More About Goddesses: The Afro-Brazilian Goddess Yemanjá: Queen of the Ocean. (New Essay)

MORE ABOUT GODDESSES: The Afro-Brazilian Goddess Yemanjá: Queen of the Ocean. (New Essay)

by Tim Kavi

Yemanjá, also known as Lemanjá, revered Afro-Brazilian goddess in Candomblé and Umbanda, embodies the profound power and mystery of the ocean. Celebrated as a nurturing mother, fierce protector, and source of life, her immense presence in Brazilian culture is undeniable. Her story, rich with transatlantic history and spiritual evolution, positions her not only as a divine entity but also as a powerful archetype reflecting universal human experiences.

Yemanjá originated in West Africa's Yoruba traditions as Yemọja, a powerful river deity of the Ogun River and mother of all orixás. When enslaved Africans arrived in Brazil, they carried their spiritual traditions. As the Atlantic Ocean became a symbol of the terrifying journey and new home, Yemoja's domain shifted from river to sea, transforming into Yemanjá. This syncretism linked her with Catholic figures like Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception or Our Lady of Navigators, ensuring her worship endured under the guise of the dominant religion.

As Queen of the Ocean, Yemanjá is typically depicted with flowing blue or white garments, adorned with pearls, shells, and marine treasures. She has also been seen as a mermaid. Her symbolism is rich: mother of all, source of life, fertility, and abundance. She governs literal waters and humanity's emotional depths. Devotees turn to her for protection, particularly for sailors and fishermen, for guidance in family and motherhood, and for cleansing and purification. Her gentle yet formidable nature represents the ocean itself – calm and nurturing one moment, tempestuous and unyielding the next. She epitomizes unconditional love, patience, and ancient aquatic wisdom.

Yemanjá's worship is vibrant and public, especially in Brazil's coastal cities. On New Year's Eve (December 31st) and February 2nd, millions gather by the sea to honor her. Offerings of white flowers, perfumes, candles, and small gifts are cast into the waves, accompanied by prayers for blessings, health, and prosperity for the coming year. These communal rituals reinforce the deep connection between people, ocean, and her divine feminine power.

Beyond deity, Yemanjá functions as a powerful Jungian archetype, representing universal psychic patterns. Features of said archetype:

The Great Mother Archetype: She embodies the ultimate nurturing, protective, and life-giving force. Like the ocean, she is the primordial source from which all life springs, offering unconditional love and sustenance. This resonates with the human need for a secure, benevolent origin.

The Collective Unconscious: The vast, unfathomable depths of the ocean mirror the collective unconscious – the repository of shared human experiences, instincts, and universal symbols. Yemanjá, as its ruler, offers access to deep wisdom, intuition, and the primordial self.

Transformation and Rebirth: The ocean's constant ebb and flow, its capacity to cleanse and renew, reflects psychological transformation. Yemanjá aids in shedding the old and embracing new beginnings, symbolizing emotional purification and spiritual rebirth.

Resilience and Adaptation: Her transformation from river goddess to ocean deity, and syncretism with Catholic saints, exemplifies cultural resilience and the adaptive power of belief systems in the face of adversity. This echoes human capacity to adapt and find meaning in challenges.

Yemanjá, Queen of the Sea, is more than myth; she is a living symbol of maternity, strength, and life's enduring power. Her journey from Africa's rivers to Brazil's oceans encapsulates a profound history of survival and adaptation. As an archetype, she continues to provide comfort, inspiration, and a deep connection to nature's primal forces and the human spirit, reminding us of our origins and the boundless capacity for renewal.~~TK

Publication Announcement: "'More About Goddesses" Column To Feature Wider Scope

 Dear Readers:

As I've mentioned before, one of the most visited features on this blog has been quite popular with readers from all over the world. Lately, this has been especially true with my "More About Goddesses" columns, which feature summaries about various Goddesses from all sorts of traditions. I will be broadening the scope, to include many more  Goddesses, beyond the main ones typically thought of, and from various systems of thought. As such, I am especially moving into columns about Buddhist Goddesses, and soon will be including more Goddesses from Brazilian and other South American cultural influences. I will not neglect the others either, so don't worry, bringing in a good mix that I hope you will enjoy.  Remember, I strive to share about Goddesses so that we can understand them archetypally, learn something (both you and I) from their stories, deeds, and powers to make some changes in our lives and the world for better.  And ultimately, to eat away at the misuse and abuse of patriarchy,

In light of this, my next columns will continue to feature new Goddesses with my new emphasis, with an Afro-Brazilian Goddess named. Lemanjá, also known as Yemanjá, or Yemoja. That column should be posted here on this blog, Kup of Kavi next week. Happy reading and thanks for your support and prayers, so I can continue to write and share with you my heart. For it is a heart filled with wonder and love and thankfulness to be here, in this time, and to share together the path towards wholeness and meaning, and to be part of each other in the world. In dialogue, I am Tim Kavi. ~~TK

My previous columns and some not on the blog are in this book:

(You can click on the cover image, to get a copy for your very own).

Just When We Start to Wonder (a poem of undying love) (New Poem)

Just When We Start to Wonder

(a poem of undying love)

by Tim Kavi

when often times

we look at the night sky

unhampered by urban lights

we see all the many stars

when we are walking along

the beach

or on a snowy path,

we are often unaware

of the great multitudes

that there is a uniqueness

in every flake of snow

or grain of sand

or a twinkling star!

So it is with our love

it fills us with wonder

and happy songs

and thankfulness to God

who is the author of love

and in your caring love

my sweet love, is the mightiest

of all Nature's demonstrations

of a caring love

of a doting love

a compassionate love

and an extraordinary love!

so just when we start to wonder

every day and in every way

our love schools us

and brings its happy uniqueness

to every day we awaken, and find

it again and again

saying: "I love You"

recreates a dutiful sense

and an ecstatic pleasure;

for when we show each other

our undying love

it is wonder-full.

Goddess in the Light (New Poem)

Goddess in the Light (New Poem)

by Tim Kavi

O radiant muse,

whose footstep wakes the sleeping stars,

your presence bends the winds with reverence—

you are more than myth,

you are motion,

you are meaning.

Crowned in moonbeams,

your eyes are galaxies that knew love

before time dared its ticking.

Even silence bows when you speak,

each syllable a sacred bell

calling truth to prayer.

Not marble, not mist,

but the fierce fire of becoming,

you are woman—

and therefore, you are the world

before it was named.

I dare not call you only beautiful—

for beauty, next to you,

is a candle before the sun.

You are creator,

healer,

keeper of the lost seasons—

goddess, not made by man

but remembered by soul.

When I touch your thought,

I kneel

not in worship of form

but of essence,

for your spirit is the altar

where wisdom wears a smile.

Teach me,

not to possess,

but to witness.

Not to conquer,

but to cherish.

Let me be

the echo to your breath,

the pen that knows its muse.

Eternal she,

who walks in both thunder and peace,

I write you not in ink—

but in awe.

In the inkless poetry of honor.

In the name that needs no name:

Goddess.

I dance in sacred night

move with cosmic wind

to greet you and meet you

standing ever

in a steadfast love.

Your resolute grace

moves the world

and moves my longing heart.

More About Goddesses: The Buddhist Goddess of Marici (new essay)

MORE ABOUT GODDESSES: The Buddhist Goddess Marici; Guardian of Light and Illusion

by Tim Kavi

Marici, a lesser-known but deeply symbolic figure in the Buddhist pantheon, is a goddess associated with light, protection, and illusion. Though her roots can be traced to Indian and Indo-Iranian traditions, she gained particular prominence in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, especially in East Asia. Marici embodies an archetype that straddles divinity and warfare, invisibility and guidance, making her a complex symbol of inner strength, clarity, and transcendent wisdom.

Marici’s name is derived from the Sanskrit word marīci, which means “ray of light” or “mirage.” This immediately hints at her dual nature—both illuminating and elusive. In various traditions, she is depicted riding a chariot drawn by seven boars or pigs, symbolizing her power to overcome ignorance and illusion. Sometimes she has multiple arms and faces, bearing weapons and symbols of power, and at other times she appears serene and meditative. These varied depictions reflect her multifaceted identity as both a warrior and a sage.

Historically, Marici likely evolved from earlier Vedic and Zoroastrian goddesses associated with dawn and light, such as the Vedic goddess Ushas. Over time, as Buddhist teachings spread along the Silk Road and into China, Japan, and Tibet, Marici was assimilated into the Buddhist pantheon. In early Indian Buddhism, she was primarily a protective deity invoked by monks for safety during travel. However, in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, she was elevated to the status of a bodhisattva or goddess, often revered by warriors and esoteric practitioners.

In Japan, Marici is known as Marishiten and occupies a significant role in esoteric Shingon and Tendai schools, as well as among the samurai class. The warriors saw her as a patroness who granted invisibility and protection in battle, enabling them to act without fear or detection. This martial association did not negate her spiritual significance; rather, it highlighted her role as a goddess of unseen power, resilience, and clarity under duress.

As an archetypal goddess, Marici represents the elusive and paradoxical nature of reality. Her domain is that of illusion (maya) and transcendence. She is both a goddess of light—dispelling the darkness of ignorance—and a master of illusion, reminding practitioners that the material world is impermanent and deceptive. In this way, she embodies the Buddhist teaching of shunyata, or emptiness: that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence and are, like a mirage, subject to change and illusion.

Moreover, Marici is often invoked in meditation and ritual practices as a protector of those walking the spiritual path. Her presence serves as a reminder to stay centered amid chaos and to recognize the illusory nature of ego, fear, and material attachments. In modern times, she continues to be venerated by Buddhists seeking clarity, invisibility in times of danger, and liberation from worldly distractions.

In essence, Marici stands as a goddess of paradox—light yet hidden, fierce yet compassionate, real yet illusory. She offers a powerful archetype for those who seek to navigate the complexities of both the external world and the inner path of awakening.~~TK

AFTERWORD: my entries and columns about goddesses have proven quite popular; hence, "More About Goddesses" has resumed, and I will periodically publish a new column. Hope you enjoy it!  If you would like a book version of some of the previous columns with a few new ones, you can help support me and my work by clicking here. THANKS, enjoy! namaste~~TK 

Blog Publication Announcement: Return of Popular 'More About Goddesses Column'. (News)

 

Blog Publication Announcement: Return of Popular 'More About Goddesses Column'. 

Tim Kavi announces that he is restarting his popular "More About Goddesses" column, this week on June 6th or 7th, 2025 with a column about the Buddhist Goddess, Marici. Please stop  by this blog for a read. Meanwhile, you can check out the other (very popular MAG columns) here on this blog, by doing a search in the upper right search box with the terms: "more about goddesses" or check out the book linked below for some of my past columns and a few new ones that aren't on the blog. Thanks for reading, and for your support!  Namaste ~~TK

I See You Guan Yin (New Poem)

I See You Guan Yin (New Poem)

by Tim Kavi

tell; it with an open heart

I am a pilgrim

I am but flesh

but you are bone

I am lost at sea

but you are home

I seek the light

You are the lighthouse

You fill the universe

I am but one shining star

You are the food

I wandered in the drought

I am the thirsty one

Your love was sought

In your gentle mercy

Kwan Yin 观音, 觀音

Avalokiteśvara अवलोकितस्वर

You are beautiful

Your form fills the void

fullness your compassion brings

Your love was brought

You are the One

\

You are loved!

Wolf Man's Journey (new poem)

 

wolf man's journey

by Tim Kavi

there is something

inside me

I am not proud of

dark as black coal

burning in the furnace

the smoke of it

pollutes my world

where the Sun is darkened

the night crawls

like a snake

every fortnight

while the lunacy looms

under the light

of distant moons

I see him

whom I hate

in my folly

I have become

one seeking redemption

a wolf man's journey

thank Goddess

the dawn is coming

and Your love is mercy

and compassion

and your many arms, bodhisattva

are all forgiving.

Goddess Archetypes (new video)

 Goddess Archetypes

The following is a chart with some goddesses shown:

Putting On The Gown (Brief Essay)

Putting on The Gown (brief Essay)

by Tim Kavi

often mentioned in my poetry along with themes about goddesses and the Goddess are phrases about the gowns of a goddess. Putting on the gown, or putting on the robe, to me, means getting in touch with our spiritual histories, our inner natures, learning from archetypes in history, and/or preparing for the mystical path or embarking on a spiritual quest. It is preparing for the path to the highest place of the Holy. And it is found in and on the very day where putting on beautiful raiment, doesn't mean just fabric, but adorning ourselves with truth and authenticity that reflect our inner natures, even if it is a (figurative or symbolic) humble monk's robe, or the goddess gowns of myth, we are adorning ourselves in the practicality and beauty of all that is more deeply beautiful and sacred. For, as we turn to the everyday centeredness of our journeying souls...it isn't what we physically wear, but what we spiritually wear, and how we treat each other that lights the path we endeavor. And when I say, the goddess gown is flapping in the wind, I am not only saying we have beautiful natures, but we are also allowing ourselves in compassion, to show those natures to a darkened world. It is a serious putting on of something sacred that isn't just physical.~~TK

Stinging Nettles and Table of Bread (New Poem)

 

Stinging Nettles and Table of Bread (New Poem)
by Tim Kavi

stinging nettles

thorny places

betray the beauty

of our gardened places

there is in the stillness

a planting

a dancing collapse

of earthy relations

the Earth moves

contracts labors

and gives birth

the pleasant

is mixed in

with the plowing

and the planting

of Our watered beings

we begin small

and like all plantings

of love

we hope to grow tall

it is a true glory

a ready-made fashion

of the journey

of Nature's story

it is as natural 

as friend-to-friend

man to woman

lover to lover

bowing before

the table of hallowed bread

in the Holy Place

we see what

God has prepared.

Only What We Know (new poem)

 

Only What We Know

by Tim Kavi 

there is only

what we know

what we try to know

and what

we strive to know

in the end

it may be only

what we want

to know

but acceptance

of what one is

where one is

and how to move forward

in circling ramparts

we hide and do battle

with ghosts and regrets

yet one never forgets

the lessons of the past

while trying to escape them

where only such tortured souls

can finally sing

of resistance

the path of the mystic I reckon

longed for meaning

that leads to meeting

that which was unknown

and is totally 

responding to freedom's beckon

made new

I am the poet undone

and finding himself again

breathing of my existence

I vow not to run

but to climb the mountain

of radical acceptance

I am finally made whole again

singing songs to you

and loving you again.