There is no doubt that water is magical and looking around the world we find examples of deities, spirits and magic associated with water in many different cultures and countries. In her essay THE QUEEN OF THE OCEANS Andrea Salgado Reyes explores the Goddess Yemanya who is, amongst other things, the Goddess of the Oceans. In the extract that follows of this essay, which was published in full in From a Drop of Water (Avalonia, 2009) the different types of magic associated with Yemanya is explored.
“The types of magic which are done in Yemanyá’s name are manifold.
Prosperity is the domain of Yemanyá – which She shares with Oxún, Goddess of rivers and sweet waters- and Her devotees seek Her help to achieve better employment, to win competitions and lotteries, to buy a home. In exchange they offer her sumptuous gifts when the working shows results.
Yemanyá is reputed to aid women who suffer because of the abuses of men and will swiftly punish evil-doers. Methods for this are numerous, including whipping effigies of the men concerned, using chillies and other preparations in spells to cause painful reactions in genitalia of sexual abusers, binding puppets with steel chains representing the will of the Goddess.
Being the mother of all, Her help is sought by women having difficulties conceiving and also in finding a suitable partner with whom to form a family. Romance is usually the realm of Oxún but Yemanya may also grant such petitions if the purpose is to set up a home and have children, rather than a romance by itself.
She is a fierce defender of Her priestesses, to whom She grants beauty, wisdom, magical power and strength which is unbreakable. They are also granted quiet authority and a regal manner. No one may attempt to harm Her chosen, not even with magic from other Orixás, as She is senior to them all, being the mother of fifteen Orixás, one of them being Ossaín the magician and another Ogún the warrior, also in some legends one of her husbands. Her magick is not restricted to the sea, but that being Her realm, it is Her great strength.
Yemanyá also commands the hosts of beings which belong to her father Olokun, who dwells in the depths of the sea. Among the sea beings who serve Her are the sirens and mermaids, alluring creatures reputed to drive insane with desire those who find them, thus punishing, for instance, men who break vows of fidelity and undying love to their lovers. In the depths of the sea are where She keeps her most secret magic and where Her priestesses may seek magical creatures to avenge wrongs and to defend themselves from attacks. The source of primordial magic is also there, in vast quantities. The very first primordial beings still reside there, huge creatures of similar nature to the leviathan; once called upon, only blood tributes may still them once again and make them return to their kingdoms. To call upon them in Yemanyá´s name without just cause is to earn the wrath of the Goddess whatever the rank or initiation of the summoner.”
This is just a short extract of the original essay which was published in From a Drop of Water (edited by Kim Huggens, 2009). To find out more about the book and order your copy now see http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/paganism-other/from-a-drop-of-water
Yemanyá is one of many spellings given to the name of this deity, the differences are the result of the original African religions merging, mixing and becoming synchronized with other deities and religious traditions over the years and in different regions . Others include: Yemoja, Ymoja, Yemowo, Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaína, Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya, Yemalla, Yemana, Yemoja, Iemanjá. Yemanyá is also sometimes referred to or merged with Diosa del Mar (The Goddess of the Sea), Mami Wata and the Mermaid Goddess. Likewise, much of her symbolism has also become entangled with the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary, with whom she shares the title “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea) and the Haitian La Sirène or LaSiren in Vodou.
Andrea Salgado Reyes is a Chilean witch and Orixá devotee, blessed by being a daughter of Yemanyá and of Ogún. She has established Comunidad Paganus, a neo-pagan and pagan community in Chile, on a hill within sight of the sea. Her main interests are Wicca, Candomblé and traditional Latin American witchcraft. By profession she is a translator and interpreter. She has also contributed to Priestesses, Pythonesses & Sibyls (Avalonia 2007) and Hekate Her Sacred Fires (Avalonia, 2010)
