KARIJIANA

Karijiana (pron. Car-ee-JAH-nah)

Depicted As

- A full-term pregnant woman, with sunlight or milk streaming from her fingers and feet, with golden hair. The pregnant belly is often the sun itself.
- A beluga
- A pregnant woman with a sword strapped to her side, and swords at her feet.
- Sometimes shown with a river of blood between her legs, depicting the difficulties of childbirth, menstruation, and the sacrifice that women make.
- A single flame.
- A fire burning the people.
- As the midnight star, she is shown as a pale / silvery woman with golden hair, in the early stages of pregnancy. There is a star at her navel, or pubis. Sometimes she is shown sitting on a narwhal, whale or dolphin (D'miezak'r), holding a golden sword that points at the moon.

Other Names

Karajana (a 'standard' spelling.)
The Feast-Healer
Queen of the Zere Czowanijanya
Fire Lady / Lady of Fire
Spring's Blush
The Midnight Star

Symbols

The Sun.
Topaz.
Amber.
Blood.
Babies and Pregnancy.
Fire.
Bounty.
Feasts.
Gold.
Red.
The Cross.
Triangles.
The Doe.
Butterflies.
Moths.
Beetles.
Beluga.
Pregnant Livestock.
Ducks.
Swans.
The Lark and Starling.
Bees.
Weaponry.
The Sword.
Fertility and Sacrifice.

Presides Over

Karijiana is primarily a benevolent and loving goddess, generous and compassionate, however she has a vengeful nature and can have a fierce temper. Karijiana presides over the sun, but as a cosmic goddess she also presides over plants, animals and people. She gives birth to fruit, fertility and is associated with childbirth and the sacrifice of childbirth. She is petitioned by midwives and pregnant woman.

Karijiana has a solar cult of which her priestesses are warriors. They are the czowanijanara (or czowanijanya). Their symbols are the wire, the c'ldrucze (an ornamental, curved blade) and the sword. The weapons - often golden - were primarily ornamental, representing a warrior spirit, though some women were trained in martial arts. These priestesses were buried with their weapons, where in the upperworlds they would become her warriors.

Karijiana presides over sex and sexuality. Sexual rites are sacred to her, and because she has been known to have sex with men and women, her teachings in sexual lore transcend the bounds of heterosexuality. Despite her commitment to D'miezak'r, she is free to love whomever she wishes. The act of orgasm and with-holding orgasm, and the ability to channel energy through these acts, are also her domain.

Karijiana also presides over fire, the hearth (to a degree) and livestock. She also presides over the nourishing qualities of food and food cures. She was not represented by herbs, but by fruits and feasts.

Connections to Other Deities and Folklore

Karijiana is connected to D'miezak'r as his lover. She becomes the midnight star so that she may remain as close to him as possible. They are committed and 'married.' Karijiana has also been connected to her priestesses in folklore, and sexually to other female deities and shapeshifters.

Karijiana is thought to be the mother of Vasilia, goddess of gentle breezes and the stars. Sometimes however Karijiana and Vasilia are considered sisters.

Karijiana and Lesavny are connected in folklore, and often have an antagonistic relationship. She has made him both potent and impotent in the past.

The death goddess Ucza is responsible for killing all (or almost all, depending on the story) of her children that she bore from D'miezak'r.

Times of Honour

- Mid-afternoon.
- Hot days.
- Luflijka - festival of flowers.
- Midsummer.
- Midnight.
- During sex.

Places of Honour

- Under the sun
- Under the stars at midnight.
- Orchards
- Places of birthing (literal and symbolic)
- Around bonfires.
- Places of sexual rites, and the bedroom.

Offerings

- Fruits and Flowers (particular in warm tones.)
- Bonfires.
- Blood (including menstrual blood).
- Sexual rites.
- Orgasm.
- Weapons.
- Gold and Amber.
- Weapons.
- Feasts or Rich, Gourmet Foods.
- Milk.