Monday 20 September 2021

September Full Moon Altar: Corn Mother


This month's full moon altar honours a First Nations representation of the Divine Feminine, Corn Mother. She is one of the Three Sisters -- corn, beans and squash -- which were the historical staples of indigenous agriculture in all the Americas. Corn Mother embodies the Earth which nourishes, feeds and sustains us all.

Now is the time for Fall Harvest Festivals, including the pagan sabbat of Mabon on the Autumn Equinox in a couple of days and Canadian Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks. Therefore, Corn Mother stands among seasonal harvest riches laid out on a Sacred Spiral of Life altar cloth.


I bought this reproduction of a sculpture by Mohawk artist and musician, Thomas B. Maracle, nearly 20 years ago in the Royal Alberta Museum gift shop here in Edmonton. I fell in love with her immediately! I can't remember now where I got the little beaded feather bracelet but I think the perfect place for it is to adorn Corn Mother!

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, September 2021]

44 comments:

Valerie said...

Beautiful. Blessed be

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

OMG loves it!
I was just talking to a friend who is vegetarian of the Three Sisters and how Native Peoples in the Americas used them in their diet.
Love this altar. Would take it any day over the jack o'lanterns.

XOXO

Travel said...

It is harvest season, and once again, we have plenty to be thankful for.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i love your corn mother! and blessed almost mabon!!!

Bob said...

That Corn Mother idol is fabulous. Loving the altar, too,

Boud said...

I love to observe the seasons along with you. I learn something new with each altar. Thank you.

Debi said...

Busy Busy Busy!time of year! It is Harvest time for so many things, is the moon glowing brighter or am I imagining it?
Beautiful altar, blessings.

bobbie said...

Well done!

Busy Bee Suz said...

She is lovely and I love what she stands for.
Another year of harvest and much to be thankful for

Marcia LaRue said...

I have really enjoyed reading about your Full Moon altars and have certainly learned facts and information I definitely did not know before!
This altar is lovely and the Corn Goddess is as well! I see the Corn, Squash and ... wheat shafts in the 2 vases ... where are the Beans? You need some Anasazi beans for this altar!

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, One of the nicest ways to celebrate the fall harvest is to take a walk in nature, and see the bounty in seeds, fruits and berries which are set about is such profusion and jewel-like colors.
--Jim

Mike said...

This was sort of a corny post. :)

Tundra Bunny said...

I ran across a recipe for "Three Sisters Soup" a few years back, but it was associated with a "Corn Maiden". The indigenous lore is confusing to me because I thought they grew maize and modern corn evolved from that. Oh well, at least you didn't moon us -- thank Jeebus, LOL!

Leanna said...

I love it. The colors of autumn and the Goddess too.

This N That said...

Love fall and your Full Moon Altar..Have a good week..

Fundy Blue said...

Corn Mother is gorgeous, and I am delighted that you chose a First Nations representation of the Divine Feminine. This is such a lovely altar, Debra! Have a good week! Hugs to you!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Marcia LaRue -- You're absolutely right! I realized when putting this altar together that the wheat didn't really go with the Three Sisters theme and also that I should put some beans on the altar -- but all I had were canned beans and I thought that was going "a step too far," LOL!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Tundra Bunny -- Corn Mother is known by other names as well, including Corn Maiden and Corn Woman. Our English names are translations from indigenous languages, of course, and perhaps in the originals her name references maize, which we translate as the more modern "corn."

And also, I think you're taking "full moon" altar a little TOO literally. But hey, now I've got an idea for next month's altar, so thanks!

Marie Smith said...

I think this is my favourite one!

Linda said...

My favorite time of year, my favorite colors and my favorite altar so far this year.

Anne Johnson said...

Lovely altar!

Susan Kane said...

Such beauty is a gift, esp to me. I miss fall, corn, and other fall plants.

Joanne Noragon said...

A good and seasonal altar. I love the corn, bean and squash sisters.

Kirk said...

Is there a Buttered Popcorn Mother? I'll gladly worship her!

yellowdoggranny said...

Oh Debra..she's beautiful...I love this one the best.

Miss Val's Creations said...

She is beautiful. We all need to be worshiping these sisters as we need nourishing and delicious food.

Marcia LaRue said...

Debra ... Yup! Canned beans just wouldn't seem appropriate! LOL A bag of soup beans are easy to get at the grocery store!!!

DVArtist said...

This is just beautiful. She is stunning. 20 years ago wow. Have a great day.

e said...

Beautiful altar, beautiful representation of the Goddess of the Harvest.
xoxoxoxoxo

Bea said...

Very nice, Debra. Apropos natives/native culture, there is finally a half show on Hulu made by and starring native actors from No. America. It's called Reservation Dogs and it's worth a look-see, if you're so inclined.

The Blog Fodder said...

So interesting. I knew none of this. Love the corn maiden altar.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Bea -- Yes, I've heard of that show and it's on my "to see" list!

Polly said...

We have Harvest Festivals here, usually in schools and church.

Barbara said...

Corn Mother is perfect. I love all things Native American.

Richard said...

She looks so sad. I suppose that is correct. If i was that goddess, i would be sad too.

I would try to cheer her up with our sunflowers and amaranth.

I would tell her that this is not the first time.

I would thank her.

We are going to be ok.

Rommy said...

Gorgeous sculpture!

Moving with Mitchell said...

I don’t know how I missed this earlier in the week. The reproduction sculpture is beautiful.

Guillaume said...

I love that display.

Guillaume said...

On a side note: you have a Royal Albert Museum in Edmonton?

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Guillaume -- Royal AlbertA Museum -- but Alberta is named for Queen Victoria's daughter Alberta who of course was named for her father Prince Albert. So indirectly, yes!

Lady M said...

She is a beautiful piece of art. She looks great with all things autumn.

Ur-spo said...

I never seem to remember Thanksgiving up there is in October.
As a child I thought this wrong. October was Halloween, December was Christmas and Thanksgiving was November. It's the law.

baili said...

oh she is divine !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you for the beautiful sharing dear Debra !

i liked her graceful look

i so enjoyed the details here thank you again my friend!

how great you remember the artist and place ,Thomas seems a great artist indeed ,his display is remarkable

Magic Love Crow said...

So beautiful Deb! Big Hugs!