Patrina Corsetti
Participant Observation
The angry spirits have returned, three male and three female, and are gathering for action in my mother’s dreams. They will take someone with them if we do not hurry. We must appease the spirits.
The Gara must have a Cleansing Ceremony.
Cav, our shaman, always takes care of the spirits. He knows what to do. He knows how to settle them. This calms me, and I shake off my doubt like the beach dogs shake off the ocean. My mother, however, is still dripping with concern.
“Lusa, we must appease the spirits.” She repeats this six times.
I silently help her with the fire preparation.
We are Caribbean island dwellers, though according to Professor Russell Whitman our dark skin and tongue clicks have a link to the African continent as well as to the ancient mainlander’s sing-song words.