Maiden
What you need to sow
Begin something that makes life sweeter, not just more productive.
Zulu / Southern African
Mbaba Mwana Waresa
Lady Rainbow, Brewer of the First Beer
Zulu oral tradition, Southern Africa
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Her story
Historical context
goddess · Zulu oral tradition, Southern Africa
Mbaba Mwana Waresa governs rain, rainbows, the harvest and beer — she is credited with brewing the first pot of it and giving the recipe to people. She lives in a house of arched rainbow grass in the clouds and is more loved than feared, because what she brings is abundance.
Mythology & traditions
Her famous story is a test. Searching for a husband among mortals, she disguised herself as an ugly woman while a beautiful double stood beside her; the herdsman Thandiwe chose the plain woman, saying he had heard her voice and wanted her, not the picture. She married him. She is the goddess who checks whether you can tell the real thing from the display.
Domains
- Rain
- Rainbows
- Harvest
- Brewing
- Joy and discernment
Symbols
- Rainbow arc
- Rain
- Sorghum grain
- Beer gourd
- Grass hut in the sky
In the oracle
Her guidance
Mother
What you need to grow
Nurture celebration. The harvest is meant to be shared, brewed and drunk.
Crone
What you need to know
Look past the beautiful decoy. You already sense which one is actually true.