An Import of my Tumblr Blog
Watercolor drafts of the Thoth Tarot by Lady Frieda Harris. Two versions of the Atu I (The Magus), and early versions of Atu XVIII (The Moon) and the Knight of Disks. Found here.
I think I like the first Magus better than any of the other alternative versions (and perhaps, oh heretic!, better than the final version). I still wish I could find an image of the draft of Atu 0 that resembles Harpo Marx!
Last two days to win a free print edition of My Babylon
THANK YOU!
A huge thanks everyone who helped me out and told Amazon to make my book free. Special thanks to theharlequinfromutopia, the winner of a print copy of My Babylon Compete. Your book is on the way.
As of today My Babylon – Book One: Body is FREE on Amazon!
Can you do me one more favor? Go and download it from Amazon. Download it as many times as you want. Every download moves me up the charts and makes my book more visible.
As an indie author, I totally depend on people like you to get the word out. Once again, in appreciation, I will send an electronic copy of My Babylon – Book Two: Rose (or any other volume in the series) to anyone who downloads Book One from Amazon, reblogs this post, and sends me their email via ask. Please include your preferred format (mobi, epub, pdf, doc).
On October 13th, I’ll pick one person at random to mail a print copy of My Babylon Complete.
Thanks again for helping my dreams of being a successful writer come true.
Your vision becomes clear when you look inside your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
THANK YOU!
A huge thanks everyone who helped me out and told Amazon to make my book free. Special thanks to theharlequinfromutopia, the winner of a print copy of My Babylon Compete. Your book is on the way.
As of today My Babylon – Book One: Body is FREE on Amazon!
Can you do me one more favor? Go and download it from Amazon. Download it as many times as you want. Every download moves me up the charts and makes my book more visible.
As an indie author, I totally depend on people like you to get the word out. Once again, in appreciation, I will send an electronic copy of My Babylon – Book Two: Rose (or any other volume in the series) to anyone who downloads Book One from Amazon, reblogs this post, and sends me their email via ask. Please include your preferred format (mobi, epub, pdf, doc).
On October 13th, I’ll pick one person at random to mail a print copy of My Babylon Complete.
Thanks again for helping my dreams of being a successful writer come true.
Ave Babalon
“The rooster that sits atop the iron chalice of Osun, one of Santeria’s protective Orishas (deities)—Osun [as distinct from Ochún/Oshún] is one of the four…Guerreros: Eleggua, Ogun, Ochossi and Osun,” as photographed by Thomas Altfather Good, 2012.
In “Migration and Slavery as Paradigms in the Aesthetic Transformation of Yoruba Art in the Americas,” Christopher Adejumo quotes ‘Wande Abimbọla to shed light on the African roots of this orisha:
An interesting change has occurred [in the African Diaspora] with respect to opa orere, also known as osun, handled by titled babalawos [diviners of the Ifa divination system] of Africa. This staff is usually made of iron in Africa. To the sides of the staff are attached rattles, also of iron, so that it rattles making the sound “jin-win-rin-rin” when it lands with its pointed base on the ground as the babalawo who uses it as a walking stick goes about on the streets. The top of an orere staff of Africa is dominated by eye kan (the lone pigeon), who watches over the affairs of a babalawo even in his absence.
In Cuban Lucumí and Santería, osun is received as part of the artifacts given to a new initiate of any orisa and not restricted to a babalawo. Furthermore, it is made of a zinclike object, and it is not a walking stick. It is about 10 inches (25 cm) high compared with the African type, which can be in excess of 3 feet (90 cm) depending on the height of its owner. Moreover, the top of a Cuban osun is dominated by a rooster and not a pigeon.
However, osun, in both Africa and Cuba, is highly regarded as a ritual and sacred object. In Africa it is believed to be an orisa in its own right. It must never be allowed to fall with its sides lying on the ground. Hence the babalawo keeps it in a sacred corner of his shrine and makes sacrifices to his Ifa. If it accidentally falls on the ground, a special sacrifice must be made to restore its ritual potency. That is why we have the following saying among Ifa priests: Oorogan gaangan la a bosun. (Osun is to be found standing erect at all times.)
