Animkiig

Today for Indigenous American history month I wanted to write about Animkiig, the Anishinaabe Thunderbird, a spirit of weather, and the upperworld. Animkiig are large eagle-like birds created by Nanabozo. Animkiig were created to balance Mishibizhiw and the Great Horned Serpents, Mishi-ginebig. Thunderbirds are common spirits across different cultures in Turtle Island, including the Great

Hešucka

Today for Indigenous American history month I wanted to write about Hešucka (Red Horn), a Plains spirit of protection. He is one of the five sons of Creator (Mą’ųna). Deer are sacred to Red Horn. He is a major spirit called upon during the closed ritual often called the pipe ceremony. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Horn?wprov=sfla1

Xtabay

Today for spooky season I wanted to write about Xtabay, a Mayan goddess of death, seduction, and forests. Xtabay was once a mortal woman named Utz-colel, who was beautiful and pure, but cruel of heart. Her sister Xkeban was outcast for her promiscuity but she was kind to animals and the poor. When Xkeban died

Tlāloc

For Indigenous peoples day, I wanted to write about Tlāloc, an Aztec god of storms, earthquakes, fertility, and the afterlife. Tlāloc was created by the four Tezcatlipocas, who include Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Huītzilōpōchtli, and Xipe-Totec. He is the consort of Xochiquetzal and/or Chalchiuhtlicue. He was synchronized with Chaac. Common offerings to Tlāloc are the Mexican merigold.

Heyoka

Today, for National Day for the Truth and Reconciliation, I wanted to write about Heyoka, a sacred spirit in traditional Lakota beliefs associated with thunder and lightning. Heyoka isn’t a single deity but instead a spirit that will incarnate as different members of a community who have had interactions with the Wakinyan (Thunder beings). One

Qʼuqʼumatz

With today being World Indigenous Peoples Day, and it being dragon month I wanted to write about Qʼuqʼumatz, a Mayan god of creation, wind, and the sky. They are the sibling of Tepeu, who they created the world and humanity with. Qʼuqʼumatz is closely associated with Quetzalcoatl and Kukulkan, as well as Itzamna. Qʼuqʼumatz likely

Awilix

Happy full moon today, I wanted to write about Awilix, a Mayan goddess of the moon, night, death, sickness, and Ollamaliztli. Although most often she was depicted with feline or bird-like features early images of Mayan Lunar deities showed her with crocodilian or draconic features. In a syncretic form she was a lover of Saint

Maximón

Today, for Indigenous Heritage Month, I wanted to write about Maximón/San Simón, a Guatemalan folk saint of health, agriculture, marriage, business, and death. Maximón was an elder who reincarnated to protect his people. During the Spanish Conquest, an elder named Ri Laj Mam, upset by the evils of the Spaniards, encouraged his people to start

Ptecincala Ska Wakan Winan

Today for Indigenous heritage month I wanted to write about Ptecincala Ska Wakan Winan, commonly called White Buffalo Calf Woman, a sacred woman in Lakota spirituality. During a time of famine, a Lakota cheif sent two scouts to search for food. While the two men hunted, they saw a woman dressed in white leather surrounded

Wendigo

Today, for Indigenous heritage month, I wanted to write about Wendigo, an Algonquin spirit of winter, greed, evil. and cannibalism. A W-ndigo is created when a human commits the abomination of cannibalism corrupting their spirit. After this they go through a metamorphosis becoming a tall slender androgynous figure with few remaining humanoid characteristics known for

Chin

Today, for Pride Month, I wanted to write about Chin, a Mayan deity of homosexuality. Chin was documented by Bishop Bartolomé de las Casas as being venerated in Guatemala by younger unmarried men as a “‘demon’ representing sexual acts between men.” It’s likely that his priests were all queer. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chin_%28deity%29?wprov=sfla1

Nokomis

With the full moon tonight and it being Indigenous History Month I wanted to write about Nokomis, an Ojibwe spirit of the moon. Nokomis is the mother of Wenonah, therefore the grandmother of Nanabozo. After Wenonah died giving birth, Nokomis raised her grandsons. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokomis?wprov=sfla1

Deer Woman

Today I wanted to write about Deer Woman, also called Anukite (Lakota), an Indigenous love and fertility spirit from the Great Plains and Northeastern Woodlands who is a protector of women, children, and two-spirit people. Deer Woman often visits women in their dreams as a sign of pregnancy. She also has a more vengeful side

Hah-nu-nah

For earth day I wanted to write about Hah-nu-nah or Mikinoc Waajew, an Anishinaabe and Iroquios spirit of the earth. When Sky Woman fell to earth, there was no land. All the animals of the water took turns trying to bring mud up from the bottom of the ocean. When Muskrat dived, he reached to

Chalchiuhtlicue

Today I wanted to write about Chalchiuhtlicue, a Mesoamerican goddess of water, rivers, lakes, seas, and storms. Chalchiuhtlicue was created by the four Tezcatlipocas (Quetzalcoatl, Huītzilōpōchtli, Tezcatlipoca, and Xipe-Totec) to be the fourth sun but ended the worldby havingnonstoprain for 52 years. She is married to Tlāloc and is the mother of Tēcciztēcatl. The pyramid

Tlazōlteōtl

Wrapping up after Valentine’s day I wanted to write about Tlazōlteōtl, an Indigenous Mesoamerican goddess of lust, desire, filth, steam baths, and purification. She’s a daughter of Tōnacācihuātl. Her main consort is Piltzintecuhtli who she had Centeōtl with. Tlazōlteōtl both encourages but punishes vices and purifies those who commit them. Sometimes is a man developed

Quetzalcoatl

As a bonus for Dragon Week 2, I wanted to write about Quetzalcoatl a Toltec God worshipped by many Indigenous Mesoamerican peoples whose domain includes light, dawn, wisdom, day, venus, wind, and the West. Quetzalcoatl is one of the four Tezcatlipocas, children of Tonacatecuhtli and Tōnacācihuātl, the other of the four Tezcatlipocas include Tezcatlipoca, Xipetotec,

Huītzilōpōchtli

As November is Native heritage month I wanted to write about Huītzilōpōchtli, a Mesoamerican god of war, sacrifice, fire, the sun, and hummingbirds. Huītzilōpōchtli, sometimes called the Blue Tezcatlipoca, is a son of Tonacatecuhtli and Tōnacācihuātl, or Mixcoatl and Cōātlīcue. As one of the four Tezcatlipocas he is the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, and

Xolotl

As today is indigenous peoples day I wanted to write about Xolotl, a Mesoamerican psychopomp and god of fire, lightning, twins, monsters, misfortune, sickness, deformities, and venus. Xolotl is the twin brother of Quetzalcoatl; they’re the sons of Chīmalmā and, sometimes, Mixcoatl. Xolotl is the protector of Quetzalcoatl as he travels through Mictlān during the

Glooscap

For those unaware today is National day for the truth and reconciliation in Canada, because of this I wanted to spotlight an Indigenous story and chose Glooscap, a Wabanaki trickster spirit. Tabaldak created Glooscap and his brother Malsumis from dust after creating humans. Glooscap and Malsumis created balance in the world as Glooscap does good

Kokopelli

With Mabon coming up I wanted to take a week to write about different harvest and agricultural deities, starting with Kokopelli, an agricultural, fertility, rain, and music trickster deity, who is occasionally given a Lunar association, venerated by various Indigenous peoples from the South West of Turtle Island including the Hopi and Zuni. In some

Mishibizhiw

To wrap up dragon week I wanted to write about Mishibizhiw, an Ojibwe draconic feline water spirit that protects the Great Lakes and the rivers and lakes that branch off of them. Depending on the stories there’s either one Mishibizhiw that lives in Lake Superior or is a species that lives in all the rivers