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In Māori mythology, Whaitiri is a female deity, a personification of thunder, and the grandmother of Tāwhaki and Karihi. Whaitiri is the granddaughter of Te Kanapu, and the great-granddaughter of Te Uira, both of whom are personified forms of lightning.

One day, Whaitiri overhears her husband describe her to two strangers. She is offended when she hears him say that his wife's skin is like the wind, and her heart is as cold as snow. On another occasion, she is ashamed when Kaitangata complains that their children are dirty. She explains to her husband that she is unable to wash her children because she is a sacred being from the heavens, and she tells him for the first time that her name is thunder. She prepares to return to her true home in the heavens, and foretells that her children will follow her one day. She departs in a cloud, leaving her children, one of whom is Hemā. ~~ Wikipedia

My Whaitiri was created in Photoshop. I wanted to capture Whaitiri’s stormy and combustible moodiness and I wanted her downright evilness to reach down from the skies and scare all of us mortals. Much like what storms and gods have a habit of doing to us.

You may never guess it by looking at my picture but my model for this picture was the lovely ShannonChristine. She graciously allowed me to use her image, Spring, in this project.

I thank Shannon for granting this permission.