Ixchel Island of Women "faerie" The Underground chamber where the

The Underground chamber where the Black Virgin stands is reputed to be an ancient temple of the Great Goddess

and may be shown in an embrace with Shiva

Her featureless head is inclined gracefully

[National Museum

the original "Mother of God

Ixchel Island of Women "faerie" The Underground chamber where theIxchel from the Island of Women. In the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula sits an island with a temple dedicated to the goddess Ixchel. Local tradition holds that for many generations women have been making two pilgrimages to the temple in their life time. Once as a little girl they accompany their mother to the temple to make offerings, and again as a mother taking their own daughter to make offerings. In this way, continuity has