SUMMER DIOSAS / GODDESSES

Oshun is the Yoruba Orisha (deity) of the sweet or fresh waters. The Yoruba People inhabit parts of western central Africa, in present-day Nigeria. She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. In some tales She is said to be a mermaid, with a fish's tail. She is the goddess of the river of the same name, and She is especially worshipped in river-towns. During Her yearly festival, She is said to choose one or more women dancers to represent her in the Earth plan.  Once they become one with her spirit the women take new names in honor of Oshun and are revered by the community and consulted as healers.

Oshun was taught divination with cowrie shells by Obatala, and she shared the gift with humans. She was at one time the wife of Shango, the storm god, Oshun is also said to be the mother of the birds or fishes. Oshun’s, color--yellow or amber; and a metal--gold or bronze. Her sacred birds the peacock and the vulture. Offerings to Oshun include sweet things honey, mead, white wine, oranges, sweets, and pumpkins, as well as perfume.

She is also known as Oshun Ana, "Goddess of Luxury and Love"; Oshun Telargo, as the modest one; Oshun Yeye Moro, as the coquette; Oshun Yeye Kari, "Mother of Sweetness". She is sweetness and good cheer, beauty and flowing joy.

 Lakshmi ("Good Fortune") is the Hindu summer goddess of love and beauty who brings wealth. On the fourth Friday of the Tamil Month Aadi (July/August), married women in most parts of South India will pray to Lakshmi in her 8 forms for various attributes: Vidya Lakshmi (Saraswati, Goddess of Education), Dhana Lakshmi (Lakshmi, Goddess of Money), Dhanya Lakshmi (Goddess of Food), Santhana Lakshmi (Goddess for family, who bless our family with kids), Gaja Lakshmi (Goddess of Strength), Vijaya Lakshmi (Goddess of Victory),  Bhagya Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity), Dhairya Lakshmi (Goddess of Courage)."(source)

Lakshmi is a beautiful and much-beloved Goddess, and in fact Vishnu is often referred to with the title "Husband of Lakshmi". She is called the "Lotus Goddess" and is often shown holding one as Her emblem. She is also Goddess of abundance, fertility and wealth. Holly basil is sacred to Her and said to bring children. Lakshmi is sometimes represented as a basket full of rice and is depicted on coins, or with coins falling from Her hands.

Lakshmi and Vishnu are bound together in love through time. As Vishnu is descendent in His avatars, Lakshmi is also reborn as His wife--as Sita ("the Furrow"), She is the wife of Rama and Goddess of the fertile Earth; and as Rukmini ("Twilight") She is married to Krishna.

She brings good fortune and prosperity as well as spirituality and the beauty of this earthly world. She reminds us that riches, prosperity and material comforts need not be viewed as shallow or non-spiritual; Lakshmi sees over both the spiritual and material in beauty and joy.

"Women “Puja: Prayer for:  "dhan" (money), "dhanyam" (grains or food), "arogyam" (health), "sampath" (property), "sathsanthanam" (virtuous offspring) and "dheerga saumangalyam" (longevity of the husband)." They pray for health, well-being and happiness for themselves and their families.  

Tlazolteotl The "Earth Goddess", "Filth Goddess" or "Dirt Goddess") is the Aztec and Toltec Goddess of Guilty Pleasures, who both inspires and forgives carnal acts. She is a Love and Earth goddess who is said to remove sins from her worshippers by absorbing them into herself. The punishment for adultery under harsh Aztec law was death; but if the offender confessed to Tlazolteotl he or she was absolved and the law would not touch them. However, a person was only allowed one confession per lifetime, so people would leave it as long as they could!

Tlazolteotl has aspects both of Earth-Goddess and Moon-Goddess, and is one of the Guardians of the Tree of the West, as well as a Goddess of Childbirth. She is the mother of Cinteotl, the Corn God, and Xochiquetzal, the Goddess of Love. Tlazolteotl is also known as the Goddess of Witches, and is said to have four aspects that were depicted riding broomsticks, wearing pointed hats and nude. In the Codex Fejervary-Meyer Tlazolteotl is shown nude (except for her jewelry) on a red broomstick holding a snake. These four aspects of Tlazolteotl were considered four sisters, from the eldest Tiacapan, through Teicu and Tlaco, to Xocutzin, the youngest. They were said to tempt and sedus people facing decisions towards evil and vice.

Tlazolteotl is considered one of the Nine Figures of the Creation of the World, which also include Chalchiuhtlicue and Her husband Tlaloc, as well as being one of the thirteen Companions of the Day. Perhaps because of this, Tlazolteotl is sometimes called "the Mother of the Gods". She is also know as Tlaelcuani, the Eater of Filth; Teteoinnan, "Mother of the Gods", patroness of midwives and healers; and Toci, "Our Grandmother", who represents nature's healing powers.