Rain

 “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Vivian Greene

Rain has an immense spirtual symbolism and importance in various cultures and in countless eras. Rain can be seen as a blessing or as a curse. 

In Genesis 6 to 9, the god of the bible uses flood as a means of punishment and cleansing as the heart of men became too corupt. Only Noah and his family were deemed righteous enough to survive and repopulate. In this case it is about deep cleansing. Rain and flood are used to demonstrate the immense power of mother nature and how we are at her mercy. It reminds us of our mortality. 

In other circumstances rain is associated to fertility and healing. The south Indian Goddess Mariamman is such an example. In tamil folk worship she is linked to fertility, the rain and health. The great mother  is called upon  to bless humans with regular rains, accord harvests, and heal vastly spreadable health conditions, for example smallpox and chickenpox. In the Yoruba tradition, the goddess Oya is also an example. She is the Orisha of the wind, storms and transformations.

Rain is heavily tied to cleansing and renewal. Mainly in cinematography and literature, Rain is meant to  drastically and intensely  wash away what was or untrue situations or illusions, standing for a spiritual purification or a fresh start. We often see protagonists running or standing in the rain before a big breakthrough. For instance in "The Notebook" [2004], the rain scene has a significant impact on the fate of the two protagonists. 

Are you ready to be transformed and cleansed? 

JH