View source for Yhi

{{Refimprove|date=March 2023}}
{{Other uses|YHI (disambiguation){{!}}YHI}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
In [[Gamilaraay]] [[Australian Aboriginal mythology|mythology]],<ref name=Fuller>{{citation |first1=Robert S. |last1=Fuller |first2=Ray P. |last2=Norris |first3=Michelle |last3=Trudgett |title=The Astronomy of the Kamilaroi People and their Neighbours |year=2013 |publisher=Cornell University Library|arxiv=1311.0076 |bibcode=2013arXiv1311.0076F |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> '''Yhi''' (sometimes also rendered '''Yarai'''/'''Yaay'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aboriginalastronomy.com.au/content/community/kamilaroi/|title=Kamilaroi and Euahlayi |website=Australian Indigenous Astronomy |date=2022 |publisher=Aboriginal Astronomy |first=Duane |last=Hamacher}}</ref><ref name=Fuller />) is a female creator spirit and personification of the sun. She chases [[Bahloo]] (the moon) across the sky; [[eclipse]]s are said to happen when she catches up to him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parker |first=K. Langloh |title=The Euahlayi Tribe |chapter=Chapter 11 |date=1905 |pages=98|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Euahlayi_Tribe/Chapter_11|place=London |publisher=A. Constable and Company |access-date=2022-10-15}}</ref>

According to a creation story associated with her, Yhi slept until a whistle awakened her. When she opened her eyes, light fell on the [[Earth]]. [[Plant]]s grew where she walked. She decided that, in addition to plants, she would make something that could [[dance]]. Searching for such an [[organism]], Yhi found evil spirits beneath the earth who tried to sing her to death. But her warmth chased away the darkness, which was transformed into insects. She brought them to Earth and then found some ice caves in a mountain. She shone her light on the being resting inside and fishes and lizards came out, along with many kinds of birds, mammals and amphibians.

She then returned to her own world and blessed her creations with the change of the [[season]]s and promised that, when they died, they would join her in the sky. When she disappeared, darkness came back and covered the Earth. The organisms thought she was not returning and were sad, but then came the first sunrise and Yhi returned. 

Much later, the animals missed Yhi and she decided to return to ask them what was wrong. Kangaroo wanted to jump and [[Wombat]] wanted to wiggle on the ground, while Seal wanted to swim. Lizard wanted legs and Bat wanted wings, and the [[Platypus]] wanted something of everything. Yhi granted them what they wished, then returned to the sky and saw the Man, who had no woman and was unlike anything else she had created. While the man slept, Yhi turned all her power on a flower and soon, the man woke up and, joined by all the other animals, watched her. The flower then turned into a woman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/aborgods.htm |title=Aboriginal Gods and Goddesses |website=Chinaroad Löwchen |access-date=25 September 2006 |archive-date=5 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905083928/http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/aborgods.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{unreliable source|date=October 2021}}

==See also==
*[[List of solar deities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Australian Aboriginal goddesses]]
[[Category:Solar goddesses]]
[[Category:Creator goddesses]]
[[Category:Legendary progenitors]]


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