As Paleros and as Tainos the forest provides and abundant place to seek and track Mysteries within it. In the trees (Palos), in the stones, in the Earth, in the Moss, in the Roots, we find abundant Spirit and Mystery that is often overlooked by the unobservant walker. In this particular walk we were looking for something specific and were looking to accomplish something specific. In doing so there were many things photographed during our walk. At this particular time we are utilizing some of these photographs as a teaching.
This Palo has wrapped itself around an old barbed wire fence which caused a scarification which it still expresses. You can see the Spirit in the Scarification looking directly at you. Also notice in the right photo behind and to the right of the tree is another tree where a spirit can be seen clearly looking in this direction. Here we ask "Who is that Spirit hiding in that Tree?" The barbed wire was significant to us on this trail for reasons that I will not go into here.
Two hollows in two different Palos, one by the river, the other in the forest. Each hollow contains valuable ingredients for the active Palero. Sometimes the hollows may also be used to house for some time a piece of medicine. We know that certain animals live in these hollows and also contribute to enriching the ingredients within the hollows through their debris, urine, fecal matter and through the energy they embody and through what they symbolize. Here we also question "Who is that Spirit who is living there?" The tree by the water is a particular source of valuable ingredients because it is right by the river bank and absorbs much energy from the River herself.
Here we can see the strength of the roots of this tree that hold tightly to the slope showing qualities of tenacity. Moss has grown in a soft blanket over the roots and soil surrounding the roots. The tree itself shows a growth of sorts most likely from an event that took place when it was just a sapling. This Palo embodies an energy of surviving under difficult conditions and overcoming an event without allowing that event to destroy it. It is a good source to be utilized spiritually.
Again these roots of this Palo show their strength and are partially exposed to our view. An animal has made a hole in between the roots and if we were to sit for long enough we could observe who made the hole or who had adopted it for their home. The hole also provides and excellent point to gather soil for spiritual purposes. Again we ask "Who is that Spirit who is looking at me?"
Here a large rocky outcrop can be seen that has formed a shallow cave. This is a solid rock but trees have managed to grow right out of the rock by sending their roots down through cracks in the rock to access water and nutrients and extending their roots over the rock to the soil below. Moss also has covered the rock. These trees are surviving in extremely adverse conditions embodying the energy of persistence and creative use of resources. This is another excellent place to put medicine (Nkisis or Cemi) for "empowering".
Here is a beautiful hole in the base of a tree. Again what animal makes its home here below the hole and above as the hole opens both ways? In the right photo very unusual growths make an amazing phenomenon come to life what is also strange is the covering of these growths with moss! This is a rare sight in this forest and for us who find it, very spiritual.
Palo Muerto on the left with the holes left by the woodpecker (Inriri in Taino). This Palo can be pulverized into a powder to be used for numerous purposes in Medicine. The right photo shows a living Palo with two large poison ivy vines winding up it. These vines are hairy and will cause rashes if touched (for the majority of people). The vines can also be harvested and made into a powder for spiritual purposes. Caution is suggested if you are going to work with this vine, do not handle it if you do not know how to.
Tree by the water with multiple trucks. This tree instead of shooting one truck straight up sent out "suckers" that formed many trunks, some larger than others. This tree is unlikely to be found other than in natural settings because trees that do this are generally pruned and these suckers never get to grow. The tree is leaning towards the river behind it. The other photo shows a beautiful view of the river coming around the bend. Another amazing place for ceremony with the river and to extract ingredients needed for spiritual purposes, including water. Often clays can be found next to the river.
Here a tree has fallen across the river, not only providing a bridge to the other side, but also has been in the river for some time. The river took off all the bark from the tree and the tree has been washed by the river over many seasons. This tree holds much important energy because of its "story" with the River. It is also another good source for pulverizing wood into powder.
Here an unusual growth fascinates us, multiple spirits are visible in this growth! On the left a strong, straight tree grips the earth with roots in the shape of a claw. A stone is visible that the roots make their way around and over. This tree represents strength, Palo Fuerte!
Here a living tree and a dead tree form a cross roads (Palo Vivo, Palo Muerto) almost in the basic shape of a firma where the living and the dead meet to communicate! On the right a closer view of the hollow seen in the above photo. We can see that there are things in the hollow that could be gathered or scraped.
This is a black walnut tree branch. You can see a cluster of three walnuts in the center of the photo. We use the black walnuts in fall when they fall and blacken as a dye for Batons, Cemis or carved Nkisi or for a garment that we may want to dye. When we handle the black walnuts once we have pulverized them into a paste to extract the juices we use latex gloves as the walnut will stain the hands brown or black for weeks following their use. Our three year old took one of the pilons from the Monanso and crushed up the black walnuts with other plants and by the time we noticed she had heavily stained her hands and it took some time before the stain finally washed away. Of course we knew this was not anything negative but was something her Spirit was motivating her to do.
There are thousands of more of these types of photos but this is a small sampling to demonstrate what can be seen in the forest whether one is on a casual walk for relaxation or whether one is on the trail of gathering ingredients of spiritual purposes. As Paleros and Tainos we never take a walk without keeping our eyes open to these Mysteries! The forest is full of amazing Mystery and Spirit and it is always a blessing to be within the Sacred Forests!
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