The rain has arrived in Portland, a few weeks later this year. As I look at the 7-day forecast, it’s little blue streaks from the clouds for the next week. We’ve been lucky so far, enjoying a few extra weeks of sunshine. Normally, when the time changes in early November a signal is immediately sent to the rain gods, but the internet must have been down. Apparently service has been restored, and hopefully there won’t be retaliation from what we’ve missed. 

Just how many rain gods and or goddesses are there? In retirement, I’ve had time to check this important question out that you’ve probably always wondered. The answer is maybe enough to fill the Moda Center, at least according to Wikipedia:

Mesoamerica

  • Chaac, in Maya religion;
  • Tohil, in K’iche’ Maya mythology
  • Q’uq’umatz, another K’iche’ Maya rain god
  • Tlaloc, in Aztec and all the other Nahua religions;
  • Cocijo, in Zapotec religion;
  • Tirípeme Curicaueri, in Purépecha religion;
  • Dzahui, in Mixtec religion;[
  • Mu’ye, in Otomi religion
  • Jaguar, in Olmec religion
  • Quiateot of the Nicarao people in Nicaragua

Hawaiian mythology

  • Lono,[ who was also a fertility god

Hindu mythology

  • Indra
  • Mariamman
  • Shakambhari
  • Surupa, sky goddess who brings rain
  • Varuna

Lithuanian mythology

  • Blizgulis, god of snow

Slavic mythology

  • Dodola, goddess of rain
  • Dudumitsa, Bulgarian goddess of rain

African mythology

  • Achek, wife of the rain god Deng in Dinka mythology
  • Mangwe, a water spirit known as “the flooder” in the beliefs of the Ila people of Zambia[
  • Oya, goddess of violent rainstorms in Yoruba mythology

North America

  • Yuttoere, in De’ne’ and Carrier
  • Asiaq, goddess among Greenlandic Inuit,[and Inuit in Northern Canada
  • Shotokunungwa of Hopi people
  • Tó Neinilii of Navajo people
  • Coyote (Navajo mythology)

South America

  • Eschetewuarha of Chamacoco
  • Chibchacum in the religion of the Muisca

Middle Eastern mythology

  • Baal

Tibetan mythology

  • Kalden
  • Lumo, sky goddess of rain and mist

Australian Aboriginal Dreaming

  • the Wandjina

I guess the Greek God Thor and Roman God Zeus were just too BIG to be included in this company of specialists. There are are few multi-taskers among them; the most interesting is Lono the Hawaiian God in charge of both rain and fertility.  Hopefully, there’s no confusion of responsibilities! Thor and Zeus, on the other hand, ruled the heavens on top of being the respective God of clouds, rain, thunder, and lightening, so you certainly don’t want to mess with either of them or their buddy Odin!

Adding to the list of specialists are the “Rainmakers,” a Kansas City-based rock band, or an elite career marketplace for top sales talent; and any number of other persons who bring in new business and win news accounts, almost by magic. I also need to include meteorologists who think they are weather gods, and feel they can predict it accurately.  The tough part in Portland this time of year is forecasting the sun breaks, since they’re so few and far between.

My wife and I were able to find I short window to get our “Schnauzerthon” in between the raindrops this morning. The pups were thrilled to get their big outing that also allows me to get my 3-mile run in the books. Only 12 more “wet” days of running to achieve 10 consecutive years of doing it every day without fail. Since we’ll be back in Indiana for the conclusion of this milestone, some of those rainy mornings may turn into ice and snow. Cue the snow gods!