Historical and cultural notes: Ase O!

The trickster Eshu comes out of the African psyche, generated from the environment surrounding the Western part of the continent among the Benin and Yoruba people. He is a passionate embodiment of the forces of nature, the shifting fates of life. He is likened to Hermes, the messenger god of ancient Greece, and his message is to reveal our interconnectedness not only one with the other, but with the forces of the natural world. He is the keeper of keys, the guardian of the crossroads and doorways, of new beginnings, and as such I muse on how important he must have been to the people of West Africa who became the African diaspora, moving from their homeland as slaves under horrendous circumstances. He must have given them strength to endure as he lives and thrives among their ancestors in Haiti, Cuba, in the islands of the Caribbean, and among the countries of South America. He has stayed constant and yet transformed as he moved into new circumstances, changing and yet remaining the same. It is consciousness that Eshu, Papa Legba, wishes to bring forth, because it is through consciousness that we find our proper place in life, and it is only through consciousness that we will survive. Eshu embodies the sacred bringing together of opposites, sacred and profane, earthly and divine. In that we find Ase: the generative power of the cosmos. It is this force that is brought to bear in the often feared rites of Voodoo, an offshoot of the traditions that evolved out of the diaspora of the African slaves. In my hope for the future, Eshu will continue to assist mankind in showing up for life, for bringing together at the crossroads unlikely partnerships, for smacking us up side the head so that we can grow and tap the power that is all around us. Ase O.

I can see what they feel

Ellegua knows what is afoot. He sees what is and what needs to come about. Trust Ellegua, even when he makes you fall, trust Ellegua and laugh. He is playing with you to show you your soul. Follow with a light heart and give thanks for his attention. He writes straight lines with a crooked hand.

Come celebrate the Divine messenger!

The Issue is Eshu and his message.

As owner of all doors and crossroads, Eshu offers us opposing paths: in and out, this way and that way. And what are his messages? Well, he doesn't speak in absolutes. All is a choice, and we pay for every choice we make. He is a force of the earth and pierces the veil of the beyond to communicate with humans. He translates the language of nature into that of humans, but only if we are astute enough to see his messages. We have the choice to turn a blind eye. Eshu is sometimes characterized as a force of random harrassment. But this is misleading. He does trip one up, but only as instruction. It is pride that keeps one from seeing the message in the catastrophe or mishap. Look at the omens, they are from the beyond! Eshu is good when he plays with you. You want your ultimate unfolding. Celebrate and laugh with him! Eshu is the highest and the lowest of energies, and he uses this contradiction to bring balance and restore our connection with the beyond. ASE O.