One of the things I love most about Kris Waldherr's Goddess Inspiration Oracle is that it features Goddesses from around the world. I've had the chance to learn about Goddesses who never appeared in my mythology courses and who seldom (if ever) get invoked in the rituals I attend. And while I am always seeking to be mindful of issues of cultural appropriation when working with Goddesses from other cultures, I have found valuable messages in learning about these Goddesses. I especially appreciate Waldherr's inclusion of Goddesses from First Nation and African traditions in this deck, as these are faces of the Feminine Divine that so often get passed by in the Feminist Witchcraft I know.
This week, Incan Moon Goddess Mama Quilla will be my companion:
Mama Quilla, from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle by Kris Waldherr
As the Goddess of the Moon and the Protectrix of Women, Mama Quilla rules over the general welfare of women, marriage, and the menstrual cycle. While not all women menstruate (and not all people who menstruate are women), the cycles of menstruation are an important part of many women's lives. The connection of menstruation to the cycles of the moon is one way that we can be reminded of our connection to the Goddess and all that lives. Whether we menstruate or not, we can feel Mama Quilla's energy guiding us through the cycles of our life, whether it be the big cycle of transition from Maiden to Mother to Crone, or the smaller cycles of growth and change we undergo throughout our lives.
Some questions I'll be pondering this week, and which I invite you to explore as well:
What cycles in my life are ending?
What cycles are beginning?
How can I honor those cycles that are ending?
How can I let go for those things that have served their purpose?
What fears do I have for this new cycle in my life?
What hopes do I have for this new cycle in my life?