Emma and Brujita (A baby foal is born!)

A week ago our big mare "Emma" gave birth to her baby foal who we named "Brujita".  Brujita's father is the Paint Stallion Kasike.  Brujita has the coloring of her mother and the spots of her father and will grow to be a large horse but not quite a large as her mother.  

Modern day horses are of course not native to this continent and were brought here under very negative conditions of invasion, genocide and robbery, however this particular animal was quickly recognized as valuable and adopted widely by Indigenous people here.  Horses embody power, speed, and survival.  Within moments of being born, Brujita, like every foal born, struggled to her feet and began licking her Mother searching for milk.  Emma cleaned her baby by licking her dry, and within a hour or so the baby had found her mother's milk.  That same day Brujita was already bucking and testing out her first galloping steps.  Within a couple days she was able to quickly move around her field obviously in love with her speed and agility!  Watching her quickly adapt to her new surroundings and the speed with which she was able to get on her legs and move was a lesson in survival.  Horses are flight animals, although they will defend themselves with teeth and hoof, they prefer to run from predators.  This instinct was obvious from the foal's first moment.  

On the other side of the fence the male Llama drove the two donkeys away from the area where Emma gave birth to the baby.  He did not want the curious donkeys to go near her.  He was clearly protecting the baby foal. 

Brujita on her first day in the grassy field.

She goes exploring!

Emma enjoys fresh grass.

Afternoon Nap!

The foal, ever alert raises her head as soon as she senses movement from her mother.

Brujita scratching herself on a tree.

Going around in circles scratching herself.

Brujita bucking and running learning how to use her legs.

Brujita galloping, right photo: a moment of affection between mother and baby.

For us as Paleros the horse is a very powerful animal, especially for our Monanso.  The horses have been very important spiritually on the Land and have been included in certain catalystic ceremonies.  This particular birth was very momentous because both the Mother and Father live here at the Land.  We have worked towards this for a long time and look forward to seeing Brujita grow.  

River Camino

Camino to the River during an Ebo

During an ebo done for one of the Yayis of the Monanso the other week we traveled to a River for a specific Camino.  Although it was a saturday and a beautiful day, the river was quiet.  When we are on a Camino for an Ebo we always pay attention to all the conditions that are present, all the people who pass by, all the animals which show up or make their presence known and all the birds who fly or swim by.  

On this day the River was crystal clear and running swiftly.  The stones on the bottom of the river glistened, a fish jumped in the River, the Sun was shining and it was a warm Spring day.  Above you can see the waves and ripples in the river.  The texture and forms within the river can be captured on camera in a way that one cannot see in the moving river.  We utilize the camera as a way to capture a split second in a frozen frame in order to be able to spend more time focusing on the intricacies of what is in front and all around us on the Camino.  These are often things which evade the naked eye because of the constant movement of life!

Here a wave forms in the river allowing us to see the Spirit present and the energy present.  

Bumble bee is found going in and out of a hole under a leaf.

A monarch butterfly appeared around the Yayi when she was sitting by the River.  At one point the Monarch lay down with wings outspread on the bank of the River.

Butterfly is for obvious reasons about Transformation which was exactly what we look for during Ebo!  These are positive signs.

From a distance the Yayi is seen interrelating with the Spirit of the River.  She was in a peaceful spot, undisturbed by anyone.  We are at a distance down stream from her, quietly observing.

More waves in the River revealing Spirits of the River, normally unseen by us due to their rapid movement.  These Spirits are definitely unseen by the person in the process due to the sheer sensory overload of the natural environment.

It is an honor to be able to capture these pictures as testimony to the Spirits which made themselves known to us through the photos.

Here the River moves around a stone, over time the River pushes the stone out of the way, or wears the stone down.  This stone is rounded from years of water running over it.  The dryness on top of the stones speak volumes regarding this process.

There are many different currents within the river, some are smooth and gently flowing, others more rapid and exuberant.  The currents in the River are countless.  Each current brings something to the whole, and is significant within the Ebo.

Rapid bubbly current seen here.

As the water flows over stones a natural process of aeration occurs as the bubbly flow brings oxygen into the depths of the river, benefiting the many organisms who live within the River.

Here leaf and tree debris is trapped in the river.  These are utilized by animals.  At this location specifically the Beavers utilize the tree debris that gets trapped by the trees the beavers knock down with their teeth within the river.  They create homes with this "debris".

By the bank the water comes into a more sheltered spot where the flow is gentle due to boulders which shelter this spot from the fast flow of the center of the river.  Again this is yet another current within the many currents of the River.  All these represent a significant aspect of the Spirit of the River herself!

Bubbles appear on the gentle edge of the river, and the river reflects the dappled light coming from the Sun through the trees hanging over the River.  

These photos allows a small glimpse into the vast array of Spirits and Energies present when we go on a "simple Camino". It is very important as Paleros that we continue to open our senses and perception of the wide variety of Mysterios who make themselves known.

As we turned to go back up the river and return to the Yayi, we heard and saw the King Fisher with his unique song and flight pattern go by, as we were walking back again a second King Fisher flew by!

The Bones

The Bones of the Ancestors are not silent,

The Bones of the Ancestors are not silent,

The Bones of the Ancestors are looking into the Depths of Your Essence!

The Bones of the Ancestors are looking inside of Your Mind, inside of Your Heart,

The Bones of the Ancestors were not and are not docile as you may wish for them to be...

The Bones of the Ancestors are hunting,

The Bones of the Ancestors are searching,

The Bones of the Ancestors are outraged by the buffoonery that they witness,

In the Here and Now!

The Bones of the Ancestors are intensely listening to the Voices

that are kindling the fires of the tabonucos, the sacred waters and plants,

The Voices of the Few, of the Faceless, of the Unwanted, who are calling the Ancestors and directing their attention upon YOU!

The Bones,

The Bones,

The Bones Are!

Calavera, calavera

Calavera, calavera

January 20, 2009

Calavera, calavera, Calavera Taino

White bones of the Ancestors

I call forth through your bones

The Spirit of Resistance

Of Courage

Of Warrior

Of Knowledge and Wisdom

To bring forth the Courageous Spirit of the Casike Hatuey

So that we may be able to manifest the Spirit of Progression and Action

Within the Ceremonial Grounds of the Land of the Sacred Heart of Life,

For the continuance of bringing forth the wisdom

To catapult us to the four points of the Sun where we may transmute and transform all obstacles that want to claim victories upon our backs.

Calavera Taino Yo te llamo

So that your presence may resonate in the essence of the Spirit of these Ceremonial Grounds

Where the Spirit of Hatuey is adored, venerated, and without a shadow of a doubt appreciated

For all of the examples that he left to us as Tainos!

White Bones of the Ancestors

Calavera Hueso Blanco

prayer of resistance

prayer of resistance

NOTE: I needed to put this here, because I woke up thinking about this, and because there were Taino yahoo groups at the time that would not allow this to be posted. Only the American Indigenous Injustice group allowed it.... which is sad... Relatives of Life, Mon Dec 25, 2006 I hold a prayer of resistance on this day of cultural genocide of Indigenous People of Turtle Island, South, Central and the Caribbean. As A Taino I hold a prayer of resistance during this season where to a great extent, the winter solstice is dimmed in the minds and in the hearts of many Indigenous People today within Turtle Island, South, Central and the Caribbean. Among my people the Ceibe Tree was our Tree of Life. Today many of the children and the young people, if asked 'what is a Ceibe tree' cannot tell you of it, or its significance. But if you ask "what is a christmas tree", without hesitation there is a response immediately. It is culture genocide. I wish not to rain down on what people have adopted through the horrors of colonialism, but colonialism has injured, astronomically, our mental body. Colonialism has caused us to forget, once again to an astronomical extent, the atrocities of genocide that have taken place within Turtle Island, South, Central and the Caribbean. As I hold a strong prayer of resistance, I hold in my memory a story of a Taino Casique (Chief) within the Caribbean and that Casique name is Hatuey. Hatuey was organizing a resistance to the Castillian invaders of our Lands. The Spanish Conquistadors eventually captured him and tied him to the rubber tree to be burnt. With a cross (sword) and the black book (bible) they insisted that he be baptized so he could go to their heaven. He asked "do your people go to this heaven you speak about?" They replied "yes", he said, "Then I would prefer to go to your hell because if you are this cruel on Earth then I can only imagine your cruelty in your Heaven." With this statement he fixed his eyes upon the Sun and held his gaze there without a murmur while they burned him alive. As Indigenous People we cannot continue to forget the horror stories that the Old Ones experienced and the horror stories that we are experiencing in the here and now. Hatuey's example continues to vibrate and resonate, and in that example I hold myself in a prayer of resistance to the atrocities of Old and New. The trickery that has taken place and continues to take place is deep rooted and seated within our mental bodies, and we must liberate our mental body so that the Spirit may have direction in finding and creating solutions of thriving and sustainability for all of us alike. We cannot separate our limbs and claim that we are whole. We must stop the lie that takes place within our mental body. I will continue to hold a prayer of resistance until the Ancestors request my return back into their World. Ni Bon

CAMPO PALO, A Child Learning to Make Bano!

Pruning the Raspberries, and the Love for the Spirit of the Land!

Late winter or early spring is time to prune away the dead raspberry canes and any weak canes or canes that are in the pathway.  It is very important to do this to ensure a productive and healthy season for the raspberries.  We grow raspberries for their taste, their high vitamin content, and their medicinal properties.  Raspberry leaf tea is very good as well as a syrup that we will make this year from our black raspberry early spring shoots.  Anani is a big fan of the raspberry patch.  We also have in these rows grapes and strawberries.  Our Raspberries are Black, Red, Yellow and Purple!

This pile of debris came from just one side of one row of the raspberry canes.  It is very essential to remove all these old canes and debris because leaving them next to the raspberries can make the raspberries diseased.  Raspberries are very sensitive plants.  We ultimately burn the debris to ensure no disease is spread.  Spiritually it is also important to clean up and remove debris as this helps us and the Spirit refreshen for the Spring that is around the corner!  When an individual is involved in cleaning up, whether it be pruning, raking leaves, weeding the gardens, and so on, upon a Sacred and Ceremonial Land, or even within a small Monanso, the action of cleaning is an EBO for the individual and the individual's frame of mind is very important within this EBO!  When working with these things, one MUST be grounded in Love for the Earth from a Spiritual Perspective!

This is before the pruning, showing the chaotic appearance of the canes, many are broken due to wind and snow from the very hard winter we had this year, and many send shoots into the pathway.  

Left Photo:  After pruning, you can see the shift in energy and how clean and clear the raspberries now look.  Right Photo:  This is very important.  This is an EGUN TREE dedicated to a specific EGUN which stands at the lower end of one of the rows of the canes, right at the entrance.  We know that the EGUN associated with this tree is Observing the activity with the raspberries, and since there is an Egun Tree right by the raspberry rows we have to pay even greater attention to the physical and mental energy we apply when engaging the pruning activity!

Here Anani is participating in removing the debris.  It is very important for her to be involved in these activities and to understand and learn how to caretake the various gardens and spaces.  This way she learns from an early age what is needed to caretake this Space within ATABEY!

Left Photo:  The pile grows.  Right Photo:  The end posts of the rows are visible and next to them the Egun Tree.

Here you can see the walking path in between the rows which also gets cleaned of old dead grass and debris.  You can see the Egun tree's position in the left photo and how close it is to the raspberries. In the right photo you can now see that the raspberries are all in a  neat row and the path is easily accessible and clear.

Left Photo:  This is another Egun Tree of one of the Elder Egun of the Land!  This tree is just down the slope from the raspberry rows, and this Egun is also observing what is going on.  Right Photo:  While we were working a Vulture drew our attention to him/herself because she/he was making an unusual flight sound due to what looks like a missing wing feather.  The Vulture represents the DEAD as well as REBIRTH, which is relevant to the time of year and to the fact that we were engaged in working in close proximity to TWO EGUN Trees!  It may be that the Vulture is molting which is a form of renewal!

Here Thunder the Bull has just been re-captured.  We had found him next to where the fire pit for burning debris is.  This particular bull was originally brought to the Land for the benefit of the EGUN whose tree is right next to the raspberry rows.  So to see him loose on the very day we came to prune the raspberries was very significant!  Fortunately he was cooperative in allowing us to coral him once again in a safe field, because this bull is very fearless and bullish and will use his weapons without hesitation.

We also see this as the EGUN making himself known and bringing us a message!