Handmade Yokahu cemi idol

[Elyssa M.]

Tau guaitiao!

I would like to share my first official handmade, clay, Yokahu Cemi. For months, I've been praying to a necklace of Yokahu my grandparents brought back from visiting their house and close family in Borikén. I was never able to offer anything since I loved to keep it in my room, so I prayed often (and still do) to show my respect since I couldn't leave anything. While making it, in the center, I placed a fragment of a shell I brought from Borikén when I was 6 or 7 years old, along with some achiote seeds. I also covered Yokahu in achiote powder mixed with water to add more touches of the island. I was so excited to finally leave an offering that I left a piece of casabe before he was even finished for all the souls lost on El Grito De Lares, and did a little prayer ceremony/ritual I usually do on weekends. Next, I will make Atabey even though it has been a challenge to put her onto clay, as I've tried before. I will get more clay this weekend and try or maybe make her with wood instead. 

Taikaraya from nyc💗