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Yemaya goes by many names: Yemonya, Yemanya, Iemonja to name a few. She is referred as Queen of Witches, Ocean Mother, Mother of Dreams and Secrets, Mother of the Sea and Stella Maris. Her origins are from Africa. When natives from the African continent where taken as slaves to the New World, Yemaya came with them and is now a deity or an Orisha for the followers of Candomble, Voodoo, and Santeria. (Other Afro-Caribbean religions also have her as a deity.) She rules over the seas, oceans, lakes, the moon, dreams, ancient wisdom, and the collective unconscious. She is the Mother of All. Her actual name is Yey Omo Eja which means "Mother whose children are the fish". This reflects the fact that her children are many, too many to count. Yemaya wears whites/blues. She is deep and unknownable, and is caring and nurturing. She is considered the ultimate matriarch symbol, the most powerful female force. Yemaya embodies all the characteristics of motherhood. She lives in the top layer of the oceans. The Mother Goddess is associated with life, fertility and creativity (creation). She is the mother of all Orishas and is the champion of women.
Yemaya likes flowers, especially white roses. A few of her symbols are the stars and the half moon. She is usually depicted as a beautiful woman with full breasts and hips.
Mama Yemaya is invoked for blessings, compassion, wisdom, riches, inspiration, motherhood, female power, love spells, money spells, dream spells, water magic, women's issues, washing away sorrow, revealing mysteries, protecting the home and babies, comforting children, good fortune and health.
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