I just tripped over something that Arwen reTweeted and even though I just made a post 15 min ago I had to make another one with regard to this topic. It is about a victory for 5 shark species winning protection from be being slaughtered for shark fin soup. So I grabbed my beloved Tarot of Vampyres deck to ask LaSirene, the Lwa (spirit) who embodies the ocean how she felt about this. She once appeared to me as a hammer head when I needed protection. She had me to shuffle and intentionally look for not just one but two of her significators and the three cards that followed. Her answer was quite clear both times.
As the Queen of Cups - Elementally, I notice that there are 2 water (the sea) and 1 earth (the animals that live in it)
5 of Skulls (Pentacles) - Of all decks, this one really speaks to the gravity of the situation of the 5of P. Look at how this beautiful creature lays there bleeding out after being savagely mauled!
Ace of Grails (cups) - A perfect representation of the ocean and her love for her domain and all of its creatures.
7 of Grails (cups) - Looking at the card it feels like the entire scene is under water. It is as if this is LaSirene conducting a ritual to ensure their protection, possibly even to ensure accountability for those responsible for harming her children.
As the Daughter of Grails -
Ace of Knives - Holy crap, if this doesn't speak volumes in reference to their fins being cut off their bodies!
6 of Scepters (wands) - the victory card!
4 of Chalices - Though a small victory was won, there is so much sorrow for the loss of her children. This shows how the sharks are discarded and left to bleed out and die a horrible death after being captured long enough dismembered and tortured.
I can only pray that efforts to protect ocean and all wildlife continues and we do not completely eliminate beings that have existed for millions of years.
I have worked with quite a few of the Orishas (African spirits) as well as the Lwa (Haitian spirits) and have developed very special bonds with them. But one relationship in particular that is extremely sacred is the one I have with the Lwa LaSirene, which literally translates into "the Siren" or "the mermaid". There are several tarot cards I associate with her. She is, like all of these spirits, a very powerful and complex lady. Just like the ocean in which she resides, she represents life's constant state of flux and teaches us to how to stop resisting change and to go with the flow of life's many ups and downs through the process of self-reflection. She can be playful, inspiring, and adventerous like a dolphin. She can be very loving and nurturing, like a manatee. She can be seductive and enticing like a mermaid. But don't get it twisted, because she can be very protective and cruel like a shark, which I once saw very clearly while walking The Quarter in the wee hours of the morning. I never saw anyone, but I know danger was not far from me. It looked like the entire area was completely under water as I walked the 3 blocks to my destination. (Oddly enough to visit a child of Ezili Danto. I almost feel sorry for anyone who had even thought about bringing harm to me with Danto, a child of hers, and LaSirene around me!) I then saw as plain as day, not just from my third eye but with my human eyes, a massive hammer head shark swimming ahead of me, head turning side to side as it wove back and forth, then circled around behind me and then swam ahead to do surveillance. It was like she was making herself known to whomever would have tried to harm me. Like they may have had no idea why, but jsut decided against whatever harm they had planned. Another time I encountered her was at the Fête Kongo we had in January. When she came into possession and I went up to ask for her blessing, it was one of the most magickal and special moments of my life. The elusive mermaid recognized me and interacted with me in a way which I'm told very few get to experience. My heart still swells with joy, gratitude and love when I think of it.
LaSirene is known for her long, flowing hair and the intoxicating beauty of her face and well as her voice. She heals all wounds with the salty waters of her home, the sea. She brings wealth and prosperity from the many treasures of the ocean. It is said that she carries a comb for her gorgeous hair in one hand a a mirror in the other. This is not about vanity. It is about self-actualization, love, respect. Truly seeing into the depths of your being and learning to love what we see. She makes us face the things that we have tried to bury so we don't have to deal with them and teaches us how to do so in healthy ways. Not always pleasant mind you, but necessary for our spiritual and emotional evolution. She teaches us to listen to our intuition and have the confidence to trust and follow its advice. Working with LaSirene means having the courage to look into your own eyes and climb through the window to your soul.
To honor LaSirene I created an alter with the things sacred to her. Well, actually, we are up to two alters and my counter is kinda becoming a third! Like the sea that is her domain, her areas in my home seem to be spreading lol! In general, her colors are blue, white, silver, gold, and aqua. She is associated with Our Lady Star of the Sea/La Riena del Mar. For me, she presents herself in turquoise, sea-foam green, silver, and sometimes gold. Some of the items on her alters include: a plain mirror as well as the prettiest little turquoise glitter one, a beautiful little purse made of shells and blue and iridescent sequins, an abalone shell, a starfish, a fresh coconut as well as a can of coconut milk, a chalice of salt water, a selenite wand, Lindt milk chocolate and coconut, a spirit bottle I made for her with the vevé (calling card, direct line. Kinda like the Bat-signal) that she gave to me specifically, and her beautiful picture. Everyday at 7PM I say a prayer to her and on Saturday's at 7 I devote at least 5-10 min connecting with her. It cracks me up how often it ends up bring exactly 7 min lol. It feels like a melodic trance, floating just at the surface of my consciousness.
I could go on and on about LaSirene. I know our bond will only strengthen as I continue to work with her. I treasure my relationship with her and thank her everyday for the many blessings she has given me.
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