(XOCHIQUETZAL)

Aztec goddess of spring the underworld and non-procreative sexuality. Commonly depicted as wearing a blue tunic woven with flowers a garland of green feathers and red and yellow flowers and golden earplugs and pendants. Flowers emerge from her mouth symbolizing eloquence. A knife also emerges from her mouth suggesting her ability to cut through the chatter and lies. A red serpent signifing unbriddled passion emerges from her vagina. Beneath her ocelot throne are marigolds and a skull symbolic of the underworld. Marigolds are still offered to her today and to the dead whom she protects on Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead. Other sacred symbols are spiders signifing the art of weaving and the interrelatedness of all life and thorns used to pierce the ears and other parts of the body during penance. She is a patron of weavers embroiderers silversmiths sculptors and painters as well as poets. As the patron of poets she is the ruler of those who employ lyrical speech or song aka charms to work magic. She is frequ