Ix Chel (pronounced e’ shell or eesh-chel) is the ancient moon goddess worshipped by the Maya throughout the Yucatán peninsula, Southern Mexico, and as far south as El Salvador for more than a millennium.  Cozumel, called Ah-Cuzamil-Peten, or "Island of Swallows", her sacred island, is the largest of the chain in the Caribbean Sea, located in the jurisdiction of Quintana Roo territory.  For hundreds of years, women would make the 12 mile trip from the mainland to Cozumel by boat to offer gifts and seek the blessings of Ix Chel.  Every Mayan woman was expected to make this pilgrimage at least once in her lifetime, and many shrines dedicated to Ix Chel still stand today.

In Mayan mythology, Ix Chel is the Mother of a pantheon of deities; she is an insightful, serene, and resplendent goddess, presiding over the Cycle of Life and acting as Keeper of Bones and the Souls of the Dead.  Ix Chel is a shape shifter, portrayed as often as a young maiden radiant with the prosperity of life, as she is portrayed as a wizened crone sharing the wisdom of the ages with her people.  She is the Patroness of Weavers and the makers of clothing, as well as an inspiration to artisans and crafters.  Her frequent depiction holding the sacred womb jar upside down over the earth emphasizes that Ix Chel ensures that the waters of creation flow in abundance.

Legend teaches us that Ix Chel once took the Sun as her lover, but was killed by lightening bolts hurled at her by her grandfather in a fit of jealous rage.  For thirteen days, dragonflies sang over her in mourning, their magic bringing her back to our world alive and whole.  Her sojourn in the palace of her lover, the Sun, was brief.  Accusing her of unfaithfulness with his brother, the Morning Star, the Sun evicted Ix Chel from heaven, then changed his mind and pleaded for her return.  Soon he grew jealous again, and one legend tells how he "took her brilliance away after they quarreled, leaving her with only a silvery light".  Drained and saddened by the inexplicable and unpredictable behavior of the Sun, Ix Chel left to wander the night, and forever after would make herself invisible whenever the Sun appeared.  In this way, she is free to come and go as she chooses, allowing no one to own her, and demonstrating her supreme independence of body and spirit.

Of all the valuable lessons this Goddess has to teach us, the most important is that it is vital to allow your creative energy to flow.  Your personal innovations may range as widely and diversely as the women of earth themselves:  from experimenting with new cooking herbs to painting a self portrait ... from singing an aria to birthing a child ... from knitting a sweater to dancing on the side of the river ... these and thousands of other acts are our way each day to channel the power and energy of our creativity into our lives and the lives of those around us.  Expressing our originality makes us healthy and happy ... the very act nurtures, revitalizes, heals.  Take the time to explore the possibilities of your creative outlets ... cherish them, open yourself to them and make them a part of your daily life.