Yemaya, Ocean Mother Goddess

Mother Yemaya

Yemaya is the goddess who gave birth to the fourteen Yoruba Orishas (gods and goddesses), and the breaking of Her uterine waters caused a flood which created the world's oceans. The African diaspora spread Her worship throughout the Caribbean, and into Brazil. She was blended with Mary as Our Lady of Regla, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In Cuba She is Yemaya, in Trinidad; Emanjah, in Brazil Yemanja, in Haiti; Agwe, in New Orleans; La Balianne.

Yemaya means, "She Who's Children are the Fish". The cowrie shell is Her symbol, and Her colors are blue, white, and silver. She is often depicted as wearing a dress with 7 layers representing the seven seas. She is also depicted as a mermaid. She has several feast days: December 31, February 2, Summer Solstice, September 7, and it is said there are others.
Devotees also make offerings to Her with flowers and sending votive boats out to sea (this is also a common offering for the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and Mother Ganga in India as well). In Brazil on December 31 offerings of candles (candelaria) are lit on the beach at midnight. It is a good omen for the coming year, if She accepts your boat and carries it out to sea.

This is Her traditional song:

Yemaya Assesu, Assesu Yemaya
Yemaya Assesu, Assesu Yemaya
Yemaya Olodo, Olodo Yemaya
Yemaya Olodo, Olodo Yemaya

The song celebrates the river meeting the sea.........

Celia Cruz sings to Yemaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4pyJ9Df27E

Women Shaman

Jai Ma

Women Shaman have been largely overlooked and or purposefully eclipsed in the world of anthropology, which has led to the misconception that they don't exist.

More awareness of women shamans has occured in recent years with the formation of the 13 Grandmothers; 13 indigenous shaman women who travel the world performing rituals of peace and healing.

Hope you enjoy.
Jai Jagad Ambae,
Tarini

Women Shaman: Books

13 Indigenous Grandmothers

Here are a few books:

Kali's Odiyya: A Shaman's True Story of Initiation, and Medicine of Light, by Amarananda Bhairavan (Shaman from the matriarchal tradition of Kerala, South India, taught by his aunt).

Grandmother's Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet, by Carol Schaefer http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com

The Woman in the Shaman's Body by Barbara Tedlock (anthropologist, and shaman trained by her Ojibwe grandmother, and K'iche' Mayan Shaman, Talin Peruch) http://www.barbaratedlock.com

When the Drummers Were Women: A Spiritual History of Rhythm by Layne Redmond......more on women and frame drumming in another entry.... http://www.layneredmond.com/

Jai Jagadambae,
Tarini

Women Shaman: Videos

Oaxacan Shaman/Priestess Maria Sabina

Japanese Shaman/Kamisama Taki Kudo

Inroduction to the 13 Grandmothers; so beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKGXpK8LXR4

Clips of a documentary about Japanese woman shaman Taki Kudo, "A Shamanic Medium of Tsugaru"

She explains how she became a shaman or "kamisama"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3aSdeL3y_Q

Shows Taki Kudo as well as other female shamans at the temple at the sacred Mt. Osorozan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PczDVBsm6Lc

"Maria Sabina: Mujer Espiritu (Parte 1)": I think 9 part series about the Priestess Maria Sabina, of Huatla de Jimenez, Oaxaca. Part of the video is translated from Mazatec and Spanish in the beginning and towards the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGeVUkrPRo

Jai Ma,
Tarini