Limpia no. 14 (Elisa Chang Nuno ), 2023

Coatlicue is the earth goddess of life and death and mother of the gods. She is depicted as having a serpent for a head, a necklace of human skulls and hearts, a skirt made of serpents, and taloned feet. In Anzalduan theory, the male dominated Azt...

Coatlicue is the earth goddess of life and death and mother of the gods. She is depicted as having a serpent for a head, a necklace of human skulls and hearts, a skirt made of serpents, and taloned feet. In Anzalduan theory, the male dominated Azteca-Mexica culture was responsible for giving her her monstrous attributes and her story also marks the beginning of a shift from a woman-centered worldview to that of a male-centered one. After the Spanish invasion, colonialism further demonized this sacred figure, describing her as satanic. As I performed Elisa’s limpia, I received serpent energy and immediately felt connected to Coatlicue. I worked on clearing unhealthy patriarchal energies that Elisa was carrying due to a society that privileges men and exploits women, including low wages and domestic obligations. Elisa is my cousin. She is a single mother who has made her living as a domestic worker as well as a worker at a cremeria, or dairy products store. In this portrait Elisa transforms into a contemporary reincarnation of Coatlicue, a powerful earth god/dess who represents the balanced dualities of male/female and pain/transformation. Tapping into Coatlicue’s serpent mouth as medicine – understood by the Olmecs as the most sacred place on earth, a refuge – provides Elisa with inner strength and motherly protection.