This is the Great Goddess Amaterasu. First I would like to say, that she was co-designed by and her likeness is that of my friend Tracy Emiko Ugai. I also had help in way of advice and historical contributions by not only Tracy but my friends Hina and Sora Nagao and Karen Ono in the making of this goddess.
I was a little taken aback by how many of my friends did not know about Amaterasu. A solar deity of Japan and the major deity of Shinto. My favorite myth about Amaterasu involves her hiding in a cave. Amaterasu’s younger brother Susanoo, a storm god, was very cruel to every living thing he touched. He was always playing mischievous tricks on her. This hurt her feelings, the treatment became too much, so she hid in a cave to get away from the cruel treatment. Sealing herself away from the world. When she exiled herself, the light of the world was gone. Dark spirits ran amuck and plant life shrunk without her beautiful light. Eventually, the other gods devised a plan to lure her out of the cave. They held up a mirror revealing her own beauty! The plan worked and she emerged. Her light was like no other beauty of this world.
What it comes down to is, people will treat you badly and overlook you, but hiding your light from the world doesn’t help anyone, including yourself. The world needs you. It is true, you may need to hide for a minute to gather yourself and heal, but do not stay hidden forever. You must be seen, you are light, you are amazing!
*Please read about this full story and others about Amaterasu. The whole event of this account it is such a beautiful story. Do not forget, your light is needed and no one should have the power to make you go dormant. Let your light shine!