Watariamba-WAR AND JUSTICE!

A young buck who went down in the snow came into our Munanso still warm and we prepared a feast immediately for Watariamba, the Misterio of War and Justice.    He was a buck who must have been born much earlier this year and his antlers were just beginning to develop.  We were aware that the Misterio himself had pulled this young buck so that we could prepare this feast.  We realized once again how blessed we are that we are able to have space where we can prepare these feasts outdoors in cast iron pots and directly on the grill, with the aroma of the meat and corn filling the air, and that we are in a position to be able to utilize the whole animal, including the skin which we scrape in preparation for tanning.  We are very fortunate that we live in the countryside where these animals cross our paths on a daily basis, which gives us the opportunity to present these highly valued animals to the Misterios. It is not every day that a Fundamento is presented with a complete venison feast!

These achese (organs) which include the eyes and penis of the buck will be dried and ground into a powder after being presented to Watariamba.  This powder will then be utilized in many ways, including directly in Fundamento, Bilongos, travajos, and for other Medicine Pieces.  The organs of this wild buck were very, very healthy, with a much darker and clearer coloring than any domestic animal would have.  For us it is very important to utilize healthy animals for the Misterios, as there is greater value and strength and vitality in a healthy animal.  This young buck was in supreme health before the snow put him in a position where he was unable to stand up and his organs themselves suffocated him.  (Certain animals- goats, sheep, horses, ...- if they fall in certain positions and get caught in something or it is too icy for them to stand up, their organs will put too much pressure on their lungs and they suffocate themselves.)  We see this situation and circumstance as the Misterio himself "hunting" this animal, especially since we found it while it was still warm!  Significantly this young buck arrived at a specific time, which coincided with a time when this Misterio was already in his process of going out to "hunt". 

Below, Watariamba with his buck and acheses.  The buck was cooked in one whole piece (as can be seen) upon the grill.  It is not every day or even every year that this happens, and again we have much gratitude for the blessings from Misterio that made this happen!  

Full Moon

Full Moon the night before the true full moon on the following night that also was involved in a Lunar eclipse.  This particular full moon was very significant since it was also the Winter Solstice.  The moonlight was so bright it was easy to see everything at night without electrical light.   The Misterio of the Moon is very significant in both Palo and Taino traditions.  The Moon is related to the Feminine Misterios, and is a powerful puller for all manner of results.  We often put certain Medicines or Spiritual Baths out in the Moonlight so they can absorb the energies of the Moon.  

In considering the significance of the Full Moon, we realize that it is the Sun's light that illuminates the Moon, and that what we are calling moonlight is in fact Reflected Sunlight whose reflection gives us a glimmer of the sunlight without its radiant heat.  We know that the direct sunlight comes with a heat, regardless of whether it is winter or summer, however the Moonlight is cool in nature.  The moonlight will illuminate things from a different spiritual perspective than the sunlight, and is can bring light to situations or things without bringing heat.  

The full moon illuminates an generally unseen world at night, its light creates alertness, enhanced activity, and even increased insanity in some minds.  The full moon under lunar eclipse also activates Mother Earth and we see increased rumblings and shakings, as even she is stimulated by the alignment of Sun, Earth and Moon.  During an lunar eclipse we see the Full Moon with the Earth's shadow over her, and on the opposite side of the Earth from where we are standing the Sun is pulling with its usual gravity.  We are simultaneously being pulled in opposite directions by these two cosmic Misterios.  As the Earth's shadow falls upon the Moon, what is that Misterio seeing in that shadow, what is she Divining about this Earth and the activities upon this Earth?  The shadow is being cast by the Sun, so what is the Sun communicating to the Moon concerning the Earth?  We can utilize these moments but must do so with respect for the power of what is occurring cosmically.

Absolutely a profound cosmic event!

Mbambo-Kulusu!

Preparing for Ebo with Mbambo-Kulusu, now that the leaves have fallen from the trees, we can see Kongo Land from a distance.  The cluster of huts on the left is the primary Munansos.

In the foreground our grill is heating water, the hut visible on the left is the Munanso where we do ebo with Mbambo Kulusu.  The central tree is right next to it.

Looking inside the Munanso, various Nkisi are visible along with the offerings.

A close up of the Nkisis.  Below the full offering is down, with many fruits, roots and sugar cane.  

We do this every year and it is an aspect of our preparations for closing out the year and preparing for a new year.  To us, the year ends and begins at the winter solstice, which corresponds with the movements of the Sun, rather than any societal or religious significance.  Although it is not as simple as just this, as Taino cycles also recognize a new year beginning with the Spring Rains and planting (closer to Spring Equinox).  Absolutely we know that the 'shortest' day of the year holds particular significance and is a marking point that is very obvious to most observers.  The quality of the Sun's rays shift at this point as the energies of moving into the Spiritual Darkness (that Darkness of the Cosmic Womb) shift to energies of moving into Spiritual Brightness.  These are important shifts that do impact what we do and when we put certain plans into action.  It is much easier to acknowledge and move within natural cycles rather than attempt to move contrary to the cycles.  We are grateful for the Ancestors and Misterios that continue to guide us to greater wisdom, understanding and abundance.  We are also especially grateful to the Ancestors for exposing and guiding us to turn our backs on the empty behaviors of spiritual "enactments", those things that are called "ceremony" but which completely lack Spirit, those things that have diluted our spiritual traditions for too long!

Simba Simbi

Ebo to the Feminine Misterios

It is the time of year when we spend intensive time within the Munansos, making offerings to the Misterios and strengthening and empowering the Ancestors.  Although the weather is cold, sometimes raining or snowing, there is no weather condition that has prevented this from occurring.  Here we are speaking specifically about the Ebo that we did for the Feminine Misterios in the women's Munanso.  The women's Munanso is located behind Nsasi's Munanso and can be seen in the photo below at the very end on the right.  A critical element in the offering is the fire and grill on the right that in the photo is heating a large pot of water so that we have some hot water available.

Below is the doorway into the women's Munanso.  Concentration and focus is vital during this whole process to assure that the sacrifices entailed in the offerings are not in vain.  We want to be certain that the offerings are reaching the World of the Ancestors and that our invocations accompanying the offerings are clear and carefully considered.  We also stay focused in order to catch any disruptive energies before they cross the energy of the offering.  

Below the late afternoon light shines through the small window and door, illuminating the Munanso in a very beautiful way.  The bano utilized during the process has been made from plants that have come directly from our array of tropical plants (kept indoors in winter) and plants still growing outside despite the unusually cold temperatures.  We are very excited that we were able to make all three banos that we utilized during this particular time exclusively from plants that we have growing.  This not only saves us money that we would otherwise have to spend at botanicas, but it also means that plants are picked fresh moments before they are used and that we are achieving our goals of providing the materials the Misterios need from our own harvest.

A beautiful view of the offerings in the Munanso.  Herbs harvested during the summer hang from the ceiling, including sage which is used to smudge the space.  Behind the offerings (not visible) are jars of herb infused oils.  When making offerings to the Ancestors and Misterios it is important to bring an abundance not only physically but also mentally.  People (in this society) are very used to an incredible rate of consumption (much of which gets wasted).  The offerings made to the Ancestors are delivered to the Ancestral World where it increases and enhances the Abundance of the Ancestral World, and enables the Ancestors to move in more powerful ways (which of course also benefits the Living).  We always make sure that we select very high quality offerings for the Misterios.  It is especially wonderful when we can use offerings that we have grown ourselves as they have an even greater innate value than those that we simply purchase elsewhere.  

Fundamental to our understanding here is that when we give with abundance to the Ancestors and Misterios, we build that which never dies (that which is immortal) that which we came from and return to.  Although it is very important to provide for the Living, oneself, family, community, it is just as important to provide for the Ancestors for that is the true "wealth".  Simba Simbi (Uphold that which hold you up)!

Bear in mind that world wide traditions of offering to the Ancestors are practiced with great love and dedication.  However we find ourselves in a society and a time when that has been pushed to the side.  The concept of making offerings to the Ancestors is a concept that sadly many find strange and unnecessary, and many others approach with a stingy mentality.  As Paleros and Tainos we must understand that we come from Traditions who truly have concepts of the Ancestral World, the power of the Ancestral World and the methods by which to communicate and make offerings to the Ancestral World.  Although we may fall short in our concepts of these things at this point due to the onslaught of colonialism and the american dream, this must never be taken for granted, and we must strive to reclaim our full Ancestral Understanding of these things.  The doorway to reclaiming that Understanding is to approach Ancestral Offerings and Offerings to Misterio with Love and Great Respect!