The Yayi's World -By the Yayi Nkisi of the Muanso

Over the years I have heard more than one Yayi complain to me about Palo Mayombe Tradition being 'patriarchal' and centered more on the Tata's role than the Yayi's role.  From my own experience, while I understand the complaint, I could not disagree more, when it comes to the Munanso here.  

We always have to take into account, not only the impact of colonialism and slavery on the growth of theTradition, but also the structure of (white) male supremacy that we are compelled to live with.  However, at their root and in their heart, our various Earth Centered Traditions are deeply rooted in the Mother, and her role of giving, and taking life.  This is not to say that there is both a lot of male centered rhetoric concerning the role of Yayi out there, and perhaps a domination of the internet by Tatas rather than Yayis.  At every turn in my trail, my Camino within Palo Mayombe, I have been strengthened and encouraged as a Yayi to take active and indeed leading roles within the Munanso.  For those Tatas that insist on Yayis having nonsignificant roles in the Munanso, my guess is that they are fundamentally threatened by the powers of the Yayi because they are infected by the mental incarceration of white male supremacy.  

Before I became a Mother, I was a Yayi, and both of those Initiations and Tratados strengthened the other.  As a Mother, giving birth, I realized that the process of giving birth is a process of walking to the world of the Dead and bringing Life from the Dead into this world.  Giving birth is a moment of standing on the Kalunga line, much like those moments in the Munanso when we draw the patipemba (firma) on the Earth and invoke the Dead to this Living Moment.  

There are many out there who complain about animal sacrifice, most of whom are also carnivores and have no problem eating inhumanely raised battery farmed chickens, hogs and cows, which are slaughtered in the most vicious and heartless of manners.  It is never easy or gratifying to take a life, even when it is to sustain ones own, however it is the way of this world.   It takes more responsibility, more consciousness and requires more humility to take the life of an animal that you raised yourself than leave the "dirty work" to some one else.  It is only in this modern day that such a large portion of the Human Family have become so disconnected from the life that sustains them.  

Here, we are going to go on a journey into a specific process that we recently did in order to address some intense spiritual energies, and to fortify, vitalize and strengthen the Nkisi and Ancestors of my Munanso.  The 4 chickens that we used were 4 older chickens from our hen house.  These chickens had been with us for years, arriving as day old chicks.  Besides being entertainment for the family, they ate kitchen scraps and laid eggs for our table to be enjoyed by ourselves, our friends and relatives.  In fact our youngest child's first solid food was egg yolk from these chickens.  This year we got more chicks, and so the decision was to cull these older birds (which is typical).  They are far to tough to roast (for our spoilt modern tastes) but would make good stock, however, we are Paleros and have another use, which to us is a very honorable way to "cull" the chickens.  

These chickens were specifically used for the Nkisi of my Munanso, for the Nguenges.  When working with my Nkisi, I do everything, other than use the Mbele.  

The aspect that I want to share here, is the gutting and cooking of these chickens.  Inside the chicken I found not just mature eggs, but lines of eggs getting smaller and smaller, numbering in the hundreds.  It was an awe inspiring sight and for those with Vititti, numerous spirit faces and figures can be seen.

 Here the mature egg is covered in a sack, much like a placenta.

 Behind the mature egg, eggs yet to be born line up getting smaller and smaller and paler as they go back.  

The mature egg was removed to be given directly to the Nguenges (witches) in their tree with a particular message.

Here you can see the numerous immature eggs, almost like a reverse Ancestral Tree, stretching back or forward in time....

The organ meats are cooked in the iron pot, and those immature eggs are included.  The energy in them is potent, and can clearly be felt.  Here you can see the line up of the eggs from mature getting smaller and smaller.  These powerful embodiments of fertility will bring great energy to the Nkisi and Ancestors.  They also remind us of the Sacredness of Life, and the importance not to make sacrifice in vain, the importance of taking responsibility for ones actions.

Here the organ meats, feet and eggs are all ready, each holding vital energies that are essential for the continuation of life.  

Corn from our Conuco is added, along with palm oil and the food is ready to be cooked.

Three mature eggs (just like eggs you could buy from a farmers market or store) are ready for their journey to the Nguenges Tree.

Chickens and Organs are cooked on the open grill, and I take some moments and burn some sage and tobacco to acknowledge the sacrifice of the Trees that provide the wood and the many small insects that call this wood "home".  

The aroma of the chickens cooked in palm oil fills the air, combined with the aroma of the tree wood and fire.  When the food is ready it is taken to my Munanso to be presented to the Nkisi.

This resident spider hangs from the rafter above the Nkisis.

Inside my Munanso, the chickens, along with Coffee, Melafo, Nsunga, and Champagne are offered to the Nkisi.  The various herbs around the Nkisi are very important in the Munanso, and much of the time, herbs hang from the rafters to be used for various purposes.  

Another closer view of the chickens.  

 I take the guts along with the three mature eggs, carrying the message to an amazing tree we are blessed to live with.  This is the tree of the Nguenges and many important offerings are brought to her.  She is half alive, half dead, and her entrance is a powerful view into a subterranean world where the vibration of the Dead can clearly be felt.  

 The tree is an inspiring sight, a giant within the Nfinda, magical forest, overlooking a sacred spring, surrounded by the herb "touch me not" (jewel weed).

Fertility is everything to life, for without it nothing grows.  Even the most powerful seed cannot express itself without the rich moist earth providing it with fertility.  No endeavor can come to fruition without the creative energies of fertility, and of course no Ancestor can incarnate into this world without fertility.  Without fertility we cannot grow food.

Fertility is being ripped from this Sacred Earth as trees are cut, soils are eroding, and the sacred water cycles are interrupted and distorted.  Quiet as it is kept, many conflicts around the world are caused by loss of the Earth's fertility, and are solved by restoring the Earth's fertility.  The Yayi holds a critical role in the world of the Palero because she is the embodiment of the energies of fertility.  She is the embodiment of the energies of the water cycle.  These powers bring life and they take life.  Having a healthy relationship to these powers is essential within any Tradition which is focused on a sustained and harmonious existence.  For Paleros, Water, Soil, Air, Fire, are not "things", these are living entities, powers, Mpungus, which extend their reach in this world and into the world of the Ancestors.  

A simple Munanso Moment

Here we show a glimpse of one of our techniques to refreshen the Nkisis after some heavy work.  We utilize plants from our Conucos, and burn some of the Tobacco that we have grown to uplift and vitalize the Spirits.

Pungent, attractive, repulsive! Garlic!

Pungent, attractive, repulsive, garlic has an ability to to penetrate wether invited or not.  We have found garlic to be one of our most easy going friends in the Conucos.  Contrary to most vegetables, garlic is planted in the fall, endures the harsh winter with ease, and is harvested in the heat of summer.  We have not purchased garlic from the market in years, as a little sweat and attention on our part gives us more than enough garlic to use in the kitchen, in medicinal preparations, and for spiritual purposes.  The beauty of growing our own garlic is that we replant part of our harvest for next year's garlic.  We replant the best of our harvest, and so every year our garlic improves and becomes more in harmony with the soil, microorganisms, fungi and climate in our unique location.  In this way our garlic becomes more and more suited to our environment here!  

The main two events in the garlic year are planting (anytime from October to December) and harvesting (early July).   We plant 3 varieties, hard neck, soft neck, and elephant.  Each have their strengths. In the next few years we will be giving each variety their own names as they will have become selected specifically for our location here.  Every year we choose the best to replant.  The best being based on how well they store, the size of the garlic, and disease resistance.  

After harvest the garlic is hung to dry in our loft and later roots are trimmed off them.  They must be handled gently as any bruising will destroy their ability to store.

Once garlic is dry we take it down and store it in a relatively cool and dark place (not too cool or it will sprout (40-55 degrees F)).  

Some of the added benefits of growing our own garlic is that we have access to parts that are usually thrown away such as garlic scapes (garlic flowers), and the discarded garlic roots, which we patiently wait for all year, which then takes up its magical place in our Munanso.  

Datura

The species form of Datura is everywhere in our fields and Conucos, but just for our enjoyment, we also sometimes grow an ornamental variety in the front garden because of its spectacular flowers.  It is incredible how willingly and dramatically flowers respond to human beings cultivating them to form cultivars!  Enjoy the photos below of this flamboyant descendant of the wild Datura!

Herbal Wisdom from Future Bohitu and Ngangulera!

Our child Anani (9 years) loves to be in the garden.  Whilst Anani was in the womb, her mother was creating a garden, which Anani soon claimed as "her garden".  It was the first place where she began to learn the various plants and herbs.  Her learning continued, as she developed her own unique relationship with the plants.  As she grew, she brought her herbal wisdom and experimentation into the kitchen, creating wonderful and unusual drinks and meals.  

Through her ongoing Earthschooling, she studies various medicinal plants, making tinctures, teas, decoctions, salves, infused oils, honeys and vinegars.  

Here she shares some of the medicinal herbs growing in the front garden.  There are three parts.

(Note:  The person behind the camera and the "editor" is a amateur, excuse the shakes and awkward cuts).

Healthy Herbal Drinks for the Summer

Healthy Herbal Drinks for the Summer

 The Palero's garden is especially abundant at this time of year.  Leaves, flowers, roots and fruits are all available as plant medicines for both spiritual and physical issues.  We make healthy herbal drinks on a daily basis fresh from our gardens which the entire family enjoys.  Many plants are cooling to help us with the summer heat.  Here we share 3 herbal drinks that we recently made.  They are simple, yet healthy, and a much wiser choice than the highly sugared beverages that are aggressively marketed to us and which aggressively compromise the immune system and vitality of the body, contributing to obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and the like.  

We trust that the Palero will be interested to note that many of the herbs that we use are also utilized for spiritual purposes in our Traditions!

Above in the 3 jars fresh herbs are collected.  

On the left:

Mint

Sweet Basil 

Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea Shrub)

In the Center:

Hibiscus flowers (large scarlet flower and smaller pink flowers)*

Pineapple Mint

Purple Basil

(Raw local honey)

On the right:

Echinacea flowers

Lavender flowers

Lemon Balm

Tarragon

Cat Mint

* The Hibiscus that we use is our local shrub hibiscus and herbaceous hibiscus.  Our children are especially excited about the hibiscus in the drinks because of the flamboyant flowers and bright colors.   They are delighted to discover that something so beautiful is also edible.

In particular the Hibiscus-Mint combination is very cooling for this hot season.  Great with ice or just chilled from the fridge.

The recipe is simple.  Add boiling water, let cool, add honey if desired, chill.  (We leave them overnight, but it only takes a few hours).  Then enjoy.  It can be fun and educational to watch the color changes that occur as the hot water pulls the magic and spirit from the plants!  The children love to see this alchemical process manifesting in front of their eyes.

It is no secret that our Ancestors had a more varied diet that the modern diet.  The bulk of their plant food was perennial- such as shrubs, trees, herbaceous plants or self seeding annuals.  The modern plant diet is primarily annuals grown on highly chemicalized and devitalized soils.  Because of their long term stability, trees and shrub food tends to be very mineral and vitamin rich.  Their roots stretch deep into and around the Earth, pulling a specific set of nutrients depending on what tree or shrub we are talking about.  So called weeds (especially those with tap roots) also do this.  What is truly magical and deeply spiritual is that two plants, growing next to each other can pull vastly different nutrients from the Earth, Sky and Sun!  At the Heart of Ancestral Traditions is the wisdom of the Ancestors who were able to understand this magic and bring it into practical uses of healing and creation.

It is concerning that contemporary spiritual practitioners, whether they be Paleros or Tainos (or of any other tradition that is directly tied to the Ancestors and is not a so called "new age" abstraction), are apparently estranged from the direct and daily relationship with the world of the Mysterious and Magical Plants.    There are those "medicine people"(beikes, shamans, boitu etc.) out there who know only to rely on drugs for even the most simplest ailment.  It is the proverbial issue of being thirsty at the edge of a river, hungry in front of a lush garden.  Their spiritual deprivation leads them to sickness and dependence, all the while, Mother Earth and Ancestral Wisdom are offering vitality and empowerment.  Many have the audacity to talk about "medicine" but resort to the quick and easy fix (which is not a fix but a tratado for debilitation) of Frankenstein's laboratory.   Others use the popular god ($) as the reason to choose chemicals and perversions (GMOs) over the plants that Mother Earth freely gives us.  Caring not that this choice ensures the destruction of Mother Earth, yet the next minute they are singing a song to her, with feather and drum in hand!   What hypocrisy and how could the Ancestors give their blessing for this?

Compared to the Ancient (and even not so ancient) Ancestors, we are children, with much more ignorance concerning plants than wisdom, however, there is no shame in humbling oneself to seek out some basic spiritual wisdom concerning the most common plants.  Many powerful plant medicines can be found at the corners of gardens, parks, along roads, abandoned lots, in hedgerows, and riverbanks.  Most of them we overlook everyday, sometimes even aggressively attacking them as a "weed".  Viciously spraying out powerhouses of nutrients such as the dandelion and violet from the lawn.  Trampling over the pile of weeded out plantain to get to a drug to deal with the bee sting we got weeding, not realizing all we need to do is chew a leaf of plantain and apply it to the sting!  

Many prayers are made for divine intervention, ironically, this Sacred Intervention that is required, is right in front of so many of us.  Mother Earth herself is in the process of requiring us to once again respect her and her Sacred Medicine.  The Earth Changes we are experiencing, which are sure to become more intense, require that we do so.  The overblown egos, and delusions cannot survive her Sacred Response to the vicious and greedy attack that has so undermined the vitality of the Web of Life.

Aconite Spirit

Aconite!  Do not eat, highly poisonous, but what a beauty.  Use for spiritual purposes only or just enjoy its beauty!  Its beauty says a thousand words!