of blue and silver, Yemaya loves to dance. She moves, dips and flows as Her skirt swirls to symbolize the movement of the waves. Her symbols include all of the waters of the Earth; the shining Crescent Moon; the fish, dolphins, sea horses, and all the creatures of the sea. Her colors are blue and silver, the colors of the ocean. She loves coral and pearls and aquamarine. Her number is seven. She is sometimes depicted as a beautiful mermaid swimming amongst the waves that are Her home. (From The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky; Photo Credit: tarotpassages.com) Her festival days are February 2, the Summer Solsitce and, in Santeria, on September 7. People dress in blue and silver and flock to the ocean beaches, dance and make offerings. Her worship spans the Earth, where She is known by Imanje, Yemanja, Ymoga, Imaga. As water is essential to life, so is Yemaya essential to our lives. She teaches us to be flexible in our thoughts and in our lives, to go with the flow of each event and situation that comes our way, to not become attached as things will always change, as the ocean changes, swirling, churning, constantly moving, ebbing and flowing. In the Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky, Yemaya symbolizes *Surrender*. &#8220;Come with your cares come with your woes come when life is joyful come when life weighs you down comes when you take on too much come when you are spread too thin come when you are danced out come when you seek renewal all I ask when you come is that you surrender to me mother ocean my watery womb wants to hold you nurture you birth you anew when you let go and give over all to me&#8221; (Photo Credit: sacredsource.com, where statue\u00a0is available for sale. Disclaimer: I have no connection to Sacred Source as anything but a customer.) Ms. Marashinsksy states that Yemaya coming into our life &#8220;signals a time for surrender&#8221;. We give over to Her, asking for guidance, realizing &#8220;that the only way through some situations is surrender and open to something greater&#8221;. To worship Her, just travel to the nearest ocean, river, sea or lake. There you will most definitely find Her. Walk into the waves, open yourself to Her and find yourself cleansed, reborn, alive. At home, set up an altar with Her image, upon a blue and\/or silver altar cloth. Adorn the altar with sea shells, pearls, sea coral, river stones. Light blue candles and incense reminiscent of the sea. Close your eyes. Breathe and focus on Her. Ask for Her protection and guidance. When you are done, be sure to thank Her for any answers She may have given you. Prayer to Yemaya May Yemaya protect and heal you with the waters of the ocean of life. May you never thirst in body or spirit under her protection. May the waves, evershifting, remind you that we are beings of change and that, like the water, we are flexible, not hard and set. So be it. May you be blessed and cleansed by the waters of Yemaya. (Photo Credit: Susan Morgaine. My interpretative sculpture of Yemaya)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":212,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/212"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13587\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}