Monday, December 12, 2011

Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day...Why She Counts.

Illustration by Kathy Cano-Murillo

"Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear any sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything." ~ Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego


If you don't know the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe than read it here.

We often forget about Our Lady of Guadalupe but I think it's important to pay honor to her in some form since today December 12th is her Feast Day.

She is yet another incarnation of the Divine Female Aspect of God as all religions have. Some days you might identify more strongly to one or two like Our Lady of Lourdes and Kwan Yin and other days to another like Lakshmi. It depends upon who speaks to you the most at that given time for what you need more of in yourself or your life. There is also a patron Mother Figure you have just like a patron saint or guardian that you will always feel forever connected to as they are. It is the one that you always turn back to or seem to have a unchanging bond with as well as similar character.

Our Lady of Guadalupe not only represents the purest form of love, but also fertility, crushing injustice, and creative abundance. If you are struggling with having a child then call to her. If you need more creative ways to earn money with your art projects then she is there for this purpose. Perhaps you want more love for yourself, to fall in love, or have a great romance with..petition her. If a legal or financial mess has you anxious than ask for her to come in and help.

Her colors are that of the rich earth. She is draped in green showing the prosperous amount of love she holds for the entire Earth just like the grass is a soft place to rest upon so is she. The sun behind her shows that all life grows from God and that you too are illumined with that ability to mold and bring to the living that which starts out as a seedling and than can becomes rich plants, trees, and flowers. Lastly her dress adorned in a deepish gold with reddish tints and black sash showing she is pregnant with child and is about the warmth of life and understanding that the wealth is really found in the simple virtues of family, faith, generosity and of course love.

The small angel at the very bottom of her feet with horns represents that no matter what burdensome issue happens it will go beneath you and you will rise above it. It will not defeat you or squash your character and what you have to fulfill.

With all of these beautiful colors it reminds you of a palette of paint and how doing an art form embodies the same qualities that are shown through her image.

You can decorate an altar as I did with the colors of red and green with roses, poinsettias, red and green peppermint candies in a dish, little cookies or sweets, Mexican Hot Chocolate as offerings, a rosary, money, and saying a prayer while leaving a candle on for her in white, green, red, or pink(I use battery operated ones). Make sure to put her image in the center.

You can say a prayer such as this one below I created blow. There are also more prayers to look through here you may find better suited from Beliefnet.

Our Lady of Guadalupe,
You are a Mother of Every Person,
A loving anchor in this time of darkness.
You spoke to St. Juan Diego a simple man
the truth that we are not to be disturbed
by any event or person because you are there.
Please help us remember to cherish each
person in our lives who walks in generous
creed,
And to protect the innocent lives that
are personally affected by crime and poverty.
Give them back their footing that they will rise
up against the obstacles they are facing and
make successful progress to improve their quality of
living.
Watch over your beloved Mexico as
many have suffered losses that one
at times does not have the spirit or heart
to hold in one's conscious.
May they feel your comfort through their tears
and be given peace again along with the will to
alter their futures so that they are used as
instruments of lasting, positive change in their
community, government, and law.
Send aid to end the violence that goes on
not only in Mexico but our backyards.
Always show us how to live nobly and with
our hearts in the best places.
Let us remember that love has the opportunity
to grow and strengthen each day it just depends
upon if we decided to water it or let
it remain thirsty.
I ask for this special intention (state what you need)
and ask that you pour your graces upon it.
Amen.

Remember her words and know that she does nurture us with her loving kindness.

This can start an entire new relationship that you will want to hone and utilize year round not only on her feast day but every day.


Resources:

The Complete Encyclopedia of Angels: A Guide to 200 Celestial Beings to Help, Heal, and Assist You in Everyday Life by Susan Gregg

Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess by Catherine Wishart

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