Yemaya is a Yoruban Orisha associated with the ocean, motherhood, protection, fertility and healing. Yemaya is seen as the “Mother of All Things” and is known for her nurturing, life-giving energies. The name Yemaya, or Yemoja, roughly translates to mean “Mother Whose Children are Fish”. She is seen as a Goddess connected to women, children, women’s mysteries, pregnancy and childbirth.
Yemaya is a member of the Seven African Powers which are a group of powerful Orisha’s that rule over everything that humans need. She is the daughter of the God Olodumare who is a creator God seen as the “Supreme Being”. Yemaya is often depicted as a mermaid and is connected with the tides of the ocean which also connects her to the Moon.
Yemaya is associated with birth and new beginnings and because of this she’s also connected to the New Year. In Rio de Janeiro Brazil many people gather at the beach on New Year’s Eve to honor Yemaya. People will dress in all white and give offerings of little boats filled with candles and flowers to the ocean in honor of Yemaya.
Signs that Yemaya is Calling You
Yemaya will show up in your life when you’re in need of mothering and need to feel loved, nurtured and protected. She can bring you the strength to honor your emotions and let them flow through you in order to bring about inner harmony and balance. Yemaya can also bring you creative inspiration, insight, wisdom and inner healing.
Yemaya’s sacred colors are blue and white and these colors are represented in imagery of her. If you start being drawn to these colors it could be a sign that she’s calling to you. Other symbols connected to her are cowrie shells, other seashells, mermaids, pearls, sea birds and ocean life. If you see these symbols showing up in your life a lot, it may also be a sign that she’s communicating with you.
If you feel called to spend more time near the ocean or just near a body of water this could be a sign that she’s guiding you. Other symbols of her are clam shells, coconuts, the number seven, dolphins, seahorses and peacocks. So if you start seeing any of these symbols repetitively it can be a sign that she is calling to you.
Working with Yemaya
There are many ways to work with Yemaya and as with any Goddess or deity creating some kind of altar no matter how simple or elaborate is a great place to start. For your altar you can add statues, artwork and/or items such as cowries shells, other shells, pearls, colors of blue and white, representation of a mermaid, etc. This is your way of creating a sacred space to connect with her energy.
You can also call to her by saying a simple prayer like “Yemaya, Mother of All Things, please bring me your nurturing, loving energy so that I may heal my emotional self.” You can create your own unique prayer or invocation to her as well, whatever feels right to you. Once you have called out to her allow yourself to sit in quiet meditation for a few minutes so that you can start to feel and connect with her energy.
Pay attention to any messages, feelings or sensations that come through at this time and over time you will start to become more familiar with her energy. If you feel so inclined, you can even write these things down in a journal which you can refer back to while you’re learning how to connect with Goddess energy. Always be sure to leave some kind of offering when working with any deity and with Yemaya you can leave things like flowers, coconut, seashells, candles, fruit, fish and perfume.
In the practice of Santeria sacred beaded necklaces known as “Eleke” are created in honor of the Orisha’s using their divine colors. You can also make one of these necklaces yourself in honor of Yemaya using the colors blue and white. You can even do things like volunteer for a beach clean-up or donate something to protect ocean life. Whatever is available to you and whatever you feel most called to in order to honor her energy. These are simple ways that you can begin connecting with the Goddess Yemaya and with time and practice you’ll be able to recognize her energy more easily.
For more information about Goddesses and working with Goddess energy, check out my Goddess Guide Sheets or book a Goddess Message Reading with me.
THE AWAKENED SAGE 