Hmmm, its raining.

The rainy season is fast approaching.

A lot has been attributed to the rain. But actually, it is the most wonderful season for me. Cozying up in a huge blanket looking at the drops of rain.

Rain is such a mysterious entity. It destroys, yet brings life. The japanese has one goddess that harnesses the power of rain.

The Great Goddess Spirit Shining in Heaven, Amaterasu Omikami, this Japanese Sun Goddess ruled weaving and agriculture. She is also known as the goddess of snow and rain.

Disgusted with her brother because of his violence toward women, Amaterasu enclosed herself in a cave and refused to come out. Eight hundred deities gathered outside her self-made isolation and tried to lure her out with a loud celebration. Hearing the loud commentaries on an erotic dance being performed by the crone Goddess Ame No Uzume, Amaterasu emerged, overcome with curiosity.

Seeing her radiance reflected in a mirror that had been set up outside the entrance, she was amazed at her brilliance which she had never seen before. She returned to the world and life was renewed. A snake, draped on her arm, holds her brother's sword which she broke into 3 pieces that became Goddesses. She holds a haniwa (burial sculpture) of a female shaman from Tochigi Prefecture, late 5th - early 6th century. Design on vase from a 19th century woodcut by Utagawa Kunisada; mirror from the Yayoi period, 300 BCE-300 CE.

A lot of goddesses attributed their power to rain. Cultures all around the world respects its mighty fury.

Take for example, Chalchihuitlicue, the Aztec goddess of rain and the flowing water. Try saying her name even twice. Ay caramba!

The Aztecs believed there were 4 prehistoric ages. The first was "4 Jaguar" during which the giants lived. At the end, the sun carrier Tezcatlipoca was turned into a jaguar who devoured them (north, black & red, 13x52 years, earth). During the second age, "4 Wind", Quetzalcoatl became the sun carrier but in the end was defeated by Tezcatlipoca and became a hurricane, taking many people. Those who remained became monkeys (east, yellow, 13x52 years, air). During the third age, "4 Rain", the sun carrier was Tlaloc, the rain god. In the end he was overcome by Quetzalcoatl and created a rain of fire (lightning) that changed people into turkeys (south, white, 7x52 years, fire).

During the fourth age, "4 Water", Chalchihuitlicue carried the sun. She was known as She of the Robe of Green Jewels. Seeing much injustice in the world, she created a bridge to the 5th world for those whom she favored, the others were drowned in a deluge that lasted 52 years. When it was over, she calmed the wild waters and was thereafter remembered during the month of Etzaqualitzl when pilgrims came to ask for rain for the crops (west, blue-green, 6x52 years, water). Goddess figure from Tajin, 4th- 9th century CE; turkey from a Teotihuacan vessel 400-600 CE.

Also, if you notice, most of these are goddesses. In the Philippines, storms are named after women in the past. The reason? Women are temperamental. We change our minds often, like the wind's direction changes during a storm.

Just to let you know.