Miami
Our Lady of Regla (copy), Patroness of Little Havana
A copy of Nuestra Señora de Regla in Havana, which in turn is a copy of a Black Madonna by that name in Chipiona, Spain. In the Orthodox Ermita de Regla, 1920 SW 6th St, Miami, FL 33135, not to be confused with the Catholic church by the same name where all the representations of this clearly Black Madonna were shamefully whitened, about 3-4 feet high, church closed on Mondays.
The Ermita de Regla is the only Orthodox church consecrated to Our Lady of Regla. It was founded in 1982 and collaborates with the Catholic Cuban community each year for the feast day procession, held the night before the traditional birthday of the Virgin Mary: September 8th.
The accomplished writer, artist, and meditation teacher Raylene Abbot tells us about her experience with this Black Madonna: “One of my favorite Madonnas I have visited is Our Lady of Regla in Miami. September 7th is her feast day. Her shrine is in Little Havana, one of the poorest parts of the city. Underneath the skirts, so to say, of Our Lady of Regla is the ancient African Water Goddess Yemaya. I have visited many Black Virgins in Europe, but it was in the USA that I found the Black Madonna that blew my heart open.
Regla speaks to something profound inside of me. Her primordial connection is with the Earth, the Waters, and our emotions while simultaneously she connects one with the Higher Planes. The Royal Star Regulus, which is the origin of Regla's name, has been long associated with kings. It is also the famous North Star that ships at sea use to navigate their voyage because it moves so slowly in the skies. It takes 72 years for the Star Regulus to move just one degree in the sky, which means that it takes 2160 years to go through one astrological sign. Regulus had been in the sign of Leo since Julius Caesar, but since 2012, it has moved into zero degrees Virgo, "the sign of the Virgin.” What does this mean as an arch-type? The sign position of zero is like having the Virgin Mary archetype as "Empty Space”. That Empty Space can also translate into the Empty Heart, which is the very Essence of Love.
Our Lady of Regla's skirts are the mighty Ocean Waves, the primordial waters in the womb of every mother. Her darkness brings each one of us to the very last atom of our DNA, which can be traced back to one African Woman. Lady Regla is the darkness of matter, but she does not lose her way because she is also the Guiding Star of our Higher Self. It is called "No Self " in some circles. Lady Regla is both a drop in the Ocean and all of the Oceans. She is the mighty river and our very own bloodstream. She is our Guiding Star. She is a paradox that now stands in the very Essence of Silent Knowing, no words, no form but also within all forms. She is the Virgin of new possibilities when we are ready to purify all the layers of our emotions, notions, and old programs that no longer serve us or this planet. She is the Heart Essence of Pure Unconditional Love. She is un-yielding waves of Unconditional Love. She stands as a lighthouse as storms rage in this world, calling us home to the Silence found in our own Heart Center.
Our Lady of Regla's regalia are shells, anchors and stars. Her clothing is in the hues of blue. Her offerings are crabs and bowls of Holy Water. Her feast day is also hurricane season in Miami. During this time, she is brought out of the Church and carried through the streets in a Protective Procession. She can be prayed to for emotional healing, healing of our Oceans, or any form of water. She also has been used for healing relationships. Her Presence calms storms and guides ships to safe harbor. It also includes emotional storms in one's life. She brings protection in travel, especially in crossing the oceans or any body of water. Fishermen and sailors pray to her for safe passage and a good catch.”
