A2Z 2026 Urania

Urania (Greek) One of the Nine Muses The nine Muses on a Roman sarcophagus (second century AD)—Louvre, Paris The Nine Muses Nine Muses in Greek mythology were goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. They began as nymphs, whispering inspiration to those who invoked them. Over time, they evolved into powerful goddesses, responsible for…

dVerse OLN 406 — Blue Purpled Woman

Gerard Sekoto, Woman With Downcast Eyes (1955) Blue Purpled WomanStepping away from sunshinesetting over open-air market,blue face lost in contemplation.Wishing to turn right, not left,away from grandeur’s large-knuckled fists, plate-sizedpalms that visit carefully-hidbits of now purpled flesh. Onlyhawk eyes notice my wincelifting bushels of persimmons.His lips smack at the Snoek*, distracted. Greasy fingersignore napkins, rubbing cleanon my…

A2Z 2026 Tara

Tara (Hindu/Buddhist) In the Shaivism and Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, the goddess Tara is the second of the ten Mahavidyas. She is considered a tantric – where tantra presents complex cosmologies, viewing the body as divine and typically reflecting the union of Shiva and Shakti —  manifestation of Parvati. Parvati is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of…

#FF — Spoiled

PHOTO PROMPT © Lily Spoiled Although I’m sitting poolside at my villa, sipping Margarita, my soul feels like chipped, latex-coated lead: cheap, artificial, and toxic. The adage goes, how did I get to this place; but I know, know how, and who is to blame. When you’ve had enough trauma cast upon you as an…

A2Z 2026 Spider Woman

Spider Woman —Na’ashjéii Asdzáá (Navajo) Spider Woman by Tara Reynolds “In the beginning, there was the dark purple light at the dawn of being. Spider Woman spun a line to form the east, west, north, and south. Breath entered man at the time of the yellow light. At the time of the red light, man…

A2Z 2026 Rhiannon

Rhiannon (aka Epona) Welsh The Mabinogion The Mabinogion is a collection of Middle Welsh prose. Compiled from texts found in two late-medieval manuscripts, this collection was initially edited and translated by antiquarians in the early nineteenth century. While the Mabinogion collection itself might thus be regarded as a nineteenth century editorial creation, its constituent texts…