The Second Life Tapirapé OOC Photo Blog
This Wednesday, the tribe and friends gathered to celebrate Día de Muertos Naked Wednesday. Summer first cleansed everyone with smudge, and then Whisper told everyone about the dead bird Poco, Canijo the dead pussycat, Loco the dead uncle, and Gourdita the dead aunt and how they can help us remember our ancestors so they don’t fade away. Then we went searching for them and finally got painted with body paints featuring their images.
This Thursday, we had storytelling at the Tapi Camp. Because we are so close to Dia de Muertos, the theme was scary stories. Even though not all the stories followed the theme, there were several that were quite frightening—and some were even downright disturbing!
The first story was a poem from Kailo. A poetic depiction titled “DAWN,” focusing on the transition from night to day.
The second story was from Oscar. It was a lighthearted tale about “Mama Surfarosa,” a lesser-known Incan sea goddess who represents the ancient practice of surfing.
The 3rd story was a scary story from Catten about the “Morte Yára,” an ominous tree near their camp believed to drain the life from men.
The 4th story was from Tiny, quite opposite the theme it was a heartfelt anecdote about finding and belonging to a community,
The 5th story was from Kart. It was a disturbing and quite unsettling account of a man who encounters a strange lump, leading to a grisly discovery involving countless spiders.
The 6th story was from Diana. A thoughtful reflection on the worth of seemingly insignificant things once touched by a master, illustrated through the auction of a battered violin.
The 7th story was from Mefisto. A suspenseful legend from the Amazon about a sacred lagoon where the spirits of the jungle reside, and the dire consequences for those who disturb their peace.
The 8th story was from Cheif Mike. The tragic and haunting story of “La Llorona”
The 9th story was from Chieftess Khaing. An ancient Indian folklore of King Vikramaditya and the ghost Betaal, who tells him various moral tales.
The 10th story was from Sara. It was a cautionary tale from across the seas about a girl unknowingly consorting with a demon.
The last story was from Whisper, an eerie saga of “Caxiríka,” a ghostly head that brings misfortune to those who encounter it in the night.
This Wednesday, the shaman had the men perform the Vitality Dance for the women of the tribe. There was a lot of dancing, shaking, and gyrating, all to please the women and gain their favor. After the dance, both men and women felt the need for a cool bath in the river and then we ended the day dancing around the campfire.
Today, Summer and Kwanita guided us all in a cooking session. We discovered how to prepare several delicious dishes, marking what I believe will be the first of many collaborative cooking days. Belleniko contributed her own special ingredients, resulting in some intriguing dishes!
This Wednesday, we visited the Mana Shrine. People offered rocks to appease the mana gods and boost the yield and quality of the food we harvest. Later, we bathed near the pink dolphins and then returned home for a party with Diana playing the drums.
Today we had the Tapi Animal Ritual. Led by Shaman Whisper and Elder Summer, the event was filled with joy and reverence, honouring the animals who enrich our lives. We first blessed the Tribe Xerimbabos, Tasa, Nevuno, Guinnes and Pouty and then the various animals people brought, from monkeys and birds to noble horses and even a snake. Whisper, performed a sacred prayer of thanks, and we offered gifts at an altar for the mystical Curupira, the guardian of our jungle. The ceremony concluded with a captivating tale of the Curupira, reminding us of our duty to respect the harmony of the jungle. Blessed with good cheer amidst vibrant fauna, the ceremony served as a beautiful reaffirmation of our commitment to coexist with nature.
Naked Wednesday at the Red Coast
This Naked Wednesday, we came together at the newly discovered lake on the Red Coast. The majority of us arrived safely by canoe, though Karto’s group, traveling by boat, unfortunately sank en route. After receiving the shaman’s prayer and blessing, we made our way back on foot, concluding the day with our triditional dance around the campfire.
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