FULL MOON CEREMONY IN OHIO

[Miguel Sague Jr]

Takaji My Relatives
On Saturday September 5 the Caney Indigenous Spiritual Circle joined with the United Confederation of Taino People in the city of Youngstown Ohio to celebrate the Sacred Full Moon Ceremony.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful afternoon for the celebration of this powerful ritual. The full moon had already been gracing us for several nights and we were all charged and spiritually ready for the ocasion.

The event was held at Boardman Park and officially hosted by the local Ohio UCTP regional representative Dr. Rose Xochitl Anao Quinones who took care of reserving the location and personally conducted most of the publicity activities.

Both the UCTP and the Caney Spiritual Circle maintained information tables at the event allowing the participants an opportunity to learn more about our Resurgence movement and the ancient culture of the Tainos. Our sister Rose Anao made sure that participants, many of whom are not really very much informed on the current Taino Resirgence, received a copy of the UCTP Census registration form so that our brothers and sisters in the eastern Ohio area can become part of our great re-awakening.

The Caney Circle also erected a tiny replica of a Taino bohio which served to entertain as well as instruct the children who were in attendance by providing them an opportunity to incorporate knowledge of our ancient ways into their play. The kids had a ball with that little lodge.

We were joined in our event by a wonderful contingent of New York City and Philadelphia Tainos who made the long journey all the way from the east in their regalia and shared their beautiful spirit and teachings with us at our ceremony.

The Ceremony itself was graced by our sister Rose Anao who assumed the sacred role of Atabey during the most important part of the ritual. She was assisted by my wife Leni MaisGuariche in the lighting of the two flames that represent the double light of the full moon spirit Maroya during this the most powerful moment in her twentieght-day cycle. MaisGuariche also assisted her in the uttering of the sacred words of the ceremony "THE WOMEN HAVE WITHIN THEM THE RYTHM OF THE UNIVERSE". These words have been uttered by women during the Full Moon Ceremony of the Caney Circle for over twenty years.

The ceremony and the tradition which was brought to the Tainos of Youngstown by our Caney Circle, the UCTP, and the brothers and sisters who travelled from New York and Philadelphia was almost overwhelming to the local Tainos of the Youngstown area and we saw in their faces a wonderful image of awakening to a rebirth that some of us who have been in the Resurgence for some time now take for granted.
How blessed we were by the gorgeous late summer afternoon and how beautiful the sacred full moon spirit shone on us all last night from a perfectly clear night sky after our ceremony was over!

I am enormously grateful to our sister Rose Anao in Youngstown for creating this opportunity in her home town for us to present the blessings of the Caney Circle to her community. Likewise I put forth a great Bo Matun to the United Confederation of Taino People for the role that it played in making this dream come true for Rose and myself. In particular I would like to thank the Kasike of the UCTP Guama Roberto Mucaro Borrero for the loan of a traditional sibucan which was used as an educational tool to share with our Ohio brothers and sisters the ancient tradition of casabe processing. He also made available to us the official UCTP Census registration forms which will give the opportunity to local Ohio Tainos to join the Resurgence Movement. I also want to thank UCTP's Boriken rep, Roger Atihubancex for the material that he sent from the home island to Rose.

I want to offer a special Bo Matun to Tomas Waribonex who gathered up a contingent of Tainos from the New York and Philadelphia areas and caravaned in three cars all the way west to our region to join us in our ceremony. Thank you Wari, Xeiti Aon, Yatekinex, Anani, Matumyaru and all of the other beautiful souls that travelled with you to be with us yesterday. We were truly blessed by your presentation of your traditions such as the makana dance. We were annointed by the spirits as you gracefully shared the bija blessing on all of our faces.



Bless you all in turn from us and I pray that you take a little bit of the love from the western Pennsylvania/eastern Ohio regon back to your east-coast homes with you.

[Joe Kerr]

Behique! Rose!

Wow!!!! Amazing happening!!!! A red number date on the calendar for both the UCTP and the Nacion Taina!!!

Unity among the people. Brotherhood. And education of lost brothers. The very purpose of the resurgence in action!!! Well done!!!

hee, hee.

Lástima que los caciques no tuvieron la decencia de dar la cara. Vergüenza que el liderazgo no tiene los pantalones que toma ser líderes de verdad. To put differences aside and unite.

Tisk, tisk.

Maybe it’s too much to ask of them. Maybe they were busy. Or maybe they didn’t have a tall enough ladder to get off their high horses.

But they have no shame in allowing the behique and women to organize and create peace. No shame in flushing this opportunity down the toilet. No shame in letting naborias make sacrifices to come and share while they stayed home. Or maybe this event was below them.

At least they sent the paperwork so people can order their very own indian card.

Ha, ha, ha.

Maybe we just need to follow the women. They the ones who wear the pants anyway.

Hee, hee.

Joe.

[Joshua M Seidl]

Excellent ceremony and teaching. Thanks so much to all who made a special sacrifice to come and share or teach. A number of you have left messages for me. I don't always opperate these new technical computer things right. So if you did not hear from me, try again - - it's probably my error in clicking the right buttons.

[Roger Guayakan]

Takahi.Congratulations to you and Rose for a job well done. I was happy to be of help. Bo matum!