Around 40 people gathered at Tapi for our second annual Animal Day, bringing an amazing collection of companions with them. Whisper began by blessing the Tapi animals before welcoming everyone else forward one by one. Among the visitors were cats, dogs, goats, a cougar, capybara, elephant, parrot, frog and even a piranha in a wooden tub, affectionately named Bitey McBiteface.
There was plenty of laughter along the way as Whisper reminded everyone that perhaps humans do not choose their animals at all. Sometimes an animal simply decides, “Yes, this human will do,” and from then on our food, beds and chairs are no longer entirely ours. Even the humans received a blessing for putting up with muddy footprints, strange noises and animals gradually taking ownership of the furniture.
After the blessings, Summer invited Catten to tell the old story of Curupira, the red-haired guardian of the jungle whose backwards feet confuse hunters and who protects the forest and its creatures. With the story told, the blessings complete and both animals and humans suitably celebrated, there was only one thing left to do: dance! TAPÉUICHA!