If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away---Henry David Thoreau

Friday, March 19, 2010

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.

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