My Full Moon Ceremony

[Matthew Mercado]

For full moon ceremony I laid out a 4 foot by 4 foot length white sheet on a table. I prepared by bringing together the items that I will be using for ceremony. I made a circle of twenty eight stones. By the north part of the circle I laid down a smoky quartz crystal representing the moons energy. I also got the guamo, two candles, a feather smudging fan, copal and a cup of water. For the tobacco ceremony I used my own personal pipe. This pipe has been my personal pipe for some time now. It may not be the traditional Taino pipe but it serves me well in my personal ceremonies. Beginning the ceremony I lit the charcoal disk and fanned the disk until it was completely burning. I put down on the disk a small amount of copal. Copal can smoke very heavy so I had to be careful while using it in an inclosed space, especially if your near a smoke alarm and one should have a window or two open. Of course if your outside you need not worry. Once the copal began to smoke I then used the smudging fan too fan myself clear of any negative energies. I then took the guamo and blew the horn to the four directions, and then too Atabey and Yokahu. Once I did this I grabbed the cup of water and did the water ceremony. I put my two fingers into cup and wet them and touched my forehead saying with this water I cleanse my mind. I touch the water again and touch my lips saying with this water I cleanse my words. Then I touch the water for the last time and touch my chest saying with this water I cleanse my heart. After the water ceremony I then began to prepare for the Tobacco ceremony. Before using my pipe I touch it four separate times before picking it up for ceremony. I took my pipe and smudge it with the copal smoke and cleanse it of any negative energies. I then begin to fill my pipe with tobacco. I’ll took a pinch of tobacco and face it to the south direction, and put it into to the pipe. Next I did the same to the west. Took a pinch of tobacco, face the west and put it in the pipe. The same for the North. Took a pinch of tobacco, face the tobacco to the north and put it into the pipe. The same for the east. Took a pinch of tobacco and faced it to the east. Then I’ll took a pinch of tobacco for Mother Earth and another for Yokahu. Once I’ve completed this, I am ready too light my pipe. As I begin to smoke, I will face each direction and smoke the sacred tobacco to the South Winds. Then next the West Winds, after that the North Winds, and then the East Winds. And, finally to Mother Earth and Father Sky. Paying homage to each direction. Once I’ve completed the tobacco ceremony, I place my pipe down. Since I am doing this ceremony solo I will light the two candles and once they are lit I will recite these words,“ This light represents the double light of the Full Moon”. The candles are then extinguished and once they are off I will say,” Our women have within them the rhythm of the Universe. After I’ve recited these words I will sing the sacred words of the Caney Circle dialect in the Taino language: Guariche guakia ba areyto Gua Turey.  Translates to: Guariche ( women), guakia (ours), ba (have), areyto ( ritual communal chant or song or rhythm), Gua Turey  (Cosmic All, The Universe). After I finished the chant, I sat quietly, reflected and meditated. This was my ceremony.