The Communication of Our Ancestor-Spirits
We see here how the ancestor-spirits used to communicate with each other in the primordial world called Watetüapa. In those times our ancestors, the first "gods", did not use speech; instead, they spoke in their soul, kupuri, or in their "memory".
Their "words" would leave their minds to go very far away, reaching the top of a rock peak where they would expand into thoughts1. To them the tip of the peak was the sky, but the whole rock was really Tatéi Werika Wimari, Our Mother Young Eagle Girl, who is the ancestor-spirit of the sky. The "sky" in this first world was a solid mass which would expand to form the earth (our world) above the underworld. Once the "memories", as José calls the travelling minds of our ancestors, got to the top of the peak, there was no place they could enter to go beyond the tip of the rock which they called the sky. After this, their memories returned, lowering themselves in swirling winds into the top of the head of our ancestors.
Thus, here we see Tatewarí (bottom center), Our Grandfather, the master of fire, and to his right, Taweviékame, Our Father, who became the sun, as they stand in front of a prayer-mat, itari, making contact with each other through their soul (small pink flowers) and their memories (bug-like figures above them with swirls of wind attached like wings). Two yellow dots represent the information which the two ancestors receive from each other.
While Our Mother, the Spirit of the Sky, was in the shape of a rock (flame-like form bisecting the painting) she collected the memories of the ancestors. Thus, when our world was created, she possessed the words of the ancestors which she instills in our soul. We are first born in her soul and then implanted in our mother's womb. The heart of Our Mother Young Eagle Girl was a serpent (seen enclosed in the rock) which is why eagles eat snakes today. The souls are attached to her flank in the form of four large flowers to the left of the great ancestors.
The ancestors disappeared when their "words" reached the top of the peak; then they would reappear (yellow flowers) as if reborn.
Ditch reeds (green object at right) also appeared in this first world. The first arrows were made from them to contain the "words" of the ancestors.
At this time Tamatsi Kauyumarie, the Deer Spirit (not seen) was arranging these things in the old world to enable the beings of the world to communicate their thoughts. Because all that existed in the first world exists now, there are people today who are dumb and deaf, as our ancestors once were.
1 "Words" in this instance refers to mental units which can manifest themselves as deeds. They are primary elements of thought at a pre-linguistic level which existed before the formation of the world.
Explanation and Interpretation by Juan Negrín as explained in a tape-recorded conversation with José Benítez Sánchez. Text and Image ©Juan Negrín 1974 - 2025. All rights digital and print reserved.
