Discovering Fall in New York

La Reina has really been getting around this month. The Fall is a great time for biking, and I'm seeing nature on two wheels!
The other day I went to Spuyten Duyvil, the Bronx. This hidden place overlooks the northern tip of Manhattan.
See? Muy romantico

To get there, you have to go uphill. But that's OK, it's fun going down again afterwards.

What kind of bike do I have? I'll have to show you later. I'm jealous of some of the pimped out two-wheeled vehicles I have seen up here. I think I'm gonna buy a fruit basket for my bike.

Dancing on the boardwalk

Well it’s summer so I love to get some sun. I like to walk around and it’s a good way for the fruit on my hat to ripen. Well, this weekend I was over at Coney Island, thinking of Puerto Rico. Who doesn’t think of Puerto Rico when they’re next to the beach?

And then I heard some wonderful salsa music. Right on the boardwalk is a tent where a band plays and people dance. You should see the people at this free party. Men and women, young and old were getting down to the rhythm of the drums and the waves. Some who did not fit into these categories were also there. That’s right, I took a picture of a guy with a beard and a dress and an African grey parrot.

I'll show you some pictures of me swimming later when I can drag Sherwin out of the office to go with me.

A very creative goddess

My name is Izanami. In the Shinto tradition of Japan, I created the ground that people walk on. And when you're on islands surrounded by water, that means a lot.

First, in the high plain of heaven, several gods were created: Izanagi, and me. Izanagi and I went down a bridge from heaven to the edge of the water and poked at it with a spear, making a little dry spot. We then made a large pillar. We walked around it several times. [Sometimes this story gets sexist because I speak first and this upsets the balance of nature. Just keep reading though, and you will see that women are very important in this tradition.] Then I noticed that his body, while perfectly formed, had an extra piece sticking out. Then he noticed that my body, while perfectly formed, had a little piece missing. As we decided what to do with our discovery, we made love. Because of this act of ours, the sea quaked and islands began to rise up out of the water. Today, that place is called Japan.

After quite some time, we had created an archipelago and also a few more gods. The moon god came out of me, then my thug son Susa-no-O (the storm god). But when I tried to give birth to the fire god, it really hurt. Ouch! I was so burned, I died.

Izanami was upset and went down into the underworld to talk to me. This story is similar to the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. He wasn't supposed to look back at me but he did. Demons chased up above ground and he put a big rock in the opening to the underworld.

Goddess of the arts

Do you like pictures and music and poetry?

I do! I'm the goddess of the arts.

In Hinduism I am called Saraswati. I was welcomed by Buddhists who call me Benzaiten.

No matter the religion, you want arts and I got arts!
I am usually shown with four arms, holding stuff. I date back to the era of Vedic literature.

Poetry — the Rigveda contains hymns, representing poetry

Prose — Yajurveda contains prose

Music — Samaveda represents music.

The four hands show this — prose is represented by the book in one hand, poetry by the garland of crystal, music by the veena (stringed instrument). The pot of sacred water represents purity in all of these three, or their power to purify human thought.

I am known to be the consort of Brahma, who is the creator of the universe. I am very creative, too, of course.
Sometimes a swan or peacock is shown next to me. The bird represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having it as my mount, I teach not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth.

She's a Bad Mama Jama

You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

I break a lot of things. I'm Kali, Goddess of Death, Change and Eternal Energy. My name means "black".

I look mean but I get things done. Let's face it, for new things to come we have to let go of old things. Without death, how would there be room for new life?

I am the consort of Shiva, known as the Destroyer.

One time, I really enjoyed a battle. I was drunk on the blood of my victims on the battlefield, dancing with destructive frenzy. I didn't see the body of my husband, Shiva, who was among the corpses on the battlefield. I even stepped on him. The cries of Shiva attracted my attention, calming my fury. I stopped killing and stuck out my tongue.

A myth depicts the infant Shiva calming me. In this story, I again defeat my enemies on the battlefield and begin to dance out of control, drunk on the blood of the slain. To calm me down and to protect the stability of the world, Shiva is sent to the battlefield, as an infant, crying aloud. Seeing the child's distress, I cease dancing to take care of the helpless infant. I pick him up, kiss his head, and proceed to breast feed the infant Shiva. This myth depicts me in my benevolent, maternal aspect; something that is revered in Hinduism, but not often recognized in the West.

I carry a garland of severed hands around with me because I am free from the cycle of karma. I also carry a garland of severed heads because each one represents a letter of the alphabet and I am the mother of language and prayer. Hopefully I can help others with what is real and truly important.

Many know me as the eternal mother. To all of you, Happy Mother's Day!

Goddess of Compassion

Did you ever wish there was someone listening to you? That is me, the Goddess of Compassion.

In Sanskrit, my name Avalokiteshvara means "The one who looks down".

The Chinese name Kuan Yin and Japanese Kannon or Kanzeon means "Observing the cries of the world"

I am a Boddhisattva, one who attained a high level of sprirituality but made a vow to help others.I will not go on to Nirvana without helping all others attain enlightenment.

So why in some art am I a man and in some art am I a woman?
I started off as a male.By the time the Jesuits arrived in China, I was widely worshipped there.Do you know what Marketing is? That's when you try to find out what people want so you can sell them something.The Jesuits wanted everyone to like the Virgin Mary. The Chinese responded by making a female version of Kuan Yin.Buddhism is very accepting that way. So now I'm a female.

You can find statues of me with 1,000 arms. Well, sometimes there are only a few hundred symbolic arms.The picture above from Toshodaiji has more than 900 arms. And I am holding the following charms: lotus, sword, wheel of karma, bell, rosary, jewel, mirror, axe, vajra, trident, lasso, bow, arrow, and other things I can use to help people.

In Tibet I am called Chenrezig. Tradition there has evolved. I have severl forms, such as the "horse head" form. I am the protector of animals (and humans reborn as animals). I look mad because I attack ignorance and evil passion.

Goddess of beauty

Do you know why I am so beautiful? Because I'm eclectic.

I keep getting more beautiful as time goes by. Why? Because I'm never out of fashion. In fact, I am fashion.

In the Hindu tradition, I am called Lakshmi. I am beauty, grace, charm and good luck. I am wife of Vishnu. Not bad! Because I am multifaceted and organic, I am also compared to a lotus flower.

In Buddhism, I was renamed Kichijoten and borrowed, along with my full wardrobe. This gave me a chance to try on new clothes. In the painting above from the 700s, I am wearing the same gown as a Chinese Empress. I am one of the 7 gods of fortune.

In Tokyo, Japan there is a neighborhood called Kichijoji. You can go to my temple, and then you can go shopping all day. So much beauty, so little time!