A Gift from Yemaya

I had a moment of clarity this morning, while pushing through my eliptical, post meditation workout, regarding the path I've been on . It was one of those moments where everything seems so clear, and the dots are connected for you, before your very eyes. 
There are times in my life where I feel strongly compelled, to do something, sometimes it makes sense and other times it doesn't, but I try to follow my intuition whenever possible. It was 8 years ago that I reached out to begin volunteering at a local gallery which lead me down an amazing career path, but also down an incredible journey of the Spirit. It was in my first year, then, after taking over as the gallery coordinator, that an artist friend took me to Tatamagouche to take part in a small drumming circle and journey meditation with her friend, the daughter of a Shaman.
I've always been a seeker, compelled to seek out God and a deeper connection spiritually to All That Is. I've tried different Churches and groups, dabbled with Buddhism and have very much enjoyed the Iconography and connection to Mary through the Rosary in the Catholic Church, so heartachingly beautiful. But I was not prepared for the impact of the journey on which I was about to embark. 
It was a small smudging ceremony with which we started and then my journey began, I was wide open and it was a great journey first led through acres of a snowy desert by an imposing Polar Bear, after which I was visited by two Owls - my Great-Grandparents who raised me and have long since passed. The messages were loud and clear, a flood of tears poured from my eyes and I emerged forever changed...
I've continued this manner of meditation since and have been blessed with many astounding moments of revelation and I still hunger for that deep connection to God - a direct line, a Holy embrace. This morning was no different and some days have a stronger connection than others - just like my cell phone! ;)
I always start with a blessing and intention prayer, and very soon after "entering the Spirit Realm," among other beings, I saw a great Gargoyle, so I hopped on and off we went flying through miles of clouds and sky, then off into the stars. Very suddenly a gargantuan Figure began to rise up before me. She was glorious, near mermaid but far more important, a Divine Spirit, a Goddess, like few I've seen before. We were in the Ocean. She was great and kind and Love and so very beautiful, I was awestruck and couldn't hear her, distracted by Her beauty. Vast robes of endless blues, a crown of Jewels with many points and the most intricate structure of jewelled adornments upon her shoulders and bodice I've ever seen. She was Good. The most Divine Good. Finally She parted and left me a gift in a box tied with ribbon. I opened it - "open it slowly," I heard. Untying the bow and cherishing every second, every movement. I removed the lid to find a small frog statuette, which, when I held to lift out of the box, was actually the handle atop the lid of a white cauldron. Inside the cauldron was a Lotus Flower. "Eat it," I heard Her whisper, so I did and then She held out a spoon and I drank the Moon's sustenance once again. I spent the final moments of meditation in amazement. This was a big one...
After every meditation I look up the symbolism I've received to glean meaning. I've never seen this Woman before so I searched 'Ocean Goddess' and found Yemaya, of whom I've not heard before. But all the depictions I've come across are similar to what was presented to me... "Yemaja’s themes are providence, blessing, luck and fertility.  Her symbols are fish, the color blue and the crescent moon.  Yemaja, the Nigerian Goddess of flowering water, bears a name that literally means ‘fish mother!’ read more here: https://journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/goddess-yemaja/
This morning I realized two things, God is not a singular Deity with Whom we can communicate, God is All Things, Everywhere, in Every Realm and can speak to you in endless ways, you just have to be open to it. I also realized that this past 7 years have been quite a journey, not only of heart, art, career... but very much of Spirit, and I continue to receive many gifts from the Universe of Spirits, of God and feel strongly that this is a great transitional period that I'm in (we're all in).
​The past Seven years have been very much like that snowy desert of the soul I first encountered, I've learned so much and I'd like to think I've grown as a person in phenomenal ways - still not perfect but striving towards living a compassionate, loving, creative and joyful life, and being able to drink in moments of wonder and joy, being able to accept and feel worthy of love from others and to reciprocate it, and most of all, appreciating myself for all that I am, holistically and wholly, a Divine being, as are we all. <3