The Mother’s Mercy:
Yemaya, Queen of the Seven Seas
I have long
suspected that George R. R. Martin based his concept of the fictional religion
“The Seven,” at least in part, on the Seven African Powers of Santeria. After
all, other religions in his fiction are based both on real religions and those
concocted by other fiction writers. But that’s a topic for someone else’s
thesis. What I’m here to do is to discuss Yemaya, because right now a lot of us
yearn for the Mother’s mercy; the Mother’s mercy is one of the aspects of the
Seven, as well as of one of the Seven African Powers named Yemaya.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to
grow up with a loving, compassionate mother. And even if you have done so,
chances are that your mother may be suffering right now as well, considering
how things are going since the election, so appealing to your own mother for
help may just be adding another burden. Fortunately, there is Yemaya, also
known as Yemoja, Yemalia, Ienmanja, and many other versions of her original
name: Ye ye mo oja, “Mother of Fishes.” She is the great mother goddess of
Santeria, and according to Baba Raul Canizares (1955-2002) she may be even more
than one of the Seven African Powers and Queen of the Seven Seas.
Women (and men) appeal to her for
fertility if a child is wanted, and she is thought to protect pregnant women
and children. She is much, much more as well. She rules women’s lives, and can
therefore help in any aspect of a girl or woman’s life. She has compassion for
all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or gender preference. She is
depicted as a woman wearing blue and white, emerging from the sea, one hand
holding pearls and the other holding white roses, a starfish in the shape of a
five-pointed star on her diadem. So let’s access her mercy, and then I’ll talk
a little bit more about who she is.
Accessing the Mother’s Mercy: Before an image of Yemaya as a
statue, an image on a candle, or even as just a picture in a book or from the
“Interwebs,” place a glass of water with a little sea salt in it. Light a blue
candle for her if you can. Greet her with “Omio, Yemaya.” Now don’t worry about
a prayer, although you could listen to Deva Premal’s “Yemaya Assessu” which is
an authentic praise song sung in Yoruban. Now pour out your heart to her. Say
whatever you need to say. Cry if you want to (have a blue box of Kleenex
nearby!) Yell or scream if you need to. Get on your knees, lie on the floor, do
what you need to do as long as you do not hurt yourself or others or destroy
property. (The morning after the election I very nearly smashed my computer and
TV. I’m glad I didn’t, but it was very cathartic to see Neil deGrasse Tyson
throw a telescope off the roof on Stephen Colbert’s show after the election;
try to catch it On Demand.) Now close your eyes and imagine Yemaya—in any form
you choose—embracing you in a nurturing way. Imagine her rocking you as a
mother rocks a baby. Is she whispering to you? If so, listen. Whether she does
or not, let her hold you as long as you feel the need. Now once you are calm,
ask her for whatever it is you need: Surcease of sorrow? Hope? Protection?
Understanding? Compassion? Healing? Maybe just someone to listen?
When you are feeling that you have said everything you need
to say and have cried your last tear, thank her and burn the candle a little
each day until it burns down (don’t leave a candle burning when you’re not at
home.)
I have a
permanent altar for Yemaya on my kitchen table. I have black, brown, and white
Yemayas. I even have a lead statue of Yemaya’s counterpart Olokun—but that’s
another story for another time. My brown Yemaya, which I got in Mexico, has
tentacles instead of a fishtail; Yemaya is often portrayed as a mermaid, but
sometimes she has twin tails—think the Starbucks logo. Hmmm. It’s probably
Olokun who has the tentacles, come to think of it…
Any book on
Santeria will have information about Yemaya, and some of it may be correct and
some may not. I strongly recommend Baba Raul Canizares’ Yemaya: Santeria and the Queen of the Seven Seas, in which he
updates and rethinks information from his earlier book, Cuban Santeria. Give it a try. I think it will astonish you. Yemaya
may not be only an orisha who is one of the Seven African Powers; she may be a
co-equal with the Creator of the Yoruba pantheon. But then you knew that, now
didn’t you?
Ashe,
Rev. Dee
