REFERENCES
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Ix-Chel
http://www.blueroebuck.com/ix_chel.htm
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art23948.asp
http://www.sacredsource.com
Ixchel, pronounced "ee shell", may be the greatest of the Mayan goddesses. She is depicted as maiden, mother and crone. Ixchel is a goddess of waters, of the earth, of the moon, and matron of weavers and artisans. She was known as Lady Rainbow, Mother Earth, Womb, and The Cave of Life.
IXCHEL WELCOMES PILGRIMS TO HER TEMPLE ON THE SACRED ISLAND, COZUMEL
Mothers and daughters made pilgrimage to her temple on Cozumel, known as the "Island of Women", off the eastern coast of Mexico. At her sacred temple, she was worshipped on the 6th day of the moon with a special ceremony that honored and celebrated her powers of medicine and magic.
from JBL Statues
GODDESS OF ABUNDANCE & FERTILITY
In her myths, Ixchel was married, but she came and went as she pleased and had other lovers. When she got fed up with the jealousy of her lovers, she made herself invisible to them and spent her nights assisting women in childbirth. As protector of mothers and children, she is often depicted as a maiden with a rabbit, a symbol of fertility and abundance across the world.
from JBL Statues
IXCHEL AS CRONE GODDESS, DESTROYER
In her dark aspects, she is depicted as a crone wearing a skirt with crossed bones carrying a serpent and a jug of water. The serpent assisted her inqs the role of keeper of the cycles of life and death, keeper of female sexuality, and goddess of magic and medicine. Serpents symbolize regeneration, cycles, and the power of sexuality in magic and medicine. With her jug of water, Ixchel would pour rainstorms and floods onto the land to destroy, cleanse and make way for rebirth.
from JBL Statues
Mini-Rituals for Ixchel
By Artemisia

Ixchel is a versatile Goddess. Following is a series of mini-rituals for each of the moon phases to help you connect with Ixchel's different aspects and bring her energy into your life. (Remember when speaking her name outloud that it is pronounced "ee-shell.") You can do these mini-rituals for the cycle of one moon or any time they are needed.

Waxing Moon Mini-ritual

Preparation ~ create a sacred space that is quiet and safe, where you won't be interrupted. Bring creative projects that you are planning or working on. Decorate with the color orange, and prepare an orange candle. Bring an offering for Ixchel.

Light your orange candle. Then call to Ixchel out loud: "Ixchel, I honor and celebrate you. Please accept this offering as a token of my humbleness and awe of your magnificence and power."

"Oh Great Goddess of Weavers and Artisans, Ixchel imbue me with creativity and joy in the work that I undertake. Bless <this project> that it may be successful and beautiful."

Sit in meditation with the energy of Ixchel and be open to any messages or guidance that she has to offer you. Keep the orange candle to light and rekindle the creative fire if you find it runs low at some other time.

Full Moon Mini-ritual

Think ahead ~ do you want blessings for fertility, pregnancy and childbirth? For fertility in creative endeavors? For abundance in your life?

Preparation ~ create a sacred space that is quiet and safe, where you won't be interrupted. Decorate your space with rabbits, with the color white, and prepare a white candle. Bring an offering for Ixchel.

Light your white candle. Then call to Ixchel out loud: "Ixchel, I honor and celebrate you. Please accept this offering as a token of my humbleness and awe of your magnificence and power."

"Oh Great Earth Goddess, Protector of Women and Children, Goddess of New Life, Ixchel imbue my life with abundance in spirit, body and mind. Bless <my intentions> that they may be fertile, and prosperous. Protect them and aid them on their way to manifestation.?

Sit in meditation with the energy of Ixchel and be open to any messages or guidance that she has to offer you. Keep the white candle to light and use it to invoke her protection or fertile energy if you need it again some other time.

Waning Moon Mini-ritual

Preparation ~ create a sacred space that is quiet and safe, where you won't be interrupted. Decorate with the color red, snakes, and prepare a red candle. Bring an offering for Ixchel.

Light your red candle. Then call to Ixchel out loud: "Ixchel, I honor and celebrate you. Please accept this offering as a token of my humbleness and awe of your magnificence and power."

"Oh Great Goddess of Women's Sexuality, Keeper of the Cycles of Life and Death, teach me your medicine and magick. Teach me your wisdom and teach me your power."

Sit in meditation with the energy of Ixchel and be open to any messages or guidance that she has to offer you. Keep the red candle to light and reconnect to your inner medicine and magick at some other time if you need it.

Dark Moon Mini-ritual (1)

Preparation ~ create a sacred space that is quiet and safe, where you won't be interrupted. Decorate with the color black, and prepare a black candle. Bring items that represent those who have crossed over. Bring an offering for Ixchel.

Light your black candle. Then call to Ixchel out loud: "Ixchel, I honor and celebrate you. Please accept this offering as a token of my humbleness and awe of your magnificence and power."

"Oh Great Goddess, Keeper of the Bones and the Dead, watch over my beloved <person> and show them the way if they get lost. Teach me wisdom in the midst of my grief and pain."

Sit in meditation with the energy of Ixchel and be open to any messages or guidance that she has to offer you. Keep the black candle to light again if you need to revisit your grief or loved ones.

Dark Moon Mini-ritual (2)

Think ahead ~ what aspect of your life do you want to be healed at this time?

Preparation ~ create a sacred space near water (river, bathtub, shower, pond, ocean) that is quiet and safe, where you won't be interrupted. Decorate with the color black, and prepare a black candle. Bring an item that represents what you are healing. Bring an offering for Ixchel.

Light your black candle. Then call to Ixchel out loud: "Ixchel, I honor and celebrate you. Please accept this offering as a token of my humbleness and awe of your magnificence and power."

Enter into the water. "Oh Great Goddess, Crone, Destroyer, Goddess of Waters and Rainstorms. Ixchel with your mighty bucket of water, destroy that which is no longer healthy, cleanse me inside and out, and wash it all away. I honor and release <what you are healing> - it is yours now Great Goddess Ixchel."

Sit in meditation with the energy of Ixchel and be open to any messages or guidance that she has to offer you. Burn the black candle all the way to remind you to submit to healing on all levels.
Back to Gallery

Join a School