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Chapter 11 Yemayá Offering a Pearl of Wisdom
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Chapter 11 Yemayá Offering a Pearl of Wisdom An Artist Statement Erin Dean Colcord I am an eclectic pagan who has loved mermaids since I was a small child and have informally studied mermaid folk art since that time. When I was in the initiation process to become a Bloodroot Honey high priestess for CAYA Coven in Berkeley, California, I had to devote three months to a mother goddess to get in touch with the divine mother within. Since I was pregnant at the time and was also friends with several ladies who were kind enough to pass on oral traditions of various orishas passed down from Luisah Teish and the American Magic Umbanda House, Yemayá was very close to my heart, so I worked with her. This work involved a lot of meditation, art, altar making, and preparation for childbirth . Right before giving birth, I formally dedicated to Yemayá as part of my Wildflower priestess path for CAYA, vowing to not only deepen my relationship with her over the rest of my life but also to represent her when needed, to let her shine through me for the benefit of the rest of the coven and the world. I continue to make art for Yemaya and always do special acts of reverence for her on Saturdays, like wearing blue and silver, cleaning her altar in the bathroom, taking a salt water bath with my toddler son, singing her songs that other priestesses taught me, and looking for opportunities to learn and act on the wisdom of gentle motherhood. Motherhood has been quite a journey so far, and I know Yemayá has guided me all along and always will. Ashe, Yemayá. 275 Figure 11.1. Yemaya Offering a Pearl of Wisdom, Erin Dean Colcord, 2004. Acrylic on canvas, 20" x 28", courtesy of the artist. [44.206.248.122] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 09:58 GMT) 277 Yamaya Offering a Pearl of Wisdom Yemayá Offering a Pearl of Wisdom This painting hearkens back to a guided meditation I once undertook in an Elements of Witchcraft class. In our visions, the teacher guided us to the seaside to meet a guide, who would then give us a message. Rising up from the waves, this mermaid goddess met me with a warm, maternal smile and put a bright, shining pearl into my belly while giving me this advice: “Keep this pearl with you always, inside of you. It will help you to know what you really want.” I painted her, not knowing yet that she was Yemayá, wishing to share the experience with others, so that they, too, could feel her love and wisdom for themselves. Figure 11.2. Mermaid Playing with Merbaby, Erin Dean Colcord, 2009. Jar Candle Sticker, color, 3" x 5", courtesy of the artist. 278 Erin Dean Colcord Mermaid Playing with Merbaby I created this image as a gift for my friend Maia. At the time, she was about to have her head washed, devoting herself to a lifetime of service to Yemayá, through the American Magic Umbanda House. She made tall jar candles with this artwork as party favors for her guests. It was my honor to attend her head wash, a privilege she gave knowing that I was also dedicated to Yemayá. The illustration shows Yemayá as a mermaid, playing joyfully with a merbaby. We know that Yemayá is the goddess of all things maternal and that she looks after infants, but beyond that simple acknowledgment, I used that imagery as a supplication to help Maia achieve motherhood for herself, as was her earnest dream. ...