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walkingwiththegods1 · 1 year

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Pagan Misconceptions Clarified: Why Oyá, is NOT "Only The Warrior Goddess of Violent Storms, and Also; The One That Hold The Keys Of The Cemetery?!"

This is the only atributes most people known about Oyá, and... I can't sincerely blame them: African Religions, are almost unknown; and... Unless you are an Historian, have growned up in Africa; or in one of the many nations of The Caribbean... You will be generally in the dark, knowing little to none; about African Deities, (excepting for Egypt and Carthage, the last being today's, Morroco) but... Since I was a kid, despite my parents wanting me to never get near of any beliefs outside Christianity; something of that came in local documentaries, and in some songs singed in the media; by devotees of Santeria. When I was in 4th of Elementary, I learned about my ancestors in school; and I felt pained for how much they suffered, so... I'm going to honor the African part of me, and to my African Ancestors than came at The Caribbean as slaves; by making this post, about the Goddess that catched my total attention; two years before I became a teenager: Oyá!

Oyá, is too: The Goddess of The Winds and The Air, The Goddess of Lightning; The Goddess of The Death, and... The Goddess of Rebirth!

Oyá, is an Yoruba Goddess and Orisha; that was married to Ogun, The God of War and Metals; until one day, she fall in love of Shango; The Warrior God of Thunder, and she left that Shango kidnapped her, which causes than Oggun and Shango; became into eternal enemies. She is the mother of The Eggunes, and she was given Total Dominion; over The Death. She wears bracelets and uses tools made of copper, as eternal gratitude to her sister Oshun; than losed her virginity, to saved her.

Before I talk more about Oya, an important note: The Yoruba Deities, in the time of the Atlantic Slave Trade in The Americas; traveled too with their followers, and The Yoruba Religion; was syncretized with Catholicism, knowned as: Santeria; (Spanish Caribbean) Candomblé, (Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay) Quimbanda, (Brasil's Urban Settlings) Trinidad Orisha, (Trinidad and Tobago Islands) Umbamda, (Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay) and others. The Orishas, are spirits than are mostly considerated as Deities, and; at the same time, as manifestations of the Supreme Deity; Olodumare. These Diasporic Religions, are closed practices; which means than you can't just wake up one day, and decides that you wants to be part of any of them: In the mayority, you have to be born inside that culture; in other cases, you must have at least one African ancestor in your family; or in others, you have to being initiated by a priest, and do rituals within the people of their community. (If you want to study the basic info about any of them, in a serious manner; go ahead, or... If you want to go to a ritual, asked to a practitioner if you can go; asked about the correct behaviour if you get invited, and above all... Be respectful with The Deities, and to anyone than is in this faith; in the same way than you are respectful when visiting to friends or older relatives, Okay?!)

And now... The other atributes and domains of Oyá!

The Goddess of The Winds and The Air: She is associated with the winds, and uses her powerful singing; to move them into action. It is said too, than she doesn't only control the winds; but than she also control, the air than humans need to breath! For this reasons; she is The Goddess of The Winds and The Air!

The Goddess of Lightning: She is represented, surround by lightning; and using them, when she goes to fight against difficulty situations; indomable and strong, as the lightning she controls.

The Goddess of The Death: She is the mother of the Egguns, (Spirits) and lives in the door of The Cemetery; position than recieved after her sister said, than her father left Oya out of the inheritance for not been there in that moment; which she considered to being unfair. Her father, (Once Oya, was rescued); said than there only was one place without an owner, than was the cemetery: Oya, accepted gladly; and she became the Goddess of Cemeteries; since then.

The Goddess of Rebirth: In all the ancient religions around The World, Death was seen as merely a passing from The Earthly World; into the The Spiritual World, (Paradise, Heaven; Hell, Only a Place of Rest for The Souls of The Ones than have passed away, etc.) before the Soul backed to Earth again; and because Oyá, is a Deity related with Death; which wasn't seen as The Final, but; as a new beginning... Oyá, represents the reencarnation of The Ancestors; and the lack of memory, than comes with rebirth, so... For all this, she is too; a Goddess of Rebirth!

Oyá, is the only female warrior Deity and Orisha too; which is an amazing fact in itself, because women in the Yoruba Society; only can do chores than are meant for females... And being a warrior, wasn't one of them: Is remarkable than people in the Yoruba society feels a great respect for her, maybe for both of her roles; as an very powerful warrior; and... For being the keeper of the mysteries, than lay beyond this life!

Curious Fact: One of the atributes of Oyá, is than she uses all the colors; except black, and is depicted as a beautiful woman; with weapons. So... If you see an african image of a beautiful dark skinned woman, holding swords; copper bracelets, and than uses all colors but black; (in her handkerchiefs, and/or in her clothing) then... You have already found, to Oyá!

My African Ancestors, once they arrived into The Caribbean; (The first place where Africans arrived, for to being used in force labors; in The New World) were the ones than survived the trip by the sea, than were turned into slaves; forcebly separated of their families and/or friends, and forced to don't speak in their maternal languages, being forcebly converted to Catholicism; and were severely punished; when they were found making offerings to their Gods, surprised speaking in their language; or... For trying to escaped. This gruesome practices, is called Ethnocide; which is when Colonialists, tries to destroyed the culture of the people they have conquered; and colonized. But... As a form of resistance, the African Slaves; makes two very brilliants moves, against their enslavers: First, combining their maternal languages and dialects; with the language of their owners, and they created a new dialect; that confused to their enslavers, while they were planning how to been freed of them; at the same time; the language is called, Creole. And, the second move was; than because their cults were forbidden by the enslavers and their owners, they combined figures of The Catholicism; than had similarities with their Gods, like for example; Oyá, was sincretized with Saint Teresa of Avila and The Virgin of Candelaria; in that way, the could still leaves offerings to their Gods; while they were in front of the image of a Virgin or Catholic Saint, without rising suspictions over them; and avoided been punished! (I was rejoiced when I had 10 years old, of hearing how my African Ancestors resisted conversion; and foughted with cleverness, [And, sometimes... With weapons and rebellions, too!] until Slavery; was abolished in all The Islands of The Caribbean, FOREVER!)

Despite than The Colonialism, destroyed most of The Arawak and African heritage; and I have found many people in my nation, than denies their Ancestry; for centuries of racial shaming indoctrination... I will take the chance to say this: Maybe I am a Pagan today, in part because my Ancestors had the courage to preserved their language and religion; the best way they could, and somehow; they passed me their strenght, so even if I don't looked like them, they inspired me enough to speaked to any person than tried than I shut up so I never speaked of my true origins; and when I told them with all my indignation and fury; even when a was I kid, than I’m wasn't white: I am of mixed origins and pale skin... But my heart and soul is Pagan, and I am forever linked by blood; DNA and pride, with my Pagan Ancestors of both sides of The Atlantic... (I have only saw one of my African Ancestors in dreams, but; wherever they are... This post, is for all of you; too: Thank you for have showned courage in those horrible times, in the faces of Slavery; Injustice and Death... And for showing me, than giving up of my beliefs is not an option; and doing it, is only a life full of cowardice; shame, pain, and than it lacks of all human dignity!)

This is all, about The Yoruba Goddess and Orisha; than has power over Lightning, Winds; The Air, Storms, Death and Rebirth: Oyá!

Have all of you, days full of Courage; Fearlessness, Pasion, and of winning all the battles; so you can always makes to your Ancestors, proud of you... So Be It!

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walkingwiththegods1 · 1 year

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Pagan Misconceptions Clarified: Why Guabancex, is NOT; "Only The Goddess of The Hurricanes, than menaces to The Caribbean; every year?!"

I'll be honest, with all of you: This is the only of my series of posts, than I wasn't so happy to write; but... I feel forced to write it, 'cause as someone than was born and growed in The Caribbean; (And the first time I met Guabancex, she helped me to get out of a very horrid situation) well... I am like least say, "The closest person in Earth, to who she manifest in ways than people can't even imagine" Saying that... This is the last of my "Pagan Misconceptions Clarified" than I would do for a while, hoping than you will learn a lot about each Deity than are close to me; and than the trouble than took me to write this particular post, will be worthy for the reader; if you someday decides to live in this misterious lands, so you can be better prepared. With all of this say: Let's get started!

Guabancex, is The Taino Goddess of The Hurricanes; and even thought many people think this is her only Dominion, she was a very important Deity for The Arawaks across all The Islands of The Caribbean; since The Lesser Antilles, Bahamas; The South tip of Florida, and of course; The Great Antilles, where The Tainos developed the most advanced civilization of The Caribbean. Guabancex, is much more than The Goddess of the destructive storms called Hurricanes; and after you ended to read this post, not only will you know what other powers she have; but... You will know the secret of why she was the most important female Deity in Taino Culture, and why she was extremely feared for them; and why we should have a bit of respect and feared her, today...

Guabancex, according to Arawak/Taino Myth... Is the Daughter of Atabey, (The Mother Goddess of Fertility, than was the first being to exist; and was totally alone in The Void) and is the sister of five other supreme beings; including Itiba Cahibaba, (Her only sister) and Yocahu; (The other supreme being, than Tainos gave the same importance than to Guabancex) Guabancex, was born without a father; equally as her brothers and sister, and she is in a constant conflict with Yocahu; 'cause Yocahu sided with Atabey. Her symbol, is an angry face with the arms stretched in opossite directions like a ''S'; and her name, have different meanings; in Taino's Language, than may means: ''Mistress of The Hurricanes'', ''Mistress of The Wind and Water''; or... ''Lady of The Winds''.

The myth about Guabancex's relation with the Hurricanes, is this: A female Cemí than lives in a country of the Chieftain Aumatex, and she controls the winds; and people gave her offerings of food to appeased her, but... When this failed, she get out of her place always angry; and calls to her two assistants: Gautauba, (her herald than announces the arrival of Guabancex with the hurricane, by blowing a fotuto [Hollow seashell with holes, to makes music with it]) and Coastriquie; (The Cemí of The Sea, than controls water and causes flash floodings) and she started to tell to the other Cemies, (Plural for Cemí) to help her with her destructive labor; and she started to blow the winds more stronger a violent, and she began to spiral joining the waters of Coastriquie with the thunder and lightning of Gautauba; she releases the winds and waters, which finally destroys to everything in their path.

Guabancex, is too: The Goddess of The Winds and Breeze, The Goddess of The Rain; and... The Only Female Cemí and The Ruler of The Cemies!

The Goddess of The Winds and Breeze: Tainos, depended so much of good weather to fish; and, to have a day of less agobiant heat; so they prayed to Guabancex to have a calm enough so they could have fish to eat, and a refreshing day to do their chores more easily!

The Goddess of The Rain: The no. 1 activity of Taino's Economy, was Agriculture; which means than they depended of fresh clear water for their plantations, to make possible the survival of their families and communities. Even when they tended to go to Yocahu; (The Taino God of Vegetation, and The God of their Principal Food: The Yucca's Root) to have a succesful harvest... To makes that to happen, they depended completely of The Rain; so they used to prayed a lot to Guabancex, so plants could grow; so they could have their food on the table!

The Only Female Cemí and The Ruler of The Cemies: Cemí, was the name than recieved the minor Deities in The Taino Pantheon; and Guabancex, stand out for being the only female Cemí; but... She was called too, "The Most Powerful of all The Cemies''; and... She was so powerful and feared for the other Deities, than the other Cemies; (Plural for Cemí) did what she commanded, at once!

Guabancex's importance resides in two things: The first, as a very fierce Deity; she was one of the most followed Taino's Gods in The Caribbean, to the point than The most Powerful and Rich Cacique (Chieftain in Taino) of The Hispaniola; it was said than he was a follower of this Deity. Because The Tainos depended heavily in fair weather, for most of their daily tasks; and Hurricanes were feared not only for the destruction they left, but too; for the disease and famine they left behind, so appeased the fury of Guabancex was essential for The Tainos could keep their almost idylic life. And, the second; is because Guabancex... Was the Mother of The Taino People, with Yocahu!

One Spaniard record, than Guabancex's Followers; people of all the ages with an adorn on their forehead with an angry face in it; used to peregrinate outdoors, and for a moment they stoped to walk, and started to put angry expressions on their own faces; as a way to show their devotion to her, before to start to walk again to their next stop.

And, now... Why Guabancex was so feared by The Arawaks/Taino people?! The only way to understand this part, is going back in time; when Spaniards arrived to The Caribbean, more than 530 years ago: Columbus and his crew, encountered in The Hispaniola; (The island than today shares Haiti and The Dominican Republic) with a Chieftain called Guacanagarix, (to who he befriend after Guacanagarix rescued to Columbus and his people of the Sinking of Columbus's Main Ship, The Santa Maria) and decides to lived there for the rest of his plan of Conquest. Guacanagarix, informed to Columbus of anything; including about an phenomenon, called Hurricane, than was the worst possible storm ever. Columbus, doesn't have to wait much to found it: Two hurricanes hited The Hispaniola's town of Isabela, and the destruction was so grave; than Columbus had to abandon the first Spanish Settlement, forever. At the passing of time, (after The Tainos were almost extinted...) people got interested in their language; including the meaning behind the word Hurricane. Hurricane, means in Arawaks/Taino; "Wind of The Gods", 'cause Taino believed than the same where a punishment of The Gods sended for doing evil, from... Yes, you guessed it: Guabancex!...

But, now you may think: "Why the free lesson of History and Native American Language, here?!...'' As someone said, once: ''Patience, is a virtue!'', and... I say now why I did this!

Hurricane, was thoughted to being only the name for the storm; and... It was thoughted too, than the Taino God Hurakan; (The Caribbean God... Not The Mayan God!) was the one than rules over this element... The thing is, than after many studies; we got the conclusion, than The God Hurakan, NEVER was the one than mades and sended the hurricane, but it was Guabancex; the one than sended it all this time. And, not only that: She is the one than give orders to Hurakan to helped her, in her destructive mission!

But, this is not the only surprising finding about Guabancex; and her relation with the Hurricane...

The Tainos, left their presence in language today; with many words than passed to Spanish; English, and into many languages in The World; and with a combination of language and research, it came another conclusion than is very frightening about The Hurricane, and Guabancex: Hurricane, is not only the name for the storms in the Caribbean... According with some stories left at the time of The Conquest in The Caribbean, The Tainos named as Hurricanes; too, to: Earthquakes, Tsunamis; Droughts, Volcanic Eruptions, Floods, Mudslides; Landslides, Storm Surges, Riverine Flooding, High Winds; Flash Floods, Wildfires, Severe Local Storms, Strong Winds; (and, in rare ocasions; Tornadoes, Hailstorms; Lightning Storms, Waterspouts, Sinkholes, Heat Waves... And Cold Waves.) Yes... This is the creepiest truth, about Guabancex: She rules, over ALL THE DESTRUCTIVE PHENOMENONS; THAN OCURRS IN THE CARIBBEAN! (If you want to scream, you can do it now: I was too scared, after knowing this a few years ago; than I couldn't scream at all!)

Now all you know, with who I have to deal with: She is the only Deity, than my relation is not very good; but... I'm not the kind of person than will left to others, the brunt than entails having a Deity like her in their life. (After all, I'm still somehow grateful of her; even if I'm not very fond of her... Or, of her methods!)

Curious Fact: Two years before the arrival of Spaniards to The Hispaniola, Guarionex; (one of the most powerful Caciques in the Island), recieved a vision of a Cemí, than told him than the profecy than left Yocahu before to leave to his children; The Tainos, ''Than one day will came men, with skin of the color of the clouds in the days of sun; than will destroyed to their poor descendents'' It was about to happen: It was said than the Cemí than tried to prepare to The Tainos, to avoided the sad fate than fell over them; was Guabancex. (I can't imagine how she felt, when all of them were enslaved; killed or died for the brutal and merciless explotation of the Spaniards, and than before they died... They converted to a new religion, and before to die; they started to behave worse than ever!)

The thousands of Spaniard Ships, than are sunk in the deep of The Caribbean; today, was the response of not only a Deity; than losed to all her followers: She was a mother than losed too, TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS! (If you have a family member, or someone than you love as family; and is near of you, a day after the date when Spain legalized the cruel repartations of Tainos in The Caribbean; many centuries ago... Send them a message telling them how important they are for you, or; if you have them at the reach of your arms; please gives them a hug. [Is only when we read things like this, than we starts to apreciate what is really important in our lifes!])

The mayority of The Caribbean people than lives today, have mostly forgot their Arawak/Taino heritage; and what is more, of the Myths of The First Inhabitants; but, by my own experiences I can tell you than Guabancex's presence is real; and she still have power in her Lands. If you ever live in The Caribbean, remember than her only demand; is not doing evil to any person and living being, while you are there. (For what I have seen... She has not mercy with abusers, bullies; violent people, people than do harm willfully to family or friends, or... Than hurt intentionally to the innocents!)

And this is all, about The Taino Goddess of The Winds, Breeze; Rain and Hurricanes, than have Absolute Power over all The Caribbean: Guabancex!

Have all of you a Life, where you can always be in good terms with The Deities, in any land you were born, travel or lives... So Be It!

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