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Hail to the Orishas, Elegba and Orunla, and the mystery of Death.
And as Orunla lay dreaming over his oracle one day, a mysterious woman came by, dressed all in green. Her hair was white, yet her face was young. Her hands were smooth to the sight, yet when he took them, they were gnarled with age.
She spoke to him. My fortune is hidden. Will you not cast the shells for me.
And he tossed them and they came out occluded, no clear way. He tossed them a second time and there was great sacrifice. And a third, and great happiness. At these three contradictory readings he was baffled. "Come back again in a moon, mysterious one, and I will toss again, the shells are confused."
And she came a second time, and the readings were reversed, first great happiness, then sacrifice, and finally silence. And he turned her away, hoping that at a third moon, there would be clarity.
And at the third moon, she smiled as the readings again came up, this time with sacrifice, then great joy, and then silence. She spoke to him gently. "Prepare me a feast, and I will let you know my secret."
And he rose, as he was a hunter, and went out, and shot at a deer. But the deer fell, but was in great pain. Seeing it suffering without relief, he bound its wounds and let it go.
Again, he went out and shot at a wild pig, but the pig was strangly silent, without sound. And he took pity, and binding its great spear wound, let it go.
And a third time, he went, hoping to find some bird that he could make for a feast. Yet when the bird he had chosen sang sweetly even as he aimed his bow, he fell away in awe and went home sorrowful.
When he returned, he found the lady waiting with a simple feast of greens and roots. But he was downcast. "I found nothing, and yet you have prepared for me. Who are you?"
And she spoke to him. "Now you will know my secret. When you saw the deer and its suffering, you could not allow it, and you let it go. When you heard the silence of the pig, again, your heart was moved, and you let it go. Finally, when in desperation you wished to bring down a great fowl, its song broke your heart. Do not be disappointed in your simple meal. I will share your lentils and roots, green and yellow, a hearfelt but simple meal."
"But how could you know, mysterious one, when I, the witness of the world, whose oracle never fails, cannot help you."
"But you did. I was the deer suffering in the forest, the pig silent in its pain, and the bird singing for joy. In each case, it was your heart which broke, your heart which was silent, your heart which leaped for joy. Now I have found my lover. For I am Death."
"Death. All people shun you, and yet you come for me? What have I done?"
"You have showed compassion, where they think I have none. Think that the deer of the forest would not have gladly sacrificed itself to me, or the pig would not have cried in pain, or the bird not cried in sorrow. I changed the world to test you, whether my heart could find a companion, and I stand in awe of your service, unknowing."
"Gracious One, I am but a Fool to try to read for you who are beyond the world's Fate."
"No, you have compassed me with love. And your followers will know it. You shall forever wear a token of my affection, a band of green and yellow - this simple meal you prepared for a woman you did not even know. When I see that band on my travels, I will remember your compassion, and take none of your people before their lawful time. And know that come an evening, when you least expect it, I will join you at your simple meal of greens and roots." And with a kiss upon his hand, she departed.
Orisha Story copyright
© 1998
Charles Butler
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