Happy New Year to all! May this lovely full blue moon bring you light and happiness that will stay with you throughout the year!

Alahtin is the Chumash Goddess of the moon. The Chumash of southern California say that her light serves to purify the world. Alahtin lives in the Upper World, which is held up by the wings of Slo’w, the Great Eagle. At some times of the month, her light is obscured by Slo’w stretching out his wings. Alahtin also governs health, particularly women’s menses.

Tsonoqwa is the Kwakwaka’wakw Goddess of the forest. The Kwakwaka’wakw of British Columbia say that she is a giant who lives in the woods to protect the forest creatures. Tsonoqwa has a taste for human flesh, though, and tries to lure unsuspecting children into the woods with candy and treasures. She is depicted as black-skinned and hairy, with sunken eyes and red pursed lips. Tsonoqwa calls out “Hu, hu!” as she roams through the woods looking for children who have strayed from their homes, and carries a basket on her back to catch them in. However, she is said to be not terribly bright, and most children are able to outwit her and run away. Tsonoqwa’s name is also seen as Tsonoqua, Dzunukwa, and Dzonoqua, and she is also known as the Wild Woman of the Woods.

Lenang Mana is the Hopi Kachina of spring water. She and Lenang, her male counterpart, appear at winter solstice and mark the beginning of the kachina season. Lenang plays a flute to draw water to the springs, allowing fertility to return to the land. Lenang Mana’s name, which means “flute maiden,” is also seen as Lenya Mana or Lehang Mana.

I have been rather busy this week looking after a brand new puppy, so my plan to getting back to posting kind of fell through. Here’s my second try, and you can expect an animal theme for awhile!

Wakas Mana is the Hopi Kachina of cattle. She and her male counterpart act as messengers to the Rain Gods, and their song and dance are prayers to keep the cattle healthy and plentiful. After their dance, villages took feathers from their costumes to take back to their homes. Wakas Mana’s name means “cow maiden.”

Bright Cloud Woman is the Tsimshian Goddess of salmon. She was married to Raven for a brief time, but when he blamed her for the way a comb that he had made from a salmon backbone tugged at his hair, she left him and took the salmon with her. Bright Cloud Woman had the ability to create salmon just by dipping her fingers into water, and to transform herself into fog. She is also known as Salmon Woman and Fog Woman, and legends of her are common to many West Coast native traditions.

Gyhldeptis is the Haida Goddess of the forest. She was a beneficent Goddess who protected the people of the coastal forests. A nearby whirlpool, Kaegyihl Depgeesk (”upside down place”), was proving to be very treacherous to travelers, dragging down their ships. In a bid to stop the destruction, Gyhldeptis invited the other local powers to a great feast. In her Festival House, she negotiated with the spirits of the wind, the ice, and the forest fire, and they agreed to help Gyhldeptis. Between them, they shaped the coast, turning the whirlpool into a river that would no longer be a danger to the people. Gyhldeptis’s name means “lady hanging hair,” symbolic of the hanging branches of the great cedar trees of her forest.

Yung’a Mana is the Hopi Kachina of the Soyohim ceremony. She carries a basket filled with prickly pear and a pair of tongs to lift them out. Her mate, Yung’a, is the Kachina who is responsible for ensuring that the springs that come from the earth are kept clean, in anticipation of the growing season. Yung’a Mana’s name, which means “cactus maiden,” is also seen as Yuna Mana, Yunga Mana, Yunya Mana, and Navuk’china Mana.

Horo Mana is the Hopi Kachina of winter (and bad hair days). She participates in the ritual of the Powamu or bean dance, accompanying her grandson, Nuvak’china, who brings the cold winter winds. Horo Mana carries a comb made of yucca that she uses to mess up people’s hair, the way the wind messes with hers. Her name, which means “comb hair upwards maiden,” is also seen as Yohozro Wuhti (”cold bringing woman”) or Massan Wuhti (”motioning woman”).

Ahola Mana is the Hopi Kachina of the Soyal Ceremony, celebrated at the winter solstice. The ceremony is intended to turn the sun back from its winter course and bring life back to the land. Ahola Mana and her associated male Kachina, Ahola, travel from house to house and mark the outer walls with corn meal. The women of the house take seeds from the basket that Ahola Mana holds. Her name means “divine germination maiden.”

A-ha Mana is the Hopi Kachina of the Powamu or bean dance. She is one of the many Kachina Manas, or female spirits, who participate in the ritual ceremonies of the Hopi. A-ha Mana accompanies A-ha, a male Kachina, to the bean dance at the Second Mesa.