Ix Chel presides over sex, childbirth, healing, creativity, and weaving. In her benevolent aspect, she represents the waters of life, whether the ocean or amniotic fluids. In her negative aspect, Ix Chel represents destruction throughwater. She is the goddess of torrential rains and hurricanes. Most associated with the Yucatan Peninsula, Ix Chel was also venerated throughout southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.
Once upon a time, Ix Chel took the sun as her lover. Her angry grandfather hurled lightning at her and killed her. Dragonflies mourned and sang over Ix Chel for thirteen days, at which time she emerged alive and whole. She followed her lover to the Palace of the Sun, but once they were living together, the sun turned out to be a jealous lover.
Accusing Ix Chel of infidelity with his brother the Morning Star, the Sun threw her out of his house. Ix Chel found sanctuary with the Vulture Spirit. In the nature of abusive husbands, the Sun eventually repented, missed Ix Chel, and enticed her back to his home, only to fall back into his compulsive, violent jealousy.
Ix Chel had enough. Tired of the Sun’s behavior, she left his home and bed for good, preferring to wander as she wished. Ix Chel, the Moon, now makes herself invisible in the Sun’s presence. Rather than waste time and energy on his abusive love, Ix Chel prefers to nurture new life and devotes herself to caring for pregnant and laboring women, especially those who visit Cozumel, her beloved island. (According to other myths, Ix Chel may be the consort of Itzamna or a rabbit spirit.)
Ix Chel has dominion over menstrual cycles. She may be invoked to provide personal fertility and to guard pregnancy and childbirth. Ix Chel is also traditionally invoked to protect against venomous spiders and to heal their bites.