Monday 2 April 2012

Estsan Atlehi

This week, for the 13 Goddesses challenge, we are to represent a Goddess of the native American peoples. I have chosen ESTSAN ATLEHI....Changing Woman, Goddess of the Navajo and Apache nations.

There are several "confusions" with her story, depending on which peoples tell the story. She was found as a baby either on or under a mountain that was covered by a black cloud. She matured rapidly, and through the year she ages from infant to crone.....


and back to baby again. Other descriptions of this part of the story say she is married to the sun, and lives in a turquoise palace on the western oceans. Each evening she walks toward the east to meet her youthful self and renews.
She is also credited as the saviour of the peoples of the earth. Producing white flour from her right breast and yellow meal from her left breast, she formed a paste from which she moulded man and woman. Another version is that she was lonely and formed people from bits of her own skin.
Her many stories can be found HERE

I got so engrossed with all the story lines I forgot to take many pics, but hope you can see the Gold metalic sheen around the sun and her crown-headband :D
All said, she is the personification of the natural world order, bringing the changing of the seasons.

My Native American Goddess ESTSAN ATLEHI :D XXX
Photobucket

12 comments:

  1. Love the image...such gorgeous eyes.
    Hey Gina! Perhaps I was renewing myself on that walk ;)
    A handsome prince was nowhere in sight
    xoxo Sioux

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...but a handsome prince may have spotted you! :D

      Delete
  2. I love the expression on her face. She looks like if she carried the world in her shoulders, and she is, so... yep, you've captured a feeling again.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this goddess so sweet, wonderful composition with the beautiful sun. Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love her so much!!
    I can see the metallic of the sun and her crown. What a job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such an interesting story line with the changes that you have found and of course a fabulous painting.
    hugs {brenda} xox

    ReplyDelete
  6. oooooooo, you are getting really good. this one is really pretty! love the look on her face... lost in thought!

    u r kidding about the vertigo right? LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great job! You gave her a wonderful, worldly-wise visage. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. So wonderful, love your drawings and paintings.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the drawing and the story!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, I love her! And, I love her stories. I am going to read about her now! Thanks for doing this Goddess Gina ;o)

    ReplyDelete