By AmberRain

Kuan Yin, not a real deity but a bodhistava, a Goddess of many names, Kwan Yin, Quanyin, or Kwannon (Kannon), is the Goddess of Compassion and the Goddess of Mercy. Many turn to her when they are looking for healing, rescue, peace, or to have children. She does hear the call of anyone.  

Her name translates, "She who hears the weeping world". The mere use of her name is said to ensure salvation from physical and spiritual harm.  

Kuan Yin took different forms of appearance when bestowing mercy and blessings on her followers. She could take on 33 different forms and switch between the two sexes. This enabled her to help the masses without being noticed. She was supposed to have possessed additional supernatural abilities such as "the power of a thousand hands and eyes". Before the Tang Dynasty, the depiction of Kuan Yin was typically male, with some paintings featuring a deity with a beard. Since the Tang Dynasty however, Kuan Yin has taken on the appearance of a woman. 

 One story is that Miao Shan's father ordered soldiers to kill her, but before they could, she was rescued by a large tiger and taken to a magical cove where the Buddha offered her a peach. This peach kept her from thirst or hunger until she reached enlightenment. 

The official story of her existence is that by rejecting marriage she infuriated her father. Her father burnt down the Monastery she was staying at and Kuan Yin escaped in the form of a bird and flew out a window to heaven. It is said that upon receiving enlightenment, she chose to retain human form and will remain so until all living creatures attain enlightenment.  

The worship of Kuan Yin began in China and spread throughout to Japan in the 5th A.D.
and is still in existence today. Many shrines and statues are still present today.
Her birth date is said to be February 19^th. 
 

Kuan-yin, Kuan-yin, Nu Kwa,

Merciful Daughter of Heaven,

Kuan-yin, Kuan-yin, Nu Kwa,

Bring healing and peace to our world. 

One of the100 prophecies of Kuan Yin, “With Love”, is the 35^th poem from a divination book, usually used by women. These poems can be used alone by just opening the book and reading one for the day; or by using them in accordance with divination sticks numbered 1-thru 100. You would choose 3 sticks and then read the poems in accordance with the number on the stick. The poems as well are numbered 1-thru 100. The 3 sticks would represent your past, present, and future. 

WITH LOVE 

With Love, let a new breeze blow through your house-

The way is cleared by Te, Virtue, as it always was…

So clear your path of the harsh growths that separate you,

When all Three can be in harmony; you’ll know what’s to come. 
 

A few of Attributes to her are:  

Peaches

Dragons

Amber Incense

Lotus Incense

Willow Trees

Rose Quartz

Purple Lotus 

The Festival of Kuan Yin is held in on April 5^th. During this day, Kuan Yin is invoked for protection, mercy, love, and wisdom. Incenses and violet candles are placed on the altar as offerings along with rolled rice paper with the wishes of worshippers written.  

Festival of Kuan Yin Ritual

By AmberRain

Supplies

Peach altar cloth

Violet candles –

White Candle- (for the ritual bath)

Goddess Candle

Iris & Lilly flowers

Amber incense

Parchment paper (to write wish on)

Purple ribbon

Usual altar supplies

Bath salts

Lavender oil

Chamomile oil

Peaches

Red wine 

First step is to take a ritual bath. Light a white candle, and use the bath salts, lavender and chamomile oils with your bath. Relax and cleanse yourself. Take time to focus on yourself, prepare my mind for festival wishes. 

Second step is to cleanse my working area. Then I ground myself by Listening to music a great Kuan Yin CD, (Mother of Compassion by Lisa Thiel) and meditate. When I am ready, I begin. Take parchment paper and write wish on it now. 

Cast the circle and call the elements. Light the incense and call upon Kuan Yin to join the circle and light her candles and say: 

Kuan-yin, Kuan-yin, Nu Kwa,

Merciful Daughter of Heaven,

Kuan-yin, Kuan-yin, Nu Kwa,

I know my path is within your keeping.

Grant me this wish on this day,  

Light all the Candles and …

take the parchment paper, tie ribbon around it and hold in hand and

Kneel before the altar,

Sit and reflect on the wish,

When ready, raise the glass of wine  

Say…

Great Goddess give my life good health, happiness, prosperity

And magical power.

I honor you. 

Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again

So Mote It Be!!!! 
 

Drink and eat remembering to put some outside for the little people. Meditate to ground again. When I am finished, I release my circle. I then take the drink and peaches outside, and say, “ enjoy, be blessed, and grow strong, so mote it be. 

 

Sources: 

http://www.lalique.com/products/past_collections/kuanyin.htm

http://www.geocities.com/isisdownunder1: also art courtesy

http://www.hranajanto.com/GoddessGallery/kuanyin.html

http://www.shrines.us/kuan_Yin.html

Budapest, Zsuzsanna. "Grandmother Moon". Harper Collins. 1991. pages, 42,50,229.

Eisler, Riane. “Kuan Yin, Myths and Prophecies of the Chinese Goddess of Compasion”. Harper Collins, 1995. Pages, 97

Monaghan, Patrica. "The Goddess Path; Myths, Invocations and Rituals." St. Paul. Llewellyn.1999. pages, 113-122

Telesco, Patricia. “365 Goddess”. Harper Collins, 1998.