The White Moon Gallery Presents
The Goddess Hina


by Leigh Hall

The goddess Hina is associated with Tahiti, Hawaiian, and Pacific Island cultures. Hina has many forms and as such tends to be represented slightly different within each culture. Despite her many representations, Hina is often associated with the moon. She is connected with the colors silver and white. Her food is considered to be the coconut. When reading about Hina across these different cultures, her name may be spelled in various ways which can include: (a) Hina, (b) Hine moa, and (c) Hine.

In Hawaiian culture, Hina is considered to have many bodies. These include Hine’ea, the Goddess of sunrise and sunset and Hina i ke ka, the sister of Maui’s mothers. A complete listing of all her forms can be found at: http://www.powersthatbe.com/goddess/hawaiian/hina.html

These different aspects, or bodies, of Hina take on different roles within the Hawaiian culture. For example, Hina overlooked the ancient Hawaiian art of kappa making. Kapa is a cloth that is Hawaiian made and has been used for a variety of things over time such as bed sheets, sleeping blankets, and skirts. However, Hina`opuhalako`, a different aspect of the Goddess, was considered to be the mother of all ocean life.

In Tahitian culture, Hina is credited with bringing coconut trees to the island. A short myth telling this story can be read here: http://www.thetahititraveler.com/general/artlegends.asp

Though Hina may be represented in different ways across these cultures, one commonality is her willingness to give. Hina appears to be a Goddess who gives in many forms be it through creativity, food, and/or life itself. However, it is important to note that Hina is also associated with death. Hina’s strong connection to the moon allows her to be associated with each of its three phases. This means that she embodies each aspect of life. This makes sense given that as the moon moves through phases, Hina will oversee those phases and act accordingly. Thus Hina is a goddess that is associated with cycles. While these cycles can be associated with each aspect of physical life (maiden, mother, crone), they can also be connected to the different seasons.



Myths of Hina:

This link will take you to a story about the Goddess Hina: http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/maui/maui18.htm

Hina Ritual: Transformation

Purpose of Ritual: The purpose of this ritual is to identify something negative in your life that you wish to transform into a positive experience and/or energy

Moon Phase: Waning. Since Hina is associated with the moon, the best time to do this ritual is at night. However, it can be done during the day if necessary.

Materials: The materials in this list are suggestions. They are here to provide you with ideas. You should use more or less depending on what you are comfortable with.
1. Sage incense
2. Lighter
3. Candles (silver or white since these are Hina’s colors). You should use as many as you would like.
4. Prepared paper with problem on it that is troubling you.
5. Cauldron or other burning dish
6. Coconut – can be real, plastic, or a drawing of one

Outline of Ritual:
1. Begin by cleansing yourself and your ritual space with sage incense.
2. Place your candles around the edge of your circle.
3. If possible, turn off all other lights in the room.
4. Cast the circle
5. Light your candles
6. Call to Hina by saying:


“Hina, Hina, Goddess of the Moon
I have a problem and it looms
Transform my problem and make it right
This negative energy should take flight
And when it returns back to me times three
Only positive energy shall it be.”


7. Light your prepared paper and place it in the cauldron/burning dish. Allow it to burn completely.
8. Visualize Hina carrying the problem and the negative energy associated with it away from you.
9. Visualize only positive energy returning to you.
10. Thank the Goddess Hina for aiding you with this problem
11. As an offering, you may wish to eat some coconut (Hina’s traditional food) and/or leave some outside for her. You may also wish to have a picture of a coconut or a real/plastic one sitting on your alter during this time of transformation as a symbol of Hina and the work she is helping you with.
12. Take down your circle
13. If you wish, you may keep the candles burning or you may put them out.

References:
From the web:

http://www.coffeetimes.com/kapa2.htm
http://www.coffeetimes.com/kapa.htm
http://www.powersthatbe.com/goddess/hawaiian/hina.html
http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/ishtar/goddesses/hine_moa.html
http://www.thetahititraveler.com/general/artlegends.asp
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/maui/maui18.htm
http://www.coconutinfo.com/hina.html

Books:
Telesco, P. (1998). 365 Goddess. Harper, San Francisco.

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