Your prayer requests are lovingly offered to Kuan Yin.

Kuan Yin, one of the many manifestations of Divine Mother energy. Still worshiped in China and other parts of Asia today, Kuan Yin is a near-perfect correlation to the Catholic Mary. Kuan Yin is known as a boddhisattva, a semidivine being who had so much love and compassion for humanity that after attaining enlightenment, she chose to retain her human form rather than transcend into pure energy. The name Kuan Yin means “she who hears the weeping of the world.” There are many stories that speak of this loving deity who answers every prayer addressed to her.

Kuan Yin, she whose inner strength and abiding faith blossom into a mighty flower that flows with a river of compassion onto all the people of the earth. In her love and mercy, she makes no distinction between rich or poor, dark or light, male or female . . . the highest judge in the land or the worst criminal in the jails of China, her ancient homeland.

The Goddess Kuan Yin, Earth Woman, is the embodiment of the compassionate mother. Her story is as old as time. She was a woman who just wanted to be herself, not subject herself to an unloving marriage. Upon her refusal to marry, Kuan Yin's father sent her to a women's temple, with instructions that she should be treated cruelly so she would see the error of her ways.

In the Temple of the White Bird, they feared Kuan Yin's father, so followed his orders. The worst tasks fell to the gentle maid. But while others slept, a serpent came to help her carry water, a tiger gathered wood for the fire, birds aided her in gathering vegetables from the garden, even the proud peacock used his magnificent tail to sweep the kitchen floor.

When her father heard that his plan had failed, he set fire to the temple. Kuan Yin could not allow her sisters to be burned to death; she put out the flames with her own hands–hands so filled with love they did not blister.

In a rage, her father ordered his daughter's head severed from her body. The headsman, also fearing the man's wrath, struck the blow; but the sword broke. The headsman's dread of what had happened could not overcome his terror of Kuan Yin's father. He strangled Kuan Yin, tied her limp body to the back of a tiger, and loosed it, with its precious burden, into the jungle.

In the Land of the Dead, Kuan Yin, with infinite compassion, comforted tormented souls with sacred chants. They sat at her feet worshiping her in gratitude.

The King of the Dead became furious. Unable to bear her tender presence, he banished her from his kingdom.

Once again united with her body on earth, she traveled to an island in the northeastern sea where yet today she chants and sings, listening for the cries of those in need.

If in your pain you call on Kuan Yin, an image might appear of her pouring forth soothing, healing waters from her vase, symbol of her own boundless womb. She gently wipes away your anguish, your sorrow, all your uncertainties with the sacred willow branch she holds in her right hand. Kuan Yin restores you with her tenderness and compassion.

She waits for your prayer, and the prayers of all her children, as she watches over the earth, floating gently above the sea, the light of the moon illuminating her, most holy mother, Kuan Yin.

Copyright © Xia, Feminine Alchemy