Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "cuba"

Four Shells, Five Answers: Obi divination - Mouthpieces of the Orichas

2009-09-19T06:58:56Z

“Ago Obi, Ago Obi, Ago Obi”

The prayers begin for Obi, the system of divination from the Yoruba religion to obtain “Yes” and “No” answers to questions in various levels of intensity and meaning. This system, crucial to all in the African religious concepts under the major heading of Ifa and their various levels of dilution under the categories of Lukumi and Santeria, are a methodology of the ways Nigerian kola nuts (Obi Abata), fresh coconut meat (darle el coco) and four cowrie shells speak to us and are considered the ‘mouthpieces’ of the Orichas. The Orichas, as they are collectively known, are African based Gods and Goddesses of Nature who rule various places and elements of the World and are considered ‘guardian angels’ of each and everyone who inhabits the Earth. Each and every one of us is considered having that particular Deities’ “Ache” or “Spirit” and it is within the patakis, or stories of the Orichas’ interactions with each other and the World that the message is delivered.

Obi’s spirit, once mortal, ascended to being an Oricha once good deeds had been done, fell from Grace because of Ego. Upon descending to Earth, Obi’s spirit embodied the coconut palm tree. Although Obi cannot speak with his tongue, he communicates through the white (“clean”) side or brown (“dark”) of coconut meat. If cowrie shells are used, it is the side that has been filed open to indicate “Yes” (“clean”) and the closed ridged side that indicates a “No” (“dark”) side of the answer pattern that fell during questioning.

After prayers, I utilize Obi divination with cowrie shells to answer questions during a card reading using the Tarot of the Orichas. Obi gives clarity to questions regarding messages of the cards to a client. Clients can ask Obi a question and I may also be prompted to ask as well when the layers of cards upon themselves are not in association with the clients’ dilemma. Obi, not to be taken lightly, is regarded as a tool to help Mankind seek clarity in decision making, regardless of whether you are fully initiated into the religion or not. There are 5 levels to Obi; two affirmative or positive in different severities, two negative or “no” answers, and a “maybe” answer that needs a second question to extract a less ambiguous answer.

The five different shell patterns that will fall during a questioning session are as follows:

“Alafia” – “Yes with blessings!” – The most affirmative answer, it can be over eager in delivery and must have a second toss to confirm and secure the answer. The second fall of the cowries must be another “Alafia” or “Ejife” or “Etagua” answer to be taken as a “Yes” answer.
“Ejife” – “Yes” (but without emphasis) – This affirmative answer is interpreted as a “Yes, and your World is balanced”, meaning what you have proposed or achieved (or about to) brings balance to the contradictory struggles of the World to keep in harmony.

“Etagua” (or “Etawa”) – “Maybe” – This answer comes when the question needs clarification (posing it in a way to obtain a “Yes” or “No” answer) or Oricha is pondering the situation and needs a second question to be able to answer. When Etagua appears, the second answer of the second toss of shells is the true answer. If another “Etagua” (Etagua-Meji) falls after the first one, the meaning is “do not ask what you already know”.

“Okana” – meaning darkness is surrounding the client and a positive outcome is not available, perhaps without additional spiritual work. One open shell and three closed ones indicate to focus on the small beam of light in darkness.

“Oyekun” – The most serious “No” answer, it tells of being out of touch with spirituality and walking in darkness. A dire warning; it presages unforeseen problems, accidents, fires and even portends death. Additional questions need to be asked in the clients’ behalf to determine why Oyekun has come. Water must be sprinkled on Oyekun and if it appears more than once, the shells must be placed in water to ‘cool’ down the answer.

After the reading with me, the client has an opportunity to ask questions that were not addressed in the card reading. These may be additional clarity on the original shell toss or other unrelated questions on relationships and business strategies. Once we begin to receive multiple “Etaguas” to questions in an obvious pattern, this indicates that the line of questioning needs to end as the client is asking questions to obvious answers they are facing.

While not always an immediate answer, Obi gives insight on things to come. Clients who return for a follow up reading three months later will exclaim, “The shells were right! I just didn’t see it (the situation) evolving before me!” and other affirmations that indicate that revelations of Truth that Obi gives come true. For me, as well as over 70 million plus devotees of this African indigenous religion, we know Obi does not lie.

Jacqueline Mathers, educator and author, uses Obi divination in her readings for clients. She is also a certified Rootworker in the Southern style of conjure, studying under Cat Yronwode. Many years of study of African based folkloric and religious beliefs have earned her the title “native informant” with various institutions of education in the Central Valley. She is also the producer of the Holistic Healing Expo in Elk Grove, CA and can be contacted at (916) 284-5552 or at jacqueline (at)tarotbyjacqueline.com

Oak Park welcoming caravan bringing peace to Cuba

2009-07-07T22:28:44Z

Retired school buses covered in hand-painted tags may be nothing unfamiliar to Oak Park, but it is not every day you see one on a mission to bring aid to Cuba. Your chance is on its way July 11 at 5 p.m. when the Caravan to Cuba makes a stop in Sacramento.

The Caravan is an endeavor of Pastors of Peace to answer a humanitarian call that has been ignored by the United States for decades. The embargo of Cuba has stubbornly neglected the simple capacity a rich country such as ours has to serve and save another country in a vortex of poverty. Ravaged by hurricanes and horrific corruption, Cuba is in great need, but they are denied the vital aid of which we have a surplus.

The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) and Pastors of Peace have answered a call the US will not. Boarding an old bus in Vancouver, they are on their way to Cuba making stops along the way for outreach events, interviews, media events and to collect supplies.

Sacramento is one stop, and all are welcomed to come meet the caravanistas (a beloved term for those traveling onboard) as well as learn more about the troubles of Cuba they are attempting to curb. There will be a lot of food, fun, and friendships made on July 11.

Their website is full of information worth browsing, including lists of needed supplies you may be able to donate.

The Caravan to Cuba indicates that hunger and disease are being used as weapons for our political power. They intend to empower and mobilize anyone who would demand alternatives toward just change. Come to Oak Park United Methodist Church on July 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. to welcome the caravan and learn how you might be no small part of that change. For more information contact Faye Kennedy at fayek@springmail.com

Review: Che - Parts One and Two

2009-04-13T21:12:35Z

By Tony Sheppard
Capitol Weekly

Che: Parts One and Two
Directed by Steven Soderbergh

History, it is said, is written by the winners. But that's an over-simplification, or perhaps an over-complication: It's written by whoever write histories, from their own perspective. Japanese textbooks probably don't look like ours when it comes to WW II. Was George Washington a hero in a noble and justified War of Independence, or was Benedict Arnold a tragic hero in a traitorous Revolutionary War in the Colonies - that probably depends if you grew up in the US or the UK. I've also lived in the US South, where you still occasionally hear about the War of Northern Aggression.

I'm not a historian and certainly not an expert in the life of Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara. So I can't comment directly on where the accuracy lies or who might or might not approve of this account. But it feels like a fairly non-partisan depiction, as though the audience got to tag along with the man and the action that surrounded him. And, whether or not you admire or agree with his politics and policies, you do get the impression that he was a true believer of his own message, not a partisan hack or an opportunist. The film is epic in proportion, with two parts and a total running time of 4h 17m (plus an intermission). The toughest aspect of this isn't so much the sheer length but the relaxed pacing that makes it seem, if anything, even longer.

The first film tells the story of the Cuban revolution, from dinner table plotting to addresses at the UN years after the fact. It is interestingly non-linear, as it jumps from later speeches and appearances, to and from the jungles and mountains of Cuba. To some extent, if there's a hero or a tactical genius depicted here, it's Fidel Castro, who is seen calling most of the shots with Che (Benicio del Toro) following those instructions (something that is missing in the later Bolivian campaign). But it also demonstrates the concept of an insurgency that has the hearts and minds of an oppressed people behind it.

Watching the two halves back to back is interesting for multiple reasons. It doesn't just compare and contrast the events, but it also demonstrates what we are often told about Iraq and Afghanistan - that the same tactics won't necessarily work in different places and with different people. In the second film we see Che as he attempts to repeat the success of the Cuban experience in Bolivia. This is a very different account, entirely linear in presentation, and as different in outcome as is possible. Here we see the insurgency failing among a people who have no reason to trust either side. With peasants who are unimpressed with money, for example, because they have nowhere to spend it, and with a counter-insurgency that's playing from the insurgent's handbook.

While slow, the overall effect is also compelling, and one gets an impression of the hardships, victories, and losses that would be lost in a lesser telling. And the two halves play somewhat successfully independently of each other, especially the first as a stand-alone telling of the Cuban chapter. If you have an interest in this subject and you get a chance to catch this before it disappears, I would recommend seeing at least Part I - otherwise make a note to see it on DVD when it arrives. It's a another powerful and significant collaboration between Soderbergh and Del Toro, who both won Oscars for "Traffic" in 2000.

"Che" plays at the Crest Theatre through Thursday April 16th - see www.thecrest.com for showtimes and ticket information.