Elle Shaddai: A divine feminine icon

El Shaddai is a Hebrew name for God. It is translated as "God Almighty." A more literal translation would be "God of the mountains." Shadayim, the root word for mountains, means "breasts." Thus, OT feminist scholar Phyllis Trible translates El Shaddai as "The Breasted One."

This icon originated as a divine feminine tattoo design for an African-American woman friend. I used the name of God "El Shaddai" as a feminist African divine image and feminized the "El" to "Elle." In the image the divine Elle merges into the mountains or emerges from the mountains as One with creation. The design is in an egg form to symbolize creation, new life, rebirth.