15 Days of Deity Devotion: Liyesa
I found this challenge by Noctivague and thought to give it a shot with the Goddess of beauty, self-love, and freedom: Liyesa. I suck at daily challenges so we'll see how it goes!
Day 1: Basic Introduction
Liyesa is a Goddess of beauty, and as such she teaches us to see beauty in all things, even if they are things we do not necessarily deem beautiful. She gently guides us to see the beauty within ourselves, and embraces those whom society has cast out with loving arms. She is the Lady of Outcasts, who welcomes all those who need a place to rest. Folks who are deemed too fat or too thin or too much, those with scars, with disabilities both seen and unseen, those discriminated against for the color of their skin or for whom they love, those who fall outside of the norms of society, they find solace in her care. Liyesa teaches you to face your own thoughts and shadows, and to embrace and celebrate all that you are. To find your authentic self that lives in the heart of you and to let it shine out. Expressing that self through any means is to be encouraged and celebrated, which is why she is also a Goddess of Art. She is the Breaker of Chains, and teaches us to break free from the expectations of others, of society, and the too harsh expectations of ourselves. She shows us that true freedom is not without sacrifice, but that freedom is a worthy goal to pursue and that we will be happier for it. Her path is one filled with joy and wonder, but it is not always an easy one. She forces us to care for ourselves and work towards loving ourselves with a gentle but steady hand. There is beauty in darkness, and there is beauty when you shine a light upon it.
Liyesa is a Goddess which got her origins in a homebrew game of D&D. The idea of her came to me in a period where I was struggling with identity in many different ways. Just called the Marred Mistress then (because she herself is also not without scars), she became a source of comfort and solace both within the game and without. My relationship with her grew beyond the boundaries of the game into something more along the lines of the relationships I have with my other deities. I am finally in a place where I can explore this relationship further and try to really connect with her on a new level.
