Chapter Six
Marcos: Sarah.....I wanted to ask you something....I know you were a teacher before...did you not enjoy your work?
Sarah: Marcos...I loved my work......it just dawned on me that I needed a change for awhile.
Marcos: How do you feel about teaching here? I have recieved my certificate to teach and a grant from the local government I would like to open a small school house here the local church will provide the location.
Sarah: I would love it!
Marcos: Sarah......I am falling in love with you.....stay here with me...
Sarah: I am too Marcos....I will stay....
Meanwhile at Hilda's house.....it was time for Manny to recieve his guerrerros...or spirit warriors..Rafa was creating them for him as a Santeria priestess she was allowed to do so...Melvin was invited to witness it.
Rafa: Melvin I will try to explain what is going to you as much as it does not interupt since Manny is fluent in English that will make this a lot simpler for me.
Melvin: I don't wish to interupt in any way I just would like to observe and be out of your way Rafa.
Rafa: My friend you could never be in the way don't you know that?
Rafa: Manny I present to you, your Elegua.
I am Manny your Babalocha I will iniciate you into this religion but first you must begin by recieving your warriors.
We have with us Melvin he is Aleyo (non-believer or non iniciate) and he will observe as my guest today.
Elegua
Elegua is the first of four warriors you will recieve today.
Elegua holds the keys of destiny for both happiness and misfortune.
He opens the door to either one.
He is the ruler of the paths, owner of crossroads and master of hills and valleys.
All Santeria meets begin with a song or invocation to Elegua.
Legend states that Elegua was Oludumare's(God) messenger and that he was small.
Olodumare said to Elegua "Elegua you the smallest will be the greatest on earth and heaven nothing shall be done if not thru you"
Your Elegua will eat before any other Orisha and will be assigned the main entrance of the home.
Elegua's aspect in the christian is The nino of Antiocha, Saint Anthony de Padua and Anima Sola.
You will see Elegua's image captured for us in a stone with a human aspect he is kept in a clay dish to keep him earth grounded.
He is a playfull child that enjoys toys, candies and other things.
Oggun
This is the second warrior.
He is a god of all metals, tools and war. When have finished singing to Elegua you will sing to Oggun and invocation. His dance is warlike and is usually represented by a machete being brandished during his dance. The machete is his sigil and his color is brown. He is represented in his christian aspect by Saint Peter.
Ochosi
This is your third warrior
He is the master of the hunt. His aspect is a bow and arrow. In his dance the dancer will simulate a hunt. Ochosi's is sincretized with Saint Norbert.
Ogun and Ochossi inhabit the cazuela an iron cauldron which houses them their sigils and tools.
Osain
This is your fourth warrior
He rules all herbs and plants. He governs healings his christian aspect is Saint Joseph.
With these Warriors you no longer are alone they live amoungst us brought to life by us with belief, with adoration and with blood...
You have recieved your first step. Your next will be to recieve your Santo it will be divined by Marcos using the Ifa who is to rule your head and you will recieve your collars.
Melvin watched closely as Rafaela concluded the ceremony he watched her spit firewater onto Manny's back and smoke a cigar which she used to smudge him and the newly made Elegua and Warriors....they danced and sang old Yoruba songs and seemed to be semi-possesed during the ritual...Melvin was fascinated he watched the girl of his dreams take a chicken and snap it's neck and pour the blood over the Elegua.....it was disturbing to watch yet somehow incredibly exciting to witness actual sacrifice....
After it was over Rafa and Melvin stepped outside for some fresh air...
Rafa: Well Melvin....What ya thinking?
Melvin: I am speechless Rafa I want to thank you for allowing me to be here today...it was so different than what I had read in my books it was quite exciting to watch.
Rafa: LOL! Yeah well this ritual is actual quite sedate it's the first step toward iniciation you should come to a ceremony where the Santo is brought down...
Melvin: Is that where the Orisha's possess the worshipers?
Rafa: Yes....except we do not call it possesion we call it Montado or well....this sounds kind of funny translated into english mounted....it refers to being a caballo or horse and being ridden by the Orisha spirit. It's quite a site Melvin I dunno if your ready for that.
Melvin: Rafa.....Can I ask you a question?
Rafa: Of course..
Melvin: Why is a beautiful girl like you not married yet?
Rafa: Well......I don't like to talk about it Melvin but I was engaged last year to what I thought was the love of my life....I thought we were soul mates...but he broke my heart and almost my spirit...I haven't been involved with anyone since Melvin....I guess I'm a fool I still have feelings for him even though I haven't spoken to him for almost a year...
Melvin: I'm sorry Rafa I didn't mean to make you sad I'm such a jackass..ugh!
Rafa: No! Don't worry Melvin it's not your fault don't be silly I need to move on maybe this will help me to?
Just then a monstrously large spider bit Melvin in the ankle it was so painful he yelled out everybody came running out he saw everything begin to spin....
He woke up in his underwear on the couch. The spider had aparently moderate poison and Rafa sent for an expert herbalist from the couch Melvin could see them talking quietly...
He had no doubt in his heart that this was Rafa's ex and of course he was a stud ugh.....she went one year without talking to this guy and thanks to my stupid spider bite she has to talk to him again good going Melvin he miserated to himself....
Rafa: This is a special herb drink it Melvin I have already treated your wound with a special antiseptic poultice...
Melvin: I'm sorry I don't know why I fainted it's so stupid....
Rafa: No that was a huge spider and it has a nasty bite..
Melvin: That herbalist Rafa it's him isn't it? Your ex-fiancee?
Rafa: Yes..
Melvin: I'm sorry Rafa...
Rafa: It's ok Melvin it was actually freeing to me to finally break this he has not changed he still a jerk and .....I do not miss him....
Rafa: Look at him Melvin he held my heart hostage for so long it is good to see him and not feel pain....he thinks you are my new boyfriend...he is curious....Wave at him Melvin..
Rafa: Help me get some payback Melvin....let me indulge his paranoid mind...
Melvin let Rafa hold him and pretend they were lovers....to piss off her old boyfriend....something he could play all day.....
