Massango / Maiz : Sacred Tratado made on the Kalunga Line!

Maiz/ Massango is sacred to both Taino and Palo traditions, as well as sacred to the majority of Indigenous Nations of this continent.  Many within the Palo and Taino communities take this sacred grain for granted due to the commercialization and genetic engineering of this grain that has made it a staple killer in the conventional food system and enviroment where its appearance as "high fructose corn syrup or corn sugar" has accelerated the occurrence of diabetes, as well as numerous other dis-eases.  The can of corn that is utilized by some of our brothers that suffer from severely calcified pineal glands is just one example of the de-spiritualization that corn, the sacred spirit, has undergone, much like our people- Indigenous to this continent and globally! 

The story of corn is magical and mythical and defies materialism and western rationality.  The Spirit (Cemis/ Mpungo) of corn manifested materially due to the profound spirituality and horticultural wisdom of our Ancestors of Meso-America.   This manifestation is of unique spiritual Power, whose only example is the Corn!   These genius cultures were able to literally create (pull, bring forth) the Spirit/ Ancestor that manifested as corn.  Other popular grains around the world have easily recognized and edible ancestors who were the wild grains that were domesticated by the peoples.  Corn is unique, with a wild ancestor that is radically different from the corn we know today.  The Ancestor of corn is "teosinte" a wild mountain grass, whose hard, almost indigestible grains are a far cry from the nutritional giant that is MAIZ.

Corn manifested due to a profound TRATADO between the People and the Spirit of the Corn.  Corn contains a hard husk, which does not allow corn to naturally or wildly propagate (shed its seeds to grow the next generation).  Corn requires the effort of the People to Harvest and SOW the next generation.  This requires an ongoing commitment by the people over what has been thousands (at the least) of years; consistency year to year.  As Paleros, as Tainos, we should understand the nature of Tratado and the dynamic relationship between the Living and the Dead which must be maintained in a consistent and deeply Respectful manner.  

Here in our Conucos, in the gardens of our Munanso, we grow Indigenous varieties of corn, not your yellow modern variety which has been selected for the disempowerment of the Spirit of the Corn and for commercial purposes.   (STOLEN LEGACY!)  We have this year, HOPI BLUE and OAXACAN GREEN DENT.  The colors are beyond words, and the feel of the corn in one's hands is heavy and so full of Spiritual Energy.  The energy of the corn vibrates!  This cannot be compared to using corn out of a can, which no Brujo or Bohitu in their right and balanced mind would utilize such a despicable dilution and distortion and perversion of the Sacred Spirit of Corn who has been so beneficial to our Ancestors!

We need to remember that our ANCESTORS held profound Tratados with these Sacred Spirits, whose presence enabled the manifestation of High Cultures that stretched across this Continent and whose temples, sacred roads, horticultural research centers (Machu Pichu among others), and cities are still rising from the soils to tell the profound story of the wisdom and spiritual advancement that our Ancestors achieved.  The Spirit of the Corn provided such abundant nutrients that our Ancestors were able to live inside the energy of Thriving and Abundance rather than the current energy of Survival that we are subject to and oppressed by (the rat race).  This has profound implications for the importance of corn within our Palo rituals!  (Kuenda Nsasi!)

As Paleros in particular, we cannot forget the critical role that Corn played inside the atlantic slave trade.  Corn, introduced to the African Continent by the Portuguese, was such a powerful and easily cultivated grain, easily stored, easily transported, that it became the staple grain of choice utilized in the Infamous and Evil Middle Passage.  African agriculturalists grew the corn which was sold to the slave traders and transporters who utilized it to transport more and more Africans to the Caribbean and Continent.  After a period of time Corn took on a significant spiritual and ritual role within African Societies, however this does not negate its abuse and misuse in the enabling of the slave trade.  Today we see a continuation of this abuse of the Sacred Spirit of Corn in the genetic modification of modern corn and the production of high fructose corn syrup.  If we as Paleros, as Tainos, forget this, then we, too, enable and promote the selling into prostitution of our Ancestral Legacy, which is this Sacred Tratodo (Pact) between our Ancient Peoples and the Spirit of Corn.

 From its birth place in Meso America, the cultivation of corn extended across this continent, and was grown in diversified gardens (Conucos) which has become the foundation of organic, biodynamic agriculture, permaculture etc.  The Milpas, which were and are diversified garden in Meso-America included/ includes MAIZ, Avocados, Squash, Beans, Melons, Tomatoes, Chilis, Batata, Jicama, Amaranth, Mucuna (tropical legume) which together give rise to both an ecologically and nutritionally complete system.  This system enables land to be continually cultivated for THOUSANDS of years, whereas the conventional system currently in place which arose out of the plantation (slave) system of monoculture destroys topsoil and requires "expansion" into new fields after just decades.  

Here, in our temperate zone, we are entering the season of "dormancy" where the energies of the Deciduous Plants go into the roots, empowering the roots which are full of energy at this time of year.  For us the Roots represent the Dead, so this is the time that is dominated by the world of the Dead.  It is also the time when we gather the fruits of our Conucos to present to the Ancestors and Mpungo to continue to enhance and empower the cycle of Abundance and Thriving and of Spiritual Justice.

Always we have the fire!  Burning from a diversity of Palos who are manifested Solar Energy (Sunlight manifested into form).  Trees are the Ancestors who enable our lives, who preceded our Human Existence!  They are able to take SUNLIGHT and make MATTER!  They balance our exhale with their inhale, balancing the oxygen-carbon dioxide equation in our lives. 

While the trees thrive from the Sun, they grow to the rhythm of the Moon, and this Rhythm is reflected in the Ceremonial Cycle of the Palero and Bohitu.  This Harvest was presented at the time of the November Full Moon, when the Earth moves with the Moon in the one direction and the Sun in the opposite direction.  We utilized the White Corn to represent the reflected Sunlight of the Moon, and the Yellow Corn to represent the Sun's Light.  The white corn covered each mound (of the four directions or moments of the Sun) and the yellow corn encircled each mound.  A fire is in the Center. The abundance in our lives is only possible from the healthy balance of Sun, Moon and Earth.  Although the photograph is taken during the day, this Ceremony includes Day and Night because a Full Moon Ceremony reaches its strength during the night, not the day.  (The Mpungo/ Cemis must be present for the Ceremony!  There is no point in doing a Full Moon Ceremony when the Moon is not at its peak of Fullness...)  

The Moon dictates cycles of fertility, particularly at the point where animals and most significantly human beings arise within the evolutionary story.  The plant cycle is dependent on moisture/ rain/ tides, which is influenced by Moon but dictated by Sun.  However, the fertility cycle of Animals is solar and lunar, and the fertility cycle of the Mothers of Human Life is primarily LUNAR in nature and is embodied by GUACAR (WAKART) the Taino Spirit of the Women's Menstrual Cycle.  Birds and other animals have fertility cycles triggered by sunlight (they nest in the Spring and Summer), animals have a variety of Solar and Lunar influences, however, Women are almost totally influenced by Lunar Energies in terms of the fertility Cycle, whereas Men follow a Solar cycle.  This Menstrual cycle is one of the most powerful spiritual energies available to us (quiet as it is kept).  It only comes through the Mothers of Life, and it is for this reason that the Yayi (Yaya) of the Munanso are latent energies of thriving and abundance who need to reclaim their traditional roles within our Sacred Traditions and to not continue to accept an inferior role within our Traditions.   Here on our Ceremonial Land we have a Sacred Space for the Mothers of Life to engage the Traditional Bleeding Ceremony with the Earth.  Our Lives arise out of this Dance between Solar and Lunar Energies!

The blues and greens of these Indigenous varieties of Maiz are just amazing, and the photos do not do them justice.  You have to hold them in your hands to fully appreciate them.  You really gain an appreciation for the Spirit and Nutrients involved in their manifestation!  The Hopi Blue corn cob is a dusty pink/ magenta color, and the Oaxacan Green is a blood red that is stunning.  It is important to pause for a moment and profoundly appreciate those Indigenous Peoples who have struggled to keep these varieties alive in spite of the onslaught of modern agriculture.  We are humbled to play a small role in bringing or re-introducing these varieties to this land.   

Interrelating with the Misterios in this way IS THRIVING!  Many folks look down on rural horticulturalists, jibaros, and agriculturalists with destain, calling them "subsistence famers", however this is a profound and deeply sacred relationship to the Mpungos and Cemis of LIFE!  

Corn is extremely promiscuous, and sends its pollen everywhere and so is continually developing new varieties.  It is not rigid or stagnant but fully embraces evolution and diversity.  The corn below was harvested from our Hopi Blue patch but has purple grains rather than blue and among the grains are cream colored red streaked kernels.  We will replant this next year to see what will develop!  Indigenous Traditions are profoundly realistic and not fantastical.  They are about life, death (putrefaction), earth, sun, moon, cycles and evolution.  As a people, we have been through hell and back and must reclaim our Ancestral Legacies and defend them against dilution, prostitution and commercialization!  The Spirit of Hatuey must always been supreme in our thoughts, ideas and actions!

It is so wonderful to be able to use our own Corn for the Palo Ceremonies.  Below we cook the vital organs to present to the Misterios.  These represent nutrient dense spiritual energies that relate to solar and lunar energies.  They also represent those meats given high value by our Ancestors who understood the health benefits of organ meats.  

The fire is the embodiment of the sacredness of the Sun.  The human development of cooking historically allowed us to access nutrient uptake that was unavailable through raw food.  The animal effectively acts as an intermediary between solar manifest energy (plants) and provides humanity nutrients in a form that we are able to fully access.  These animals here, inside the pot, along with the corn, were raise by our family, we nourished them daily, observed their behavior, utilized them to fertilize our Conucos, and generally developed a relationship to them based on reverence and respect.  The goat was outside our back door for months eating and working to clear all kinds of weeds and thorny bushes form our back garden.  The roosters ate our table scraps and ranged over our gardens to find bugs.  

The cooking fire, again, was a sacred evolutionary transformation that humanity engaged, which again made nutrients available to human beings with greater efficiency.  As Paleros and Bohitus, we know that the aroma from the Barbacoa (the outside Barbeque) attracts Los Misterios y Los Ancestros!  The aroma is intoxicating and the intimate relationship developed with Sun, Earth, Palo, Plants and Animals cannot be replicated or adequately substituted by mass produced, factory farmed non-equivalents!

There are so many ingredients that are utilize for Palo Ceremony that are taken for granted, such as Corn, Cacao, Nsugna (Tobacco), Melafo, and so on, which all tell us a story.  It is important to retrieve that story so that we can bring more consciousness to our practices and we can protect ourselves from the disease of fantastical thinking and "purist" illusions.

Here we have venison from our land, roasting with everything we have grown within our gardens.  This is the true "free range" meat!

Finally we adorn the Nkisi/ Fundamento with evergreens.  Evergreens are not only the only tree still green at this time of year, they represent Immortality, everlasting life, and the abundance of critical and sacred vitamins and nutrients during the winter.  A pine needle tea, infused oil, or vinegar greatly helps the winter blues!  It is for this reason that those Africans who found themselves in this region planted evergreen trees and yucca in the Campo Santos / Nfinda Kalunga/ Graveyards to represent eternal life, and Indigenous peoples of this continent enjoyed the bounty evergreen trees bring to the winter table.  

Finally, after the ceremony, the snow arrived, bringing the full dormancy and internal fire of winter forward.  It is a time of introspection and planning, however we should always remember, as we engage these extreme weather patterns, that the time of Earth Changes is indeed upon us...

Winter Storm lack of Self Sufficiency

Yesterday after an early morning snow of a few inches we had some rain which then turned to into a snow storm towards the late afternoon.  Whether due to lack of money, a social experiment or perhaps to the official "explanation" of not being able to salt the roads due to the "rain", the roads soon became snow covered even though the temperature was above freezing.  A comment by one official referring to hoping people use "good sense" out there on the roads, raises the question of "were the events of last night a "social experiment?"" and who exactly was observing the chaotic events that transpired.  

As the roads became snow covered we had a hour long drive to make, and proceeded at about 35-40 miles per hour along quiet roads with the four wheel drive engaged, as it became more snowy and visibility dropped we slowed to 30 miles per hour then to 25 miles per hour.  About 12 minutes from our destination  we suddenly encountered a huge traffic jam on a double lane road, although it appeared that traffic was moving at a crawl, this was an illusion as what was actually occurring was that the whole road was blocked by cars spun out in the snow blocking the whole hill.  The slow movement of traffic was caused by people turning through the grass medium and heading the opposite direction.  It was a strange scene of non-cooperation as most people just spun tires and even abandoned cars right on the road.  Two women tried to get out of the snow drift that one had tried to drive through to turn through the median by shoveling snow with hubcaps.  People were walking to the nearest pizza shop in T-shirts, totally inadequately dressed for the weather. We did see one driver jump out of his car to give a push to another car in front of him, however this was the exception.

Realizing that nothing was moving, and knowing we would be able to drive through the median, we headed back the other direction and took winding back roads to our destination after several other detours to avoid roads filled with spun out cars and no cooperative effort.  Our 1 hour drive took close to 4 hours, not due to the conditions of the road but due to the chaos that was being created by traffic.  It turned out that some people had spent 9 hours stuck on the road as one of the primary highways into and out of the city was a parking lot and of course, being a highway, had very limited options for exits.  Many people had abandoned their cars on the highway, walking downtown to the hotels, filling them totally within hours.  The strange thing was that during our drive back we saw only a handful of plows...

One would think that this was some super snowstorm, but it was relatively minor compared to ones that we had last year of two storms of 20 inches within a few days of each other.  This one was 6-9 inches in warm conditions and was quickly cleared up once plows did come out and address the situation.  Whether it was a conscious social experiment or not, it was disturbing to see the chaos that ensued and the lack of cooperation among those stranded.  All it would have taken was a cooperation between drivers to go from one car to another giving a helping push and the cars would have been able to get out of the drifts and up the hills, but this was absolutely not occurring in 90% of the cases.  We even found cars still abandoned today blocking whole lanes of back roads where a simple snow shovel would get them moving immediately.  The lack of common sense was stunning and it drove home the point that people are not only physically unprepared for anything but the "norm" but also totally mentally unprepared for anything but the "norm".  

As Tainos, as Paleros, we understand clearly that the Misterios and the Ancestors require that we be mentally strong and clear to work in a good way with them.  We cannot ask for all kinds of progression and accomplishments from them, but then approach our lives and decisions with mental weakness.  We cannot ask that they protect us, but then fail to utilize common sense in dealing with situations that can be potentially dangerous, if not for us then for those around us who are more vulnerable.  

There is an energy of utter recklessness that is being expressed more and more in the society in general which is perhaps most visible through the way that people drive and behave on the road, which is a potentially deadly activity.  Care and concern is rare, and there is an aggressiveness and individualism that creates the illusion of power in a situation where the individual is in actuality powerless.  A snowstorm is a prime example of a moment when individual illusion of power collides with Mother Earth's Powers and the individual realizes for a brief moment that "you can't wrestle with Mother Earth".  However this moment passes with the arrival of tow trucks, snow plows and salt (and unacknowledged with the reprieve offered by Mother Earth's snowstorm moving on) and the individual goes right back to a reckless and insensitive way of living upon Mother Earth.  

Whatever position we may take regarding the climate (global warming/ global cooling) or regarding society, if we do not realize that the energy of the Earth and her People is reaching a point of intense energy that can only transmute into something different, then we are intentionally blind and deft.  Denial is deadly, and denial comes in many garments, however there is always a component of denial that is a conscious decision to willfully put one's head in the sand.  How that transmutation occurs and how we adapt to that transmutation is the true question, because clearly the "norm" is not an adequate response to the situation that All Life and our Mother Earth is vibrating within at this time.  

"Capturing a Current" (Click on the photos)

During our magical time at the River with the Rare Phenomenon of a clearly defined Cool Mist on top of the River we were blessed in our searching for the Energy we were looking for to move specific elements of our life forward.  We knew we were in a situation that we may never find again with this Mist.  The Mist truly had a unique Spirit.  As we first approached this spot in the water three tubers came by, the first a middle aged Indigenous Man, the second an Elderly European Man and the third a Woman.  The Older Man as he passed kept saying how rare the Mist was!  We associate the Mist with the Mysterio of Tiembla Tierra so the fact that it was an older Man with white hair remarking repeatedly on the rareness of the Mist was very significant.  

Within the Mist the temperature variations allowed us to sense in a profound way the approach and withdrawal of the Spirit of the Mist.  We made invocations and prayers within the mist and cleansed our crowns.   At points when we stood up our heads were in the heat of the "ordinary air" and our bodies in the layer of cool mist.  It was an awesome experience but we had come to the River looking for a very specific energy.

We were looking for a strong energy to propel something very specific forward.  As the Yayi walked downstream she detected the powerful pull of the River forward and realized that with every step, with the Misterio moving with her, she covered more distance than if she was walking outside the current.  As she walked the Current became stronger and stronger.

At a certain point the Yayi found the exact current we were looking for and took the opportunity to cleans her crown, making a strong invocation concerning what we were looking to move forward.  Chola Wengue has many energies or Caminos that she embodies, some places she is warm and slow moving, almost swirling around without going anywhere, in others she is very cool and rapid, some places have a strong current but it is still calm, this current was powerful and shaking, this was the exact current needed for this situation.  

When we go to the River for a Camino we always consider what is needed for the individual or the situation that we are bringing to the River.  This way we search for the specific Camino of Chola that we are looking for, some situations need very calm slow waters, others needed rapid currents, still others could need muddy turbulent waters, others need the waterfall or even the water coming out of the ground in a Spring!  Even within the River on a specific day there are so many different Energies of Chola present that she presents us so much opportunity to find that exact "Current" that we are looking to "capture" to give us the energy and its blessing for our situation.

The sunlight on the River also creates very specific energies that can be absorbed for various needs or situations.  When we gather water from the River we do not just fill up a bottle from wherever there is water, we look for the specific current we are needing or we look for unusual currents that we may not easily find again.  It is a well known fact that water absorbs the energy around it and the structure actually changes.  This is more easily seen in snowflakes because of their solid nature, however it is equally as true for liquid water.  Not all water is the same even though a chemical "test" of it would say it is.  Water embodies the energy of whatever Spirits and Energies are surrounding it, including Sun, Wind, Air, Moon, Mountain, Plants and Human made structures.  Even the Beaver Dams which are very prolific in this particular part of this River bring a specific energy to the water herself!  As Paleros we are always seeking to understand these different subtleties better and to be more detailed in our selection of the Raw materials that we use for our work and in our selection of what Camino we take ourselves or others on!

Walk To The River!

It was late afternoon, early evening and we took a walk to the River.  My twin Grandchildren were very excited to be away from concrete, and eagerly anticipating the River!

Our walk took us past many Spirits and many interesting physical phenomena!

Here saplings grow from cracks in a huge stone cliff face.  How they are able to pull the nutrients and water they need from this barren terrain is extraordinary.  They are embodying a very important power of survival amid very difficult circumstances and a power of adaptability (we as Paleros can understand those powers as they are vital within our Tradition- those Paleros who cannot understand them must work hard to gain that understanding!)  The power of the tree is within its experience.  These trees are young yet have a very unusual experience which can be utilize when one is building a Medicine.  

The River is very mystical and the trees surrounding the water reveal Spirits looking at us, which ordinarily we may not notice.  By the River tree roots become exposed by the River pulling soil away from them.  This tree root is not only very beautiful but it also is the home of "someone"!  You can feel the power of this particular root and its unique experience.  You know that this is a root that you can gently chip some pieces from the underside to utilize in a Bilongo.

Water who Runs!

The Stones within the River are visible at this time because the River's waters are so low from drought.  Often these stones are not visible and cannot be sat on to contemplate as we did while we were there.  As a Taino and Palero, this is the reality that we live because we go to be right in the elements of the Misterio, without a narrow agenda or a mindset that is looking to just get "results".  We go to be with the Spirit because the best "results" come from the interrelationship and understanding of the Spirit which builds stronger character and long term results.

When you look for a result, you want to look for WHO is giving you that result so that you do not fall into the trap of taking things for granted and become egotistical and grandiose as a Medicine Person.

The More we Know, the more we Realize that 

WE DO NOT KNOW IT ALL!  AND WILL NOT KNOW IT ALL, ESPECIALLY IN ONE LIFETIME!

Knowing it all is rooted in the Traditional Practice of the Children Continuing the Tradition, and exploring and expanding on the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Elders!

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.  

Seeking and Tracking Mysteries (Misterios) in the Forest!

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!