Gourd

By Olive Senior

Dried Gourds

Humble took-took

IN JAMAICA, CALABASHES ARE GREATLY FAVORED AS NATURAL CONTAINERS SMALLER CALABASHES ARE KNOWN AS "PACKIES"; THE MEDIUM SIZES ARE KNOWN AS "TOOK-TOOK" AND TAKE THEIR NAME ECHOICALLY FROM THE SOUND MADE WHEN WATER IS POURED FROM THE SMALL HOLE AT ITS TOP.

PackyJamaica trees CALABASH This tree is small and spreading. The calabash fruit is large and is not only found on the branches of the tree but also on the trunk. It is known by several names in Jamaica – gourdi, goadyi, goadi and packy. Packy is the most popular name. Large calabashes are used as containers to carry or store food and drink, while small ones are made into musical instruments by filling them with pebbles. Green calabashes are often decorated and made into attractive craft items. The tree is native to the West Indies and Central and South America.

The cosmic containerThe worldview of santeros and other Orisha devotees is based on the cosmology of the ancient Yoruba people. According to this view, the cosmos is singular. There is no this world and another world, but a single world with visible and invisible elements. Visible elements include living people, plants, animals, rocks, stars, rain, the ocean, everything that can be perceived with the basic senses. The invisible elements include those who have died and those waiting to be born, the Orisha and Olodumare. Sometimes the visible world is called Aiye (Yr. earth) and the invisible world Orun (Yr. sky or heaven), but with the understanding that earth and sky are of a single piece, not two separate worlds as is commonly believed in Western cultures.The Yoruba imaged the visible and invisible worlds as a giant calabash. A calabash is a type of gourd that is often grown for use as a container. The calabash of the cosmos is imaged to be a spherical calabash cut along its equator to form two halves containing the visible and invisible portions of the world. There are two ways of understanding the calabash of existence. One is using the concept of ashé, the energy of the universe. The other is by looking at the different types of beings that inhabit the visible and invisible portions of the calabash and describing the interactions between them. These two understandings are mutually exclusive, so that it seems as though if one is correct the other can’t be. However, both explanations can be found within the mythology of the Yoruba and neither explanation is complete in itself.

The scorpion of darkness

Scorpion men are featured in several Akkadian language myths, including the Enûma Elish and the Babylonian version of the Epic of Gilgamesh. They were also known as aqrabuamelu or girtablilu. They were first created by the Tiamat in order to wage war against the younger gods for the betrayal of her mate Apsu. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, they stand guard outside the gates of the sun god Shamash at the mountains of Mashu. These give entrance to Kurnugi, the land of darkness. The scorpion men open the doors for Shamash as he travels out each day, and close the doors after him when he returns to the underworld at night. They also warn travellers of the danger that lies beyond their post.

The cosmic snakeThe serpent, when forming a ring with its tail in its mouth, is a clear and widespread symbol of the "All-in-All", the totality of existence, infinity and the cyclic nature of the cosmos.

In Norse mythology Jormungandr (or World Serpent) was thrown into the great ocean by Odin and grew so large that he was able to surround the earth and grasp his own tail. When he lets ago, according to the myth, the world will end in the final battle between the serpent and Thor (his arch enemy) who kill each other as Jormungandr poisons the sky. Some have offered that in a similar fashion, by releasing its tale to speak poison, Eden’s snake destroyed the infinite.

ARAWANILI AND THE WATER-MAMA

Arawanili was chief of Kaieni. He was a good man, wise and brave, but his heart was sore as he stood mournfully gazing over the wide expanse of waters. Then arose Orehu the Water-mama, her shoulders glistening with the drops of water, and her hair flowing free, and she was very fair to look upon. And she said, "Tell me thy grief, O Arawanili, and the sorrow of thy people." Arawanili answered, "I am grieved for the afflictions of my people; from the babe in arms to the aged man, they are tormented by the yauhahu (evil spirits) with fever, pain and sickness. If it were human foe, we should ere this have destroyed them from off the face of the earth, but without a charm we are as leaves driven before the blast of their displeasure. Then said Orehu of the waters, 'Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? Now will I strengthen thee and thy people against the wiles of the Yauhahu. Take this branch and plant it on yonder hill, and when the season cometh for the fruit, thou shall take the first that falleth to the ground, which thou shalt bring to this place, and at that time I will return unto thee." As soon as she had left communing with Arawanili the waters received Orehu out of his sight.After many months the fruit grew and ripened, and then one fell from the tree, and Arawanili saw that it was large, round, and heavy. So at the time appointed, Arawanili carried the calabash to the water's edge, and there he saw awaiting him - Orehu, who taught him to make holes in the rind and through these to withdraw the inner parts of this strange fruit. For the now hollow calabash she made him a handle gleaming bright with feathers, and put into the calabash as few small white stones, made smooth and shining by the water. Then the great Orehu gave to Arawanili the sacred plant, tobacco, which none then knew. These with other charms, made all the evil spirits flee before the face of Arawanili.When Arawanili was full of years he was gathered to his fathers, and from on high with Aiomun Kondi he looked down upon the Piaimen who use his charms to fight against the spirits who cause pain and sickness, while to this day may be seen in quiet places on the river's bank, Orehu, the good spirit of the Waters.

Sacred gourds

The asson is a sacred rattle used by the hougan or voodoo priest

The shaman’s maraka

The scared Mbaraká

Webiologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpion_man

http://www.khandro.net/animal_scorpion.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_(symbolism)

http://www.oocities.org/thetropics/shores/9253/legends1.html