Full Moon In Cancer - Haliya, The Masked Goddess Of The Moonlight
Haliya was a warrior goddess who covered her beauty behind a gold mask, which she wore all the time. The legend goes as follows: "Haliya is a masked goddess of the moonlight who was adored in pre-colonial Ibalon (the present-day Bikol region) as well as in some coastal areas of Visayas."
Author:Celeste PearlReviewer:Michele SievertJan 31, 20231 Shares182 Views
The legend goes as follows: "Haliya is a masked goddess of the moonlight who was adored in pre-colonial Ibalon (the present-day Bikol region) as well as in some coastal areas of Visayas.
Haliya was a warrior goddess who covered her beauty behind a gold mask, which she wore all the time. In Philippine mythology, Haliya was the name of a lunar goddess who lived in the Philippines.
The sea goddess Bakunawa was claimed to have fallen in love with her and sought her affections since she was considered to be so lovely." So this is Haliya full moon in cancer.
There has been some pointing of fingers and claims that this is a made-up narrative on the internet. We have decided that we are going to try to put together a defense.
Actually, when someone is confronted with an issue that they donot know or understand, they attempt to defend it rather than immediately attempting to acquire facts to demonstrate why it is erroneous.
After going through this procedure, they will be able to determine what is true and what is fiction based on historical evidence. While this may be a narrative that has been passed down from someone's Lola, it is also a truth in and of itself.
Who Is Haliya?
Haliya is a masked goddess of the moonlight who was worshipped in pre-colonial Ibalon (the present-day Bikol area) and in some regions of coastal Bisayas before the arrival of the Spanish.
Bulan, the moon's primeval god, is her sister and guardian, while Bakunawa, the moon-swallowing Bakunawa, a massive sea serpent/dragon deity who is thought to be the source of eclipses, is her arch-enemy.
Haliya's cult in pre-colonial Bikol was formed mostly of women, as was the case with most other moon goddesses across the world, and as a warrior goddess of the moon, she represents the might of women anywhere she appears.
An annual ritual dance dedicated to her (known as "Haliya" or "Halea"), which is conducted under the guidance of a balyana (Bikolano priestess, shaman, medicine woman; diviner; spirit-medium; oracle; wisewoman), entails circling around a tree in order for Haliya to protect them from the evil spirit known as Bakunawa.
In addition to her brother Bulan, Haliya is thought to be one of the most beautiful goddesses in the kamurawayan (heavens/spiritual realm). However, she is ferocious and strong, the polar opposite of her brother, and she wears a mask to conceal her beauty.
In the story, Bulan is portrayed as an adolescent lad with pale complexion who was so lovely that his sheer presence could even calm fierce monsters and violent Magindara (mermaids).
It is stated that Haliya was derived from Bulan's own body, and other accounts claim that Haliya was not Bulan's sister, but rather his daughter. This is the most widely known version of the story: Bulan, who was alone in the sky, conjured forth a creature in his own image out of starlight to keep him company as well as to serve as his confidant and guardian, and this person was later identified as the goddess Halya.
Haliya VS Bakunawa
Haliya was persuaded to descend to Earth by her attendants, the Tawong Lipod, or wind people, in order to bathe in its waters, and she in turn persuaded her brother Bulan to accompany her.
Everyone was taken aback by Bulan and Haliya's brilliant beauty when they descended to the surface. They enjoyed taking baths in the Earth's fresh and salt water, as well as playing with mermaids and Naga (a type of fresh water mermaid, but with eel or water snake tails instead of fish tails).
Because of their beauty, they were able to pass through the gates of the chilly underworld, which belonged to the Bakunawa. It is said that Bakunawa was once a lovely diwata who swam in the sea; some believe she was a strong naga who resided in the deepest reaches of the ocean and who spotted Haliya and Bulan's light when they were swimming in the waves.
While Bulan and Haliya were swimming nearby, the goddess Bakunawa happened to observe them and was taken aback by Bulan's beauty and charm. However, the deities were so preoccupied with playing with the mermaids that they failed to notice her.
She was enraged by the insult and promised to take Bulan from the skies to exact vengeance. Bakunawa transformed herself into a colossal serpent-like dragon and jumped into the sky to swallow the moon the following night. Bakunawa was defeated by Haliya, who had promised to defend her brother.
Gugurang (the Supreme Deity) witnessed their quarrel and punished Bakunawa by imprisoning her in her dragon form for the rest of her life. Bakunawa became Haliya's archenemy as a result of this, and she has been engaged in a perpetual war with the huge beast as it chases its insatiable appetite for the moon ever since.
It is said in the Bisayan version of the myth that there were once seven moons visible in the sky, and Haliya is one of the seven lunar manifestations who live above the clouds beyond this planet with her siblings, who are also called the moons.
Her siblings Libulan, Subang, Banolor, Banilig, Bulan, and Mayari were all lovely, youthful, and fair, and they were all made to bring light and beauty to the night sky. Libulan's siblings were all formed to offer light and beauty to the night sky. Bakunawa came across the moons one night and became enchanted by their beauty, wishing to take possession of them.
The Bakunawa arose from his watery realm and went to one of the moons, where he devoured it. Unluckily, he soon discovered that the moon within him was melting away like candle wax.
A new moon was absorbed by Bakunawa the next night, but it too was melted away by the rising sun of the following day. Each night for the next six nights, he plucked another moon from the sky, and with each one, the moon melted away inside him. When Kan-Laon (the Supreme Deity) realized what had transpired, he became enraged.
As an alternative to killing Bakunawa, she sentenced him to stay a beast for the rest of eternity and ordered him not to consume the last moon, which happened to be Haliya. Her beauty and griefat the loss of her brothers were hidden behind a gold mask, which Haliya fashioned herself, and she swore that she would be Bakunawa's arch-rival.
Some believe that Bakunawa mostly follows Kan-orders, Laon's but that he occasionally tries to consume the final moon, which is what causes eclipses to occur. The humans on Earth, on the other hand, create a cacophony of clanging and crashing metal, yelling and sobbing, all in an attempt to shock him into spitting out the moon.
Those who prefer a softer technique play music to soothe him into a deep slumber, allowing the moon to slide out of his mouth.
Legend Of The Takay Flower
When it comes to the Takay flower, which is a lotus-like flower that grows abundantly in the freshwater lakes of Bikol, there are several different traditions about how it was created, all of which involve the characters Haliya and Bulan.
One theory holds that the flower's beauty was derived from the light of the moon goddesses who descended to swim and play in the waters, and who were reported to be so lovely that the Takay flowers blossomed everywhere they swam, according to legend.
Another legend says that a long time ago in Bikol, there was a beautiful girl named Takay who was coveted by men and gods alike, but who had a strong affection for only one man, Kanaway.
Takay was being guarded by Onos, the god of storms, who was also interested in Takay. Onos was enraged that Takay was solely interested in Kanaway and struck him with lightning, but Kanaway just turned to stone and did not die.
Onos was so enraged that he unleashed a storm on Mount Asog, where Kanaway was hiding, that it was so powerful that it forced the mountain to sink and create Lake Buhi. Onos didn't realize it at the time, but he had accidentally drowned the young girl Takay in the process.
When Haliya and Bulan returned from bathing in the fresh waters of the new lake, they were surprised to see the exquisite corpse of the damsel being cared for by the plants.
Haliya and Bulan were moved by what they had witnessed, and they used their magicto transform Takay into beautiful flowers that blossomed on the plants that are now prevalent in the lakes in the region.
Bulan and Haliya, accompanied by an entourage of wind people, were said to have taken regular dives in the seas of the earth, according to a third version. When they arrived in the pure waters of Lake Bato one night, the plants were timid and complained that they did not deserve to be in the same water as the deities because of the beauty of the moons.
Bulan was moved by the feelings expressed by the water plants, and he decided to reward them. The following night, the plants realized that they had become gorgeous as well, with magnificent Takay flowers that had been given to them as presents from the gods.
The Full Moon this morning, the first of the new year, is in the watery and intuitive sign of Cancer, which represents intuition and water. You already know that this is going to be an extremely emotional moment since 1. it is a Full Moon and 2. Cancer is a water sign controlled by the moon, which means double the additional moon energy combined with the sensitivity and overall emo feelings associated with Cancer.
The Grand Cross configuration, which forms in the sky on the same night that the Full Moon opposes the Sun and Uranus opposes Jupiter, signifies the arrival of revolutionary energy that has been building for some time. This is the thrilling topic that has emerged more recently.
Despite the fact that this Grand Cross shape implies a lot of energy and tension, it's important to remember that when anything is put under stress, its strength is tried, and we can determine what needs to remain and what needs to bounce.
Over the next several years, this Grand Cross energy will be part of a much wider cycle that will be played out over the course of several years. The Full Moon in January sows the seeds that will allow this energy to grow. This is not only a revolution in our own lives, but also a revolution in the larger world.
There is so much logic in this buildup of revolutionary energy! Over the last few months, I've had a lot of talks with sisters about how we've all been detecting a significant shift in awareness, and how we all have a sense that the world is on the cusp of a great deal of change and upheaval.
Personally, I believe that Indigenous and POC peoples have finally had enough of decades of white supremacy and imperialism, and that we are beginning to rise up in solidarity in a historic fashion as a result. There will be no more of this assimilation nonsense. Regardless of our skin tone, we are proudly embracing our ancestry and connecting with one another.
We will not be silenced. More and more people of color (POC) are seeking out our indigenous methods of healing, rituals, and reclaiming words such as bruha, among other things. Many people in our community have already been doing this work for a long time, but it feels like there's a lot more widespread acceptance and visibility right now, which is both super dope and critical.
It is necessary for the darkness to rise to the surface in order to spark a revolution. The curtain is being lifted more and more, and the ugliness and inequity that exists in our society are being brought to light.
During the week of this moon, you will have a great desire to devote your attention to social justice and to devise subtle and subversive methods of saying "screw the system." Getting some sense of grounding and inner serenity is definitely going to be beneficial in reducing tension in the face of all of the global difficulties that we are now experiencing.
The astrologer Patricia Herlevi of Whole Astrologysays that, according to the stars, there are a variety of healing therapies available to you, and you should choose the ones that speak to you personally.
If you know of any effective meditation techniques, apply them right now. If you have tools that are associated with sound healing, then make use of them. Music therapy, as well as all other forms of art therapy, are currently successful.
Walking in the woods and engaging in traditional prayers and healing rituals are also recommended "Get in some serious self-love and self-care time, eat everything you can find, hibernate, and worship our indigenous moon goddesses such as Haliya and Mayari while you're doing it.
You may be experiencing or digesting a great deal of emotion at this time due to the emotional Full Moon that we have this month. Remember to be patient with yourself and to allow yourself time to process rest, and regenerate. In accordance with this Full Moon, 2017 will be the year in which we build the groundwork for the change that we seek to bring about.
Conclusion
While analogies to the Hindu narrative of Ahalya may be made to explain Haliya's beauty and the necessity to conceal it, I am a little suspicious of the claim that she wore a mask made of gold. Despite the fact that it produces stunning visuals, it has only ever been discussed in blog postings that have since been shown to contain fan-fiction based on Philippine Mythologies and legends.
While each ethnic group has its own set of customs, I'm not sure if the burial practice of covering the dead's eyes, nose, and mouth with sheets of gold would be seen so differently in Bicol as it is in other parts of the country.
The gold death mask is a southern Chinese tradition that is only observed by a small number of Filipinos in the Philippines, mostly in the provinces of Panay, Cebu, and Mindanao. According to popular belief, when bad spirits are prevented from entering the corpse of the deceased by wearing a gold mask, they will not be able to enter. As far as masks and Philippine beliefs are concerned, this appears to be the extent of their use.
Celeste Pearl
Author
Celeste Pearl is a versatile writer with a diverse range of interests and expertise. With a background in psychology and a keen interest in astrology, numerology, and spirituality, Celeste brings a unique perspective to her articles that blend mysticism with practical insights.
Alongside her exploration of cosmic phenomena, Celeste also delves into the world of news reporting, covering a wide range of topics with diligence and insight. Drawing from her own personal experiences and journeys of self-discovery, Celeste's articles offer readers a blend of wisdom, introspection, and inspiration, whether she's decoding celestial alignments or uncovering the latest developments in local and global news.
Beyond her writing, Celeste is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who finds solace in nature's beauty and the mysteries of the universe.
Michele Sievert
Reviewer
Michele Sievert is an accomplished writer specializing in astrology, horoscopes, zodiac signs, and spirituality. With a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping others explore the mysteries of the universe, Michele's articles provide readers with profound insights and practical wisdom.
Grounded in her background in astrology and a commitment to authenticity, Michele's writing offers a unique blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary perspectives.
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