MERMAID MILAGROS
by Oceanna de la Mer




Play with me, laugh with me, in waves capped with foam,
I am a mermaid and this is my home.



Dive deep, down, down into the world below the waves.......
into the realm of dreams and dimensions seen only with an open and loving heart......
where miracles and prayers are manifest through the magic and mystery of love.










Play… it is the very heart of worshipping with milagros.
~ Lunaea Weatherstone







You may be wondering, just what is a Milagro? (pronounced, mee LAH gro) Or if you already know, you may be questioning, why the Mermaid symbol combined to form part of the Milagro?

Traditionally, Milagros, ("miracle" in Spanish) or ex-voto ("from my vow" in Latin) are charms made in an image and used as a form of prayer, to pray for a miracle, or to give thanks for desires that have already been fulfilled.

The symbolic shapes reflect the request of the petitioner for divine intercession. It could be; a prayer request for healing an ailment; for an abundant garden or harvest; an appeal for protection; a prayer for a lover; to symbolize a sacred promise made; or as gratitude for blessings granted. Milagros may also symbolize a prayer to the Divine, for the power of those spiritual forces to come into one's life.

Their origin is uncertain since they have been around for thousands and thousands of years and have been part of many different cultures. According to writer Catherine Yronwode, "Modern Catholic and Orthodox European ex-votos and colonial Latin American milagros have their roots in neolithic offerings and votary figures of the bronze age which were continued in the traditions of ancient Greece, ancient Rome, Catholicism, and Hinduism. Ex votos exist at the boundary between object-oriented magic and devotionary prayer. They have a record of thousands of years of use in many cultures."

Milagros can be any size, flat or three dimensional, made of gold, silver, wood, glass, pottery, plaster, lead, tin, bone, or wax....just about anything really. They may be images of people, animals, body parts, fruits and vegetables, household objects, money, as well as tools, cars, planes or even electronic equipment...the only limit is the imagination. Milagros may be reflective of a personal spirit, totem, or animistic alter ego, or reflect qualities which you would like to develop within yourself.

Sometimes, complete prayers or single inspirational words may be written on milagros, or even the name of the person who the prayer request is made for. Many people will wear their Milagro on their person as jewelry or carry it in a pocket if it is small enough, while others may attach their Milagro to a statue of the Deity who they worship.

Still others may place their magical talisman or Milagro in a shrine which is dedicated to a particular Saint, God/dess, Angel, Deity or Spiritual being of their faith, who they worship and/or have dedicated themselves to. A prayer may be said at that time and in some cultures, candles and incense may be lit. A vow is then said which will be carried out if the prayer is granted and the milagro is then offered to the Deity as a token of the vow (hence the name "ex voto") and placed on or in the shrine. Typical vows might include promises to donate a certain amount of money to a charity, or the offer to volunteer time to help out a local community group, or, if one feels responsible for a problem, a vow to perform penance is made in some cultures.

Milagros are a simple, playful and empowering way to embody and enrich our faith, helping us to recognize the sacredness of everyday life. Their presence can help us focus our intention on our spiritual path with daily devotions, and gratitude to the Divine source for the blessings received. Used as amulets and talismans, Milagros are an important part of the magical and symbolic heritage common to all cultures, and whose power and magic continues to influence and enrich our lives today.

Author Helen Thompson writes, "milagros are symbolic of a covenant between a believer and a higher spirit, tangible testimony that a promise has been fulfilled… Whether you look at their place in your life as a symbol that you are trying something new or as a means to focus yourself on a transition, milagros offer an alternative approach to spirituality."

For more information on Milagros, check out the article, "I Need a Miracle Every Day" by Lunaea Weatherstone at http://www.lunaea.com/words/milagros.html

As for the question of why the Mermaid symbol combined as part of every Milagro I create? Well let me take you back many, many years ago when I was a little girl standing before the ocean for the very first time. It was at that moment that I became entranced by the sea, in awe of Her power and energy, it was also at that first visit to the ocean that I became fascinated by Mermaids. Their image stirred a longing deep within, feelings of familiarity emerged and the flame of kinship was ignited.

However, life for me continued in human form but I never lost my fascination for, or my feelings of connection with Mermaids, or my love for our Mother Ocean. The Mermaid became a magical symbol for me, a connection to my emotional and sensual nature, and my strong sense of intuition that guides me. Through Her I have learned many lessons, the most important of which I believe is that of learning to 'Free Flow.'



"Free Flow - Going with the flow. Releasing all rigid preconceptions and anxieties. Allowing guidance and harmony to flow through us. Manifesting, even as we set intentions and goals. Relaxing as we await the nudge of guidance. Letting go and letting flow. Moving through life in a relaxed, flowing manner. Allowing Divine Will to lead, instead of our own will. Being open to letting synchronicity and guidance, as well as signs and symbols, direct us. Being in collaboration with the universe. Knowing everything in the universe flows......from the biggest form of matter to the subatomic particles. "

~Nancy Clemens, author of "A Guide to The Dolphin Divination Cards"





Mermaids have existed since the dawn of time in many different cultures around the world, from the earliest creation myths of Babylon and Mesopotamia to the West African creation goddess Yemaya, often eluding at the origin of life itself, which began in the sea. According to Scarlett deMason, author of Shadows of the Goddess, "the Mermaid archetype is so widespread among cultures that one may conclude it is very ancient, and fulfills a particular need in the human collective consciousness."

Among other things, I see the Mermaid as a shaman of the sea, she who guides us to walk between the two worlds of our emotional/intuitive side represented by water and our intellectual/rational side represented by air. She who leads us to visions and the mysteries of life. She can dive deep down into the dark world of our unconscious depths and discover our hidden desires and the pearls of our truth and wisdom. She can also rise above and master the waves as she reaches skyward bringing forth that wisdom from the depths, initiating the awakening of consciousness and the emergence of wholeness/holiness of oneself.

The Mermaid embodies the principal of transformation and serves as an escort, whether from one physical location to another or from one state of mind to another. She calls to us to surrender to the unknown; to accept and flow with change; to open our hearts to the blessings change brings; to let go of who we are and move beyond our old limitations and accept who we are becoming as we emerge into our new form with greater knowledge and understanding. The Mermaid reminds us to flow with the truth of our inner selves, and let our struggles become as ephemeral as sea foam.



"Something is calling you. Something is calling from the quiet space inside and from the vast universe all around. Something is calling forth the stream inside you and awakening you to your connection with the source. ~Paul Williams



Sometimes the mermaid is portrayed with two thrashing tails, exemplifying a writhing serpent and the awakened kundalini, reminding us that Her energy is that of shakti in motion.....transformative and of the deep subconscious part of our selves. Symbolizing spiritual transformation, Medieval books on alchemy describe the Mermaid as lactating the milk of enlightenment.

According to Barbara Walker's "The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets......"Mermaid literally means "Virgin of the Sea," the mermaid was an image of fish tailed Aphrodite, the medieval Minne, Maerin, Mari, Marina, mereminne, mare-mynd, mareminde, marraminde, or maraeman. Her Death-Goddess aspect, sometimes named Ran, received the souls of those put to sea in funeral boats; or she might trap living men in her fish net."

Half woman, half fish, the lovely mermaid known as the "Virgin of the Sea", is a persistent symbol of the old Goddess energy and represents the merciful and divine feminine in each of us. She holds the mystery of the sea, reminding us that life originated in the great sea womb.

Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea was a name given to many, including Isis, Aphrodite, Ishtar, Venus as well as the Virgin Mary. Mari which means 'Mother Sea' is one of the most ancient names of the Goddess and she is often depicted wearing a blue robe which is edged with pearly white seafoam. She is also know as "La Diosa del Mar" - Goddess of the Sea by Spanish Catholics.

The Mermaid, whether viewed as a representation of the Goddess or a charming mythical being, is a powerful symbol to use in visualization, She can be invited into your life through prayer, meditation or magical means and Her energy used for peaceful purposes and those which honour the sacred life force of all. As you begin to understand the sacred symbolic powers of these Mermaid Milagros and start to work with the energies with a clear and single point focus, a world of supportive blessings may be yours.

According to author Nancy Clemens, "When a manifestation is for the highest good, it seems to get a lot of 'spiritual back-up,' if we don't smother it with worry and anxiety. We let our intentions fly free, where they flow into the void of all creativity. There, unhampered, they will find their resonance, like iron filings to a magnet. Magically in genie fashion, our visualized intentions manifest."

It is my hope that you will enjoy owning one of my playful Mermaid Milagros as much as I have enjoyed creating them, imbuing them with loving energy and blessing them, before sending them on their way to manifest their magical purpose. They are the dreams and wishes of my heart, manifest through the creative spirit within me with the purpose of bestowing blessings and love upon those who are drawn to them.



View my creations at the care2.com site. My link is http://my.care2.com/oceannadelamare although you may have to sign up with care2 in order to view it.



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