Wicca Teachings: My Yemaya Shrine Prayer And Yemaya Correspondences

MY YEMAYA POEM/PRAYER:

* Yemaya, Blessed Mother of the Seas,

Let Your Sacred Waters wash over me.

Mother, embrace me, Your humble child.

Cleanse me, Nurture me, Sustain me.

Yemaya, Beautiful One.

You Who wears the Seven Skirts of the Seven Seas,

Swirl around me and create a flow of energy

that can wash away all bane.

Yemaya, Mistress of the Moon,

Shine Your light onto me,

And fill me with your magic.

Help me to accomplish my goals

Yemaya, Healing Ocean Mother

I ask You to fill me with Your Healing Energy

Let Your Cleansing Waters wash over me

Heal me with Your Regenerative Powers.*

YEMAYA - MOTHER GODDESS OF THE LIVING SEASALTERNATE SPELLINGS Yemanja, Iemanja, Janaina (Brazil) as Yemanja Afodo, also of Brazil, She protects boats and grants safe passage; Yemanya, Yemayah, Iemanya, Yemaya Ataramagwa (The Wealthy Queen of the Sea- Her stern persona), Yemaya Achabba (The Violent and Overpowering Mistress of the Sea), Yemaya Olokun (which is only said to be seen in dreams) (Cuba); La Sirene, La Siren, Agwe, (Haitian Vodou); Yemallia, Yemana, Yemaja, La Balianne (US Voodoo) Kalunga, Ma Lango, Nana Buluku/Nana Borocum/Nana Burku, Mama Wata (Mother Water) Agwe, *

PANTHEON/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: West Africa (original), The Carribean Islands (Transplanted), Brazil (Transplanted), United States (Transplanted)*

CORRESPONDING/ASSOCIATED GODDESSES: Mama Wata, La Diosa del mar, Mermaid Goddess Of The Sea, Our LadyRegala, Star of the Sea, La Siren, Madre D'Agua - Mother of Waters, The Virgin Mary (although this is a very sterile and removed version of Her...as we know that no Mother is truly a virgin, as the Catholics would have us believe! However, if using the true ancient meaning of virgin, as a woman unto herself, owned by no man, usually an unmarried Priestess; then yes, although Yemaya had Her consort, She truly is a Goddess/Woman unto Herself) ) ;

*EPITHETS: Mother of the Sea, The Mother of All, The Womb of Creation, Mother Of Dreams Fertility Goddess; Goddess of Love; Revealer of Mysteries; the Patron Deity of the Fishermen and the Survivors of Shipwrecks, the Feminine Principle of Creation and the Spirit of Moonlight; Goddess of the Ogun River to the Yoruban People of West Africa; Ruler of Dreams,*

HOLY DAYS/FEAST DAYS: December (The first 2 weeks, December 2nd, December 31st); June 21st/22nd- the Summer Solstice; September 7th New Years Eve; February 2nd, there is a celebration to honor Yemeya. It involves large processions of people walking into the ocean giving many thanks for the safe passage of their ancestors, also in the hope that the coming year will bring good prospects to the community that lives on her shores. ; Mother's Day; Birthing Celebrations; Boating/Fishing/Ocean Celebrations/Festivals;

*PARENTS: Oduduwa/Odduddua (Mother) and Obatala (Father)

*CHILDREN: 15 Children- Orungan & 14 Orisha(the ones I could find named) Ogun (the Orisha of Iron), Olokun, Shopona, Shango (the Orisha of Thunder and Lightening), Oya (The Orisha of the Wind), Also: Gave birth to all of the waters of the World & to Mankind as well

*SPOUSE(S): Agayu/Aganju (Brother/Husband)

*DESCRIPTION: Dark Skinned, Dark flowing hair, beautiful, voluptuous, deep breasted, many times portrayed as both pregnant, and/or with the fins of a mermaid, wears 7 skirts that represent the 7 Seas, usually wearing a pearl and starfish necklace, sometimes with a dolphin, duck or a peacock.

*COLORS: Blue, White & Silver (also, as Nana Buluku: Mauve The North Star is connected to Her as well

*CRYSTALS and especially jewelry. She adores pearls and shells, cowry shells being sacred to Her. She also likes abalone shells, starfish and peacock feathers. *According to legend, Yemeya's first gift to humans was a sea shell in which her voice could always be heard. We honor her when we hold a shell to our ear in order to hear her voice, the ocean. *Wishes can be made to her on paper and then cast out into the sea. She likes melons of all kinds, and watermelon is Her absolute favorite. She likes flowers, white ones the best. *If you burn a candle to Her, put three pennies underneath, as she loves copper. Any work or offerings to Her are strongest on the Full Moon, and the Full Moon in July is Her favorite. *She may be called upon for help during child birth as she is also a fertility goddess, she loves children. You may invoke her for all things to do with motherhood and raising children, protection for unborn babies, help in a crisis to do with a child, She's an eternal parent! *Also for all Womyns issues, Witchcraft, washing away sorrows, acquiring ancient wisdom, protecting the home, for beauty, good fortune, good health and for rain. Yemeya rules over the ocean surface and is the patroness deity of surviving shipwrecked persons.

*A word of advice, 2 actually...Yemaya is a feirce Mother, and like all Mothers will do anything to help Her children- but She hated lazy people, so if you are not willing to work for your own aid, as well as petition Her, call on someone else. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember to thank Her for Her assistance. She is a sensitive Mother Goddess, and enjoys thanks and praises.* MY LITTLE YEMAYA SHRINE*

This is the little Yemaya Shrine that I made. I started with a clear glass jar, and placed my Goddess Yemaya card in it.

From there, I started layering different objects in various containers. I used objects that corresponded with the Goddess Yemaya, creation, and the Ocean. The little glass cup is filled with sand and some little crystals, shells and gemstones. Down on the bottom, nestled in the larger white dish, I layed some larger stones, shells and turtles.

*

MATERIALS:

YEMAYA CARD from the Goddess Oracle Deck

SEA SHELLS: Spiral, Scalloped & Cowry Shells, Abalone & Silver Ring

MINIATURE WAND/PENDANT: Silver, Clear Quartz Point, Rose Quartz, Amethyst,

STONES & CRYSTALS: Blue Quartz Single Terminated Point, Geode Slices, Adventurine Heart, Malachite Heart,Murano Glass Pendant & Malachite Pendant, Moonstone, Green Stone Sphere, Bloodstone, Green Jasper, Moss Agate, Turquoise, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate

BEACH SAND & SEA SALT