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We know little about the Eight Immortals in the realm of Hsi Wang Mu, but we do know about Ho Hsien-ku, her beauty enhanced with lotus adornments in lieu of jewels. She dreamed as a young girl that mother-of-pearl conferred immortality. Nibbling a bit of shell, Ho Hsien-ku morphed into an ethereal creature floating across the hills. She spent her days gathering herbs, gliding back to the palace at night with her harvest. Fifty years later villagers marveled at sightings of Ho Hsien-ku hovering among the clouds.
Han Hsiang, another of the Eight, declared that he could make flowers bloom at will. His uncle scoffed at such a crazy claim, so Han Hsiang instantly created a clod of earth springing with glorious flowers. To add to the marvel, a poem of fourteen golden characters embellished the leaves. As for Immortal Chang Kuo-lao, artists depict him holding a magical peach and a phoenix feather. He sits backwards riding a marvelous mule that folds up like paper when not needed. Hsi Wang Mu reigns as one of the most poetic goddesses in the universal pantheon. Read about Hsi and her exquisite domain in the current Witches’ Almanac.
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