Diloggún tales of the natural world : how the moon fooled the sun, and other Santería stories

203 Pages·2011·1.18 MB·English

by  Lele

For my muse, Ivelisse Pesante. Ivy, you came into my life at just the right time, a
point when I was about to put my pen down forever. Thank you for both your
friendship and your inspiration. May Oshún keep you in her arms forever!
DILOGGÚN TALES OF THE NATURAL
WORLD
“Ócha’ni Lele’s Diloggún Tales of the Natural World is a historic glimpse into
the beauty and power of the Lukumi religion. Readers will not only find this
book educational and inspirational but deeply transformative.”
IFALADE TA’SHIA ASANTI,
SENIOR BOOK REVIEWER AT URBAN SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER
“Ócha’ni Lele gives both the initiated and the layperson a true sense of the
marvel and mystery within the patakí, the sacred stories of Afro-Cuban Santería.
As with previous works, reading Diloggún Tales of the Natural World is like
sitting at the feet of an elder while dramatic stories filled with vibrant characters
are woven together to reveal universal truths of human existence. These stories,
committed to the page, are an invaluable gift to those of us living long distances
from our godparents and spiritual homes. Ócha’ni Lele is turning a vast and rich
oral tradition—one book at a time—into an eloquently written one. We give
thanks to the orisha themselves for choosing him as their messenger.”
IRETE LAZO,
AUTHOR OF THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERIA
“At the heart of Ifa, Lukumi, Santería, and various other Yoruba-influenced
traditions in the African diaspora is the diloggún, the complex cowrie-divination
ritual by which devotees ascertain the will of the orishas. At the heart of the
diloggún are the patakís, stories that elaborate upon and explain the various
figures formed by the falling shells. Ócha’ni Lele has put much of this oral
tradition in print, offering us an invaluable view into the complexity and beauty
of Yoruba mythology and culture. Like most fairy tales, these legends are simple
but carry deep and profound truths: Diloggún Tales of the Natural World is a
book that has something to offer adherents, scholars, and curious neophytes
alike.”
KENAZ FILAN,
AUTHOR OF THE NEW ORLEANS VOODOO HANDBOOK AND
THE HAITIAN VODOU HANDBOOK
“Diloggún Tales of the Natural World is essential reading for anyone interested
in the myths and superstitions of Cuba and the Caribbean. This book is
entertaining and extremely informative, especially when explaining the role
religion played during and after the African slave trade.”
XAVIANT HAZE,
AUTHOR OF THE SUPPRESSED HISTORY OF AMERICA
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As a writer I’ve been privileged to work with the best editorial and support staff
in the industry and I am indebted to each of them. My editors over the years
helped me grow in ways unimaginable when I first put pen to paper: Susannah
Noel, Doris Troy, Nancy Ringer, and Patty Capetola were tireless and thorough
in their work with each volume published by Destiny Books, an imprint of Inner
Traditions International. The staff at Inner Traditions, especially Laura Schlivek,
Erica Robinson, Mindy Branstetter, and Jon Graham, were wonderful mentors as
I wrote each manuscript. Finally, I am thankful that the publisher himself, Ehud
Sperling, accepted each work as it came to his desk.
As a student I have been blessed with wonderful English and creative writing
professors who guided me not only in classroom curriculum but also in my work
as an author: Professors Ann Refoe, Terie Watkins, Webb Harris, and Virginia
(Ginger) Magarine, all with Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. While
finishing the collection of stories for this volume I was a student in Professor
Watkins’ English II class and in Professor Magarine’s Creative Writing I
workshop. I would like to give Professor Magarine special thanks for honing my
skills as a storyteller. She was an inspirational instructor.
I’d like to thank my spiritual godparents, Banacek “Checo Yemayá” Matos
and Angel “Coquí Oshún” Jimenez: because of both of you, there are few men in
this world who are as blessed as I. Every day, people write to me about the
nightmares they lived in their quest for ocha; and they tell me about the traumas
they go through on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis with their own
godparents. Too many santeros wander the world, lost and incomplete, because
once ocha is given they are abandoned, turned out into the world to fend for
themselves, spiritually and otherwise. Each year that passes I feel closer to you
both; I hope we stay like this forever.
I need to thank all of the “serious” godchildren in my life at this time: Ashara
Yvonne Watkins, Katelan V. Foisy, Jason Jernigan, Robert Young, Rebecca
Payn, Vivienne D’Avalon, Sandy Short, Kourtnie Dionne Nandlal, Stephanie
Adele Simons, Kitty Mundis, Kenny Mundis, David Hess, Amy Fischetto, Ian
Cook, Keith Bonner, Weikeen Loh, Joice Loh, and Ricardo Valencia. Every time
I put my pen to paper, or my fingers to my keyboard, you are the ones who
inspire me to continue this work. After I am gone from this world, each of you
will still be around, and each of you will have your own religious godchildren. In
my absence, my books will be here to instruct you, and my private notes will be
in your hands to guide you. Seriously, I think about things like this—what will
become of you when I’m gone? For no other reason, that’s why I keep writing
and putting absolutely everything I know and everything I learn on paper. The
printed word, published and otherwise, will live after my death; and my spiritual
descendants will have a part of me with them as they grow, spiritually. This is
but a small part of my legacy to each of you—and it is for this reason, and no
other, that I stay up all night, writing.
The world should thank you for inspiring me.
Finally, I would like to thank the thousands of readers who have supported
my work over the years by buying and reading my books. An author without an
audience is a lonely creature, and your comments, criticisms, and praises have
kept my pen in motion throughout the years. Thank you!
CONTENTS
Cover Image
Title Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: The Importance of Patakís
Chapter 1. Patakís from the Composites of Okana
The Separation of Heaven and Earth
The Separation of Sky and Earth
The Story of the Maja
Obatalá’s Favorite Dove, or, How the Cat Lost His Dinner
The Birth of the Dead Sea
How Osain Became an Herbalist
Chapter 2. Patakís from the Composites of Eji Oko
The Story of Rain and Drought
The Birth of Rain
The Sickness of the Swamp
Chapter 3. Patakís from the Composites of Ogundá
Why the Cat Is Chased But Not Caught
How the Cat and the Ferret Became Enemies
Where the Goat Was First Sacrificed
Chapter 4. Patakís from the Composites of Irosun
The Sun, the Moon, the Fire, and the Water
The War between Fire and Water
The Cat, the Rat, and the Fish
Chapter 5. Patakís from the Composites of Oché
Poverty and Hunger
The Birth of Menstruation
How the Hummingbird Was Born
Even a Woman Can Hunt
Chapter 6. Patakís from the Composites of Obara
The Mountain
Money Is Trouble, and Trouble Is Death
How the Rosary Bead Plant Got Its Ashé
The Kingdom of Earth, the Kingdom of Heaven
Chapter 7. Patakís from the Composites of Odí
Iroko, the Tree of Life
How the Birds Got Their Wings
How the Maraca Was Born
The Pact of the Hand and the Anus
Chapter 8. Patakís from the Composites of Unle
The Rock and the Cactus
How the Moon Fooled the Sun and Saved the Earth
The Waxing and Waning of the Moon
Ekún Fails to Make Ebó
The Tale of Cotton
The Calabash of Ashé
Chapter 9. Patakís from the Composites of Osá
How the Frog Got Its Poison
The Birth of Red Blood Cells
How the Turtle Won the Race
Why Butterflies Stay in the Country
Why the Sea Is Salty
Chapter 10. Patakís from the Composites of Ofún
How the Pigeon Was First Sacrificed
Why Orúnmila Eats Hens, and Not Roosters
Ananagú: How Osogbo Was Freed in the World
Chapter 11. Patakís from the Composites of Owani
The Old Woman and the Leopard
The Osogbos (Misfortunes) and the Àkùko (Rooster)
The Earth and the Wind
Chapter 12. Patakís from the Composites of Ejila Shebora
The Lands of Lesa and Mogue
The Hunter and the Leopard
The Tale of the Spiders
Glossary
Footnotes
About the Author
About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company
Copyright & Permissions